Jesse’s intro

Posted by Jesse, gamura bibliophileous

Greetings, all!  You might wonder at my history and my purpose in writing of the diversions we call gaming.  (You may not be, but I will assume you are in wonder for now . . . )

Well, my name is Jesse (aka, beowolf_mn), and I would like to share with all of you the tale of an explorer who loves to experience a story through the art of gaming.  He is a special type of gamer and we will name him gamura bibliophileous . . .

Quest for the hidden story

He began his gaming career in search of, and being enveloped by, the tales explored in each diversion experienced.  He is the reason those paper manuals that come with video games are written.  Discovering endless details and back story to the worlds of adventure are mother’s milk for him.  His untold excitement and enthusiasm was of epic proportions when he unearthed the mountainous manual provided with the PC RPG Icewind Dale!  His quest continues and he shares this journey with all who will join him; his friends, his gaming group, and, hopefully, you!

Bringing chaos to order

This gamura bilbliophileous has used gaming to extend the tales told in books and on the silver screen.  Beginning early, with Star Wars CCG and Spellfire, he loved learning the lore of those characters who may be a mere flash on the screen or a quick mention in a book.  But in the game, he and his friends can create myriad alternate stories and might-have-beens: What if . . .  Darth Vader found Obi-Wan on Tatooine? . . .  a huge group of banthas and Tusken Raiders attacked Luke and Obi-Wan? . . .  spies were able to occupy the Death Star?  Gaming allowed gamura bilbliophileous and his companions to bring chaos to each story in new ways, while at the same time the game rules kept the chaos focused and (kind-of) sane.

The other thing gaming has given him was the ability to share the tales he loves with others.  He enjoys casual gaming more than tournament gaming, and I believe that this love of sharing the adventure with others is the reason.  In tourneys, you are not really sharing a story with an opponent; in casual games with friends, however, you are able to not only share stories, but to create new stories. You know, build an all halfling D&D minis squad, bring all 15 of your Gamorrean guards into play, or bring your half-orc-short-overweight-chaotic-drunken cleric to the party and see what chaos ensues! I think that is possibly the true reason he games . . . to share the chaos and triumph with others (sometimes just with the game’s author and other times with the story’s authors [i.e., the other players]).

The growing troubadour

Our young troubadour began his gaming adventures on an Apple II, playing a lot of Oregon’s Trail.  He was an avid reader as a youngling and loved games like Quest for Cimmaron (an early RPG), spending many a day exploring new worlds.

His gaming renaissance really happened during his college years.  The group of friends (or fiends maybe) who he fell in with (quite literally as one of the main instigators lived in a room next to him in the dorm) introduced him to all kinds of awe inspiring gaming, including the likes of Spellfire, D&D, Star Wars RPG, Star Wars CCG and treasure trove of computer games including Rise of the Triad, Doom, and a Dark Sun computer RPG.  He spent many hours at college slaying his companions, erecting walls to their annoyance, and running from crazed banthas and dragons (with the occasional class in between).

He has continued gaming, playing mostly CCGs, collectable minis, and a lot of RPGs on the computer and Nintendo. Annually, for the last 10+ years, he makes the honorable pilgrimage to Gen-Con, which provides four days of endless entertainment each year.  He hosts a weekly night of gaming and revelry for friends, playing board games and D&D minis.  This last year he co-founded Oblique Diversions, and so began yet another adventure in gaming!

Forward the charge

I hope you have enjoyed reading the tale of one gamura bibliophileous, as it is truly the story of my adventures in gaming.  With luck and hope I will be able to continue sharing stories with you each month, and maybe even help you share tales with your friends and compatriot gamers!

Short Bio of the Author:

Jesse lives in the frozen northland with his wife and three young boys.  He is a co-founder of two companies, and is Vice President of Software Development in one and the Creative Director of the other.  He loves to build, create, and imagine with and for his boys, his companies, and himself!