Life stories?

jager506 · Post by **jager506** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 12:01 am

Hi all

Could we have a "get to know other forumers" thread on this great board? They had one on Art of War (which very quickly got polarized and sidetracked), and since this is a much more moderate board where calm, logic and reason tend to prevail over fire and brimstone, I thought it'd be quite cool to get to know each other on a more personal note. Y'know, a short description of yourself , what we do when we're not visiting the thread or playing WIR, stuff like that.
What does everyone feel about this?

Mark

RickyB · Post by **RickyB** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 8:09 am

Originally posted by Chimera:
Hi all

Could we have a "get to know other forumers" thread on this great board? They had one on Art of War (which very quickly got polarized and sidetracked), and since this is a much more moderate board where calm, logic and reason tend to prevail over fire and brimstone, I thought it'd be quite cool to get to know each other on a more personal note. Y'know, a short description of yourself , what we do when we're not visiting the thread or playing WIR, stuff like that.
What does everyone feel about this?

Mark

Go ahead and start it up, Mark. I am sure a number of participants will contribute and I for one would love to hear it, and will contribute a little later

.

jager506 · Post by **jager506** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 1:20 pm

Right, I'll try and not ramble too much here.

I'm of German/Chinese extraction and was born in Taiwan. I'm very close to becoming 30.

Educationally, I bounced between Taiwan and Singapore until I was about 17. I did my undergrad work at Stanford University (The Farm) in economics and international relations. After which I did a short stint in the Taiwanese armed forces in intelligence (y'know, CIA spook stuff) for awhile, then returned for more academia. This time I went to Britain to do an MBA at the Strathclyde Business School.

But the latent CAPITALIST in me finally won out, and the last 6-7 years or so were spent in a variety of investment banking and stockbroking jobs. And thanks in no small part to my mentors, which include investment greats Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch (absentee of course), I've been successful enough to be somewhat financially independent so I can pursue my other interests, such as military history, wargames, bodybuilding (!) and martial arts, to name the more prominent ones.

Almost done here. How about the interest in the 1941-45 conflict u ask? Well, I played my first wargame (Risk) when I was about 11, quickly graduated to AD&D for a bit, then came some early SSI games like Colonial Conquest, Carriers at War, and North Atlantic. The reading I picked up when I was about 14. I started with general histories of WWII, then moved on to (in my frosh year) Panzer Leader, Lost Victories and other mostly German and Western accounts of the war.

That should do it. Looking forward to reading some of you guys' tales.

Mark

Kuniworth · Post by **Kuniworth** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 5:30 pm

Well Im from Umeå in the north of Sweden, lots of snow here but this summer has been really great. No need for going to sunny-beaches in southern europe.

Im 24 years old and studying to be a social worker, got a deep and growing interested in psyciatric work and psycology.

Spend most of my spare time around for things;

1. Politics. Im an active socialdemocrat in my home town.

2. Playing soccer. I really love that game.

3. World war 2. Reading everything about it, cant stop beeing fascinated. Reading all nights or playing Wir, axis and allies, Hitlers war and so on....

4. wild parties and girls! Yep still young you know

Well thats all about me. Just wanna say that I love this forum, thx for your contribution to it guys!

RickyB · Post by **RickyB** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 5:50 pm

I live in Denver, Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. I am the senior test analyst for an Internet music company, doing testing, programming to help test things, customer support, etc. I have been working on programming a game for years using different technology, learning while I go. I have a wife and 6 year old son, so games take second place anymore (at least the wife demands I say that

).

I started reading military history when I was 11, and wargaming at 12. I have probably 100 boardgames, mainly monster sized ones, but haven't played any since my son was born, although I have a large table built for the purpose in our basement area. My favorite computer wargames are WIR, the V4V and similar AH games by Atomic, and currently I am playing lots of the Panzer Campaigns series from HPS and John Tiller.

I was in the US Marine Corps for a few years, until I developed shoulder problems and was asked to leave. Last year on my 40th birthday, to prove I was getting old, I finally had to have surgery on it, although a 27 year old nurse was nice enough to tell me I looked great for 40 (that didn't help much

). I spend a lot of my winters hunting ducks and geese along the rivers and lakes in the area, and in cornfields. I studied engineering physics, then computer science in college.

[ July 22, 2001: Message edited by: RickyB ]

jager506 · Post by **jager506** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 6:39 pm

We're on a roll here! WHY is it girls/babes just CAN'T seem to understand our fixation/obsession with military matters?

I'm no chauvinist, not by a long shot

but every darned gal I've ever been finds all this stuff a BORE. Even the few that actually majored in related fields like history, poli sci or intnl relations etc. You'd think they'd be at least mildly interested in the literature but noooo... never mind getting
them to try to PLAY these games, board OR PC.
Sheesh, what a drag!

They seem to think it's something only geeks/wusses would do, which is partially true at least where I'm concerned. I'm a closet geek despite my unexplainable affinity for tuff stuff like martial arts/weightlifting.

jager506 · Post by **jager506** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 6:47 pm

Wanted to say Kuni and Rick interesting well balanced lives both of you. How do you manage it? Rick, how do you juggle being a dad, husband, day job, wargaming AND hunting? Sounds like you should give time management courses. And a HUNDRED board games?! That must take up some pretty serious storage space

My mom started getting on my case when I got to about TEN sets.

MagnusOlsson · Post by **MagnusOlsson** » Mon Jul 23, 2001 12:30 am

I'm trying to change the men-only touch of wargaming by having my 8 month old daughter Tilda on my lap when I make my pbem turns

. The drawback is that sometimes I get a little diverted (like when she's eating stuff that has USB connectors on it...).
So, I am a father of one, married, 33 yrs old tomorrow (23/7, same as Hailie Selassie), Global Account Manager at Compaq Computers (handling Electrolux, Tetra Pak and a few more).
I am a devoted Whisky-fan, will be going to Islay in a few weeks just to visit Bowmore, Laphroaigh, Ardbeg and possibly Lagavulin.

I live with my family in Lund, Sweden; that's the very southern part - close to Denmark and Germany.

Can't think of more right now...

/Magnus

Muzrub · Post by **Muzrub** » Mon Jul 23, 2001 6:44 am

I'm a 27 year old tradesmen.

I have a girlfriend named Lisa who recently finnished a University degree in business and tourism. We dont have any children, well almost 1 a cat named Bradshaw.

I myself hated school and all it involved but completed my secondary education under sufference. I was to go to uni to do a computer programming course a few years ago but I put it back until next year, then its back to school, I dont know if will be able to handle it but its time for a change.

I enjoy reading, I cant get enough of it, I need to know things almost anything.
I love playing war games, I have a total dislike for real deal but games are a different matter.
I mess about with the Guitar and always get drunk on a Friday night, no matter what!.

BTW my name is Jamie.

RickyB · Post by **RickyB** » Mon Jul 23, 2001 7:49 am

Originally posted by Chimera:
Wanted to say Kuni and Rick interesting well balanced lives both of you. How do you manage it? Rick, how do you juggle being a dad, husband, day job, wargaming AND hunting? Sounds like you should give time management courses. And a HUNDRED board games?! That must take up some pretty serious storage space My mom started getting on my case when I got to about TEN sets.

I think every wargamer I know is in the same boat as me regarding time.

The hunting is the easiest - if I drive, I sleep while hunting (seriously and I have missed a shot or two and landing ducks because I was asleep when they came in), otherwise I get my sleep while my friend drives. And bird hunting gives you time for that needed reflection, like where to commit that panzer korps

. The toughest part of the boardgames, all of which were played by me, was finding room to play them. Before getting married and building a table to play the biggest ones on (the biggest being War in Europe by SPI), I would mount the maps directly to the wall in my spare room and use modelling clay to hold the units to the map. This worked until the clay dried and random units would be removed from play by gravity.

It is a great group here, and love hearing from people literally all over the world. I love it.

jager506 · Post by **jager506** » Mon Jul 23, 2001 9:27 am

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Muzrub:
[QB]

I myself hated school and all it involved but completed my secondary education under sufference. I was to go to uni to do a computer programming course a few years ago but I put it back until next year, then its back to school, I dont know if will be able to handle it but its time for a change.
I enjoy reading, I cant get enough of it, I need to know things almost anything.

Hail mighty Muzrub

Your tremendous reputation precedes you.

Does "Muzrub" mean something in Australian?
My sister hates school too but she loves to read. Could never figure her out. I mean, reading and academia ARE related. Or it could it be that you were constantly being distracted by the beautiful beaches of Queensland?

BTW, may I ask which uni you'll be attending?

School's fine but too much academia and not enough real-world exposure tends to create ivory-tower types with a lot of theoretical knowledge and little else. No offence Matt (Buttsworth)

- he's currently on sabbatical anyways.

Muzrub · Post by **Muzrub** » Mon Jul 23, 2001 2:00 pm

Hail mighty Muzrub

Your tremendous reputation precedes you.
Does "Muzrub" mean something in Australian?
My sister hates school too but she loves to read. Could never figure her out. I mean, reading and academia ARE related. Or it could it be that you were constantly being distracted by the beautiful beaches of Queensland? BTW, may I ask which uni you'll be attending?

School's fine but too much academia and not enough real-world exposure tends to create ivory-tower types with a lot of theoretical knowledge and little else. No offence Matt (Buttsworth) - he's currently on sabbatical anyways.

Muzrub here means nothing..

My mates and I are fans of Black Metal and Burzum from Norway is a black metal 'super star'......He is currently in jail for murder. A bad boy indeed.

I'm not sure of which Uni or Tech. I dont know if I will be in Queensland next year or Victoria my home state.
Life experience teaches you about people and being self taught teaches you how to handle others, I know I dont regret one single day of school I missed or one exam I never studied for. But I should have paid more attention in english though my spelling is shocking

.

Have Fun.

Christopher · Post by **Christopher** » Mon Jul 23, 2001 5:13 pm

Originally posted by Muzrub:

My mates and I are fans of Black Metal and Burzum from Norway is a black metal 'super star'......He is currently in jail for murder. A bad boy indeed.

Oh my... Isn't he this crazy guy who wants to reintroduce some sort of rune-alphabet? In his free time he dreams of some new nordic race, right? If I remember correct, he wrote some book as well...
Hell...and you support this guy by listening his music?
I'm shocked...

Or do I just mix him up with somebody else?

Kuniworth · Post by **Kuniworth** » Mon Jul 23, 2001 6:31 pm

By the way gys my name is Andreas. The name Kuniworth is something I came up with when the name "cunneyworth" already was taken at hotmail.

Muzrub · Post by **Muzrub** » Tue Jul 24, 2001 12:24 pm

Oh my... Isn't he this crazy guy who wants to reintroduce some sort of rune-alphabet? In his free time he dreams of some new nordic race, right? If I remember correct, he wrote some book as well...
Hell...and you support this guy by listening his music?
I'm shocked...
Or do I just mix him up with somebody else?

Well your pretty right on track...
He does come across as a bit of a nut, but its mainly the lyrics and the atmosphere that the music creates that makes him so good. He's just a one man band and is currently realeasing albums while in jail. He has rejected his old music saying its based on rock, which is based on blues which comes from negros...Yes he is racist but we all something in the end, so I see no need to dislike him, his view of the world is just as relevent as anyone elses.

Mighty Muzrub.

loveman · Post by **loveman** » Tue Jul 24, 2001 8:46 pm

well, where do i begin.
arcade games , yes i remember the era very well, around 1979 and space invaders hit the arcades , thats what started the craze back then. i was addicted , then came galaxian, asteriods, cosmic guerilla, moon cresta etc .gosh thoses were the days of my mispent youth.
moving on-- i had a vic 20, commadore 64, atari vcs ( i was good at that) and somewhere in all this i came across a wargame called battle of the bulge on the commadore 64, thats what drew me to wargames .none of my friends would play them as they fought they were crap?.
i knew different, and bought second front for the amiga( all hail this truly awesome game). i have addicted to it ever since.

about me , in my 30ties , working, and come from scotland. i also have red many books on the war in russia , i trait i take from my dad.
well thats all for now folks .

loveman · Post by **loveman** » Tue Jul 24, 2001 8:51 pm

well, where do i begin.
arcade games , yes i remember the era very well, around 1979 and space invaders hit the arcades , thats what started the craze back then. i was addicted , then came galaxian, asteriods, cosmic guerilla, moon cresta etc .gosh thoses were the days of my mispent youth.
moving on-- i had a vic 20, commadore 64, atari vcs ( i was good at that) and somewhere in all this i came across a wargame called battle of the bulge on the commadore 64, thats what drew me to wargames .none of my friends would play them as they fought they were crap?.
i knew different, and bought second front for the amiga( all hail this truly awesome game). i have addicted to it ever since.

about me , in my 30ties , working, and come from scotland. i also have red many books on the war in russia , i trait i take from my dad.
well thats all for now folks .

Don Shafer · Post by **Don Shafer** » Tue Jul 24, 2001 9:55 pm

I was born a poor black child...
No wait. I'm 41 and a IT Manager for a hydraulic cylinder manufacturer. I have a wife and a 14 year old daughter, neither of which share my hobby of wargames. Started out with the Avalon Hill boardgames in the early 70's. U.S. Air Force for 4 years. I own several computer games, but the majority of my time goes into WIR, PacWar, ACOW, and occasionally Steel Panthers. When I'm not at my computer desk, I'm fishing, hunting, or watching NASCAR racing.

JustAGame · Post by **JustAGame** » Wed Jul 25, 2001 2:46 am

I'm 34, a father of two boys (one 8 months and the other 4 years), devoted husband and a manager for Ruby Tuesday's restaurants. I am a veteran light infantryman and have spent my post college years in sales and management.

I have always been a nut for gaming and history. I had numerous AH box sets that I could never get my peers interested in and finally found some willing "gamers" when Axis and Allies, Shogun and Fortress Ammerica hit the shelves (we actually played everyday after football and wrestling practice - I found out that was a great way to anger my girlfriend). I have been playing WIR and PacWar since their release, but my dedication has been sporadic. My most recent gaming interests have been in the massively multiplayer online gaming arena. I became fairly addicted to Age of Empires, then EverQuest when it was released. I founded guilds for both games and both guilds still thrive in my absence (my guild, the Norrathian Legion, for EQ is considering a merger and preventing that is occupying more time of mine than I wish to spend with EQ now). My name "JustAGame" was the impetus for the "JustA"Clan for Age of Empires.

There are two games that I look forward to in the near future. The Pacific War game's level of detail and micromanagement options fit the bill for what I want out of a strategic wargame. The Star Wars massively multiplayer online game is one that I will definitely have to try. I can really become a Jedi Knight? Cool!

I am also debating on whether or not to give the WWII online game a try. I will probably wait for it to be complete though.

I thoroughly enjoy the attention to accuracy and the shared interest in history on this forum. I honestly didn't expect to find a gaming board to be as informative as I have found this one to be.

Lokioftheaesir · Post by **Lokioftheaesir** » Wed Jul 25, 2001 3:29 pm

G'day (hehe)

(This post removed till i return tonight. Please excuse sweeping statements in previous post as i had a bad day with a bunch of overeducated twits with the collective common sense of a chicken)

Nick

[ July 25, 2001: Message edited by: Lokioftheaesir ]