1. (Classic) Traveller, 1981.Here we have it, my number one defining game/moment; Traveller.
Growing up my parents weren't gamers, but apparently they had gamer friends. We were at one such gamer friend's house when I was a wee lad of seven and these adults I knew were playing Traveller on a coffee table with dice and lots of sheets of paper with stuff written on them...and a drawing of a spaceship diagram.
They were obviously having a blast. I asked what they were doing and they had me sit in right there on the spot. "Just pretend you're there and tell [this guy] what you want to do." is pretty much all the instruction I got. We were in a space hangar trying to steal a ship or something, I don't remember the details but I was already in love; the concept, the setting, the everything.
They had an extra rulebook that they generously sent home with me with the instructed me to read it and start by making up some characters. I did this zealously and although I never went back and gamed with that particular group, my fate had been sealed. I wonder if all these years later if those guys realize what an impact that they had had on me? This really is it, the single most defining moment that everything else hinges on. Ironically enough, I've never even played Traveller, heh.
First guy I ever made died before the end of character creation. That's how Traveller was. Almost made my top 10.
ReplyDeleteThe character I actually game with was a grizzled 42 year-old veteran with one arm and a drunk. As a 14-year-old this was both completely bizzare and cool at the same time.
I'd say you still get 'bizarre' points for that one, sounds like a fun character to play actually!
DeleteThat's awesome man. I've mentioned it before, but the single most defining moment for me was a friend regaling me with an awesome funny game session story from a post apoc game they played. I've never played that game he described, but it started me on the path most definitely.
ReplyDeleteIt's those moments that I relish in, those points in time that you can still recall and say, "Yup, that is what got me into gaming!"
DeleteGreat story, it is much like how most of us start gaming. I first saw D&D being played by some High School guys when I was twelve. (I think?) The game really looked cool and my mom was understanding enough to help me find the Holmes Basic set and it's been a roller coaster of gaming ever since.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, maybe I should be more aware of fostering interest in potential spectators.
DeleteThanks for sharing these articles! For me, it all started around 1987-1988 (10-11 years at that time), when my parents bought me Drakar och Demoner, which was a Swedish version of D&D. And at about the same time, I got my first computer, a C64! Great times! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sticking around Mats. I didn't mention the C64, but I did my fair share of gaming on that beast as well. Technically I started with the Vic 20 and a cassette tape drive...cassette tape drive!
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