Gemstone and normal people

[Drew2]

I created a new topic as to not totally throw off the WoW one.

It's probably easily agreed that those who play GS aren't exactly in the "norm" when it comes to... everyone else. I mean... what kind of freaks can be entertained for hundreds of hours of their lives by scrolling text, right?

Anyway, Wezas mentioned people asking "where are the graphics?" when he shows it to an "outsider." However, the most common question I get is "What's the object of the game?" or "How do you beat it?"

At which point I just get frustrated and tell them to go away, or something similar.

Anyway... anyone else have any experiences related to Gemstone and normal people?

[Kainen]

All the time.. I have friends who think I am stupid for paying money to play a text based game. However.. I can't always explain how much fun I have interacting with (most) people on this text based game. I feel it's a bit more personal than a graphics based one. I interact with differant people from day to day.. plus theres the fact that I can use my imagination to see what these places look like.. I am never disappointed by crappy graphics or the massive lag it would cause my crappy computer. People pay everyday for FAR stupider things than GS.. drugs, cigarettes, booze.. to name a few. Of course thats MY opinion. When someone asks me why I pay the money I do for GS.. I simply say "it's my hobby".

[theotherjohn]

Originally posted by Tayre
Anyway... anyone else have any experiences related to Gemstone and normal people?

GS has taught me not to ask why or how people can watch realty TV.

[Drew]

I don't tell anyone that I play Gemstone, all of my friends are very "normal" and none of them would consider playing for a second. A few friends who I've known for years know about it, and the best way I've been able to describe it (lack of graphics, the point of the game, etc.) is to say, "It's like writing a novel with a bunch of people, one day maybe we will come up with an ending for it, but for now we are having too much fun just writing." At which point I nod sagely and I guess they know that I aspire to be a writer anyhow, so they don't question me too much about it.

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by Drew]

[DCSL]

Yes. Eventually my friends stopped asking, though. Nowadays, when I have an event in GS coming up, all I have to say is that I have "a Gemstone thing" and they don't question it. They just know they won't see me for the weekend or whatever.

[Avei]

all i can say is... graphic games will never be as vivid as my imagination. I tend to think that graphic games are for people who want a controlled game. Gemstone doesn't have the limitations of a text game and really allows you to be in control of your own fantasy.
I also play EQ2, apparently so do a lot of the GMs and old skool GSers. While graphic games are entertaining - at the end of the day I find myself logging back into GS. (Besides - I think that the people in GS are soooo much more interesting than in text games)

My boyfriend always asks me why I play. But I've pretty much explained. I don't hide that I play gemstone - but I don't walk around with a sign on my back. I don't know - Gemstone is my private world and I rather not have my "normal" friends invade it. I mostly play it to get away from the norm.

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by Avei]

[HarmNone]

I don't know any normal people. :shrug:

[Caiylania]

I just say the same, to me it is like writing my own adventure everyday and that each type of game has its place for me.

Sometimes I love to curl up and read a book for hours, sometimes I love to pop in movie and thrill in the full color action.

That translates for me as well into Gemstone and say EQII. One is my imagination at work, and the other is enjoying the color and beauty of a new world.

[Kainen]

Originally posted by HarmNone
I don't know any normal people. :shrug:

Ya gotta love that :grin:

[kheldarin]

I actually had two friends who tried it out. They quit after the free month. I think mainly because all they tried to do was advance. No roleplaying at all.

When I mention Gemstone to the rest of my friends, they basically just say "What the fuck man? That's so lame."

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by HarmNone]

[Soulpieced]

My roommates would make fun of me freshman-junior. Even freshman year I used to keep my password saved, and a friend across the hall and my roommate actually got into game when I was in another room. Needless to say, I bolted back into my room when the friend came in and asked me how do I cast spells....

[radamanthys]

Other dude: "Dude, it has no graphics, how the hell do you know what you're doing?"

me: "Come here... read."

As I tear all the limbs off some critter, weave it's worst nightmare for it, pain and disease it then wait a while while it wriithes and it's legs beat the crap out of it, then I focus an Implode at it. (Dark Elven Sorcerer, deal)

He FINALLY understood why I play Gemstone.

[Caiylania]

Priceless.

[The Cat In The Hat]

When I first met my husband, I talked him into creating a character. He did, logged in, I took him to south ring road where there was less scroll to "teach" him. I taught him to talk using the ', he says "This is stupid" and loggs out. He's never had any desire to touch it again heehee

Which is fine with me... Gemstone = MINE!

[Victril]

I don't think there are many normal people in Gemstone at all, they all seem to have this akward social disposition to them. I often compare real society to gemstone society and laugh, thankfull that none of you live (hopefully) within a mile radius of me. I think Gemstone is full of psychopaths. Honestly.

[Avei]

Maybe we are the Normal ones and Everyone else is just weird.


editted to add "else"

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by Avei]

[Czeska]

I've used the "it's a gemstone thing" line too, especially with my family.
My favorite outsider story ... I was in a mall's food court with my ex one time (He's the one that intro'd me to the game) and we were talking about GS.
I said, "You know what annoys me? You can climb INTO the graveyard, but you can't climb back OUT! So I end up stuck in the crypt for half an hour waiting for someone to come let me out."

Then I happened to glance at the three girls of about 14 years old sitting a few feet away and staring at me with horrified eyes.

Cracks me up to this day.

[Eiderfleur]

Well when my fiance first told me he played Gemstone I was like WTF is that? So he explained to me that it was a text based game, I had tried a MUD before and totally didn't get it! So I was like WTF You waste your money on text?!?!?!?!?!?!

So anyway after a year of being with my fiance I was like... SHOW ME YOUR SILLY LITTLE GAME, it was all my cunning master plan to get him to see sense and stop playing, little did I know I would enjoy it and end up playing more than he does! LoL

His main gripe is that after playing six years or something none of his characters are older than Eiderfleur heh.

As for what I tell people, a couple of my uni friends know I play GS and I tried to get one of them to play though I don't think he could understand it, If my fiance hadn't sat with me and helped me out I wouldn't have stuck with it either.

[Czeska]

Irony is that not only did my ex get me playing GS (Oh come on, roll a character on my account, I really wanna go to simucon)..

But that's where I ended up marrying my hubby after the ex and I got divorced.

("Where'd you meet your husband?"
"In wraiths, under the crypt")

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by Czeska]

[Jenisi]

I don't bother really trying to get in depth. I just say "Yeah it's a text based rpg" and they're usually like uh yea.. cool... The way I got into it is when I was 12 I used to watch my sister play. She always got so excited about it, and of course that made me jealous. I talked her into making me a character, and she kind of taught me how to play. The game was a lot simpler back then.

Man, I remember when I first started playing GS back on AOL unlimited. My first task?

ASSIST I NEED SOME QUESTIONZ ANSWERD

GH Poofs in "How can I help you, Felldon"

Me: WHERE R THE GRAPHIKS AND HOW DO I WIN??

GH: Uhh.. No graphics and you can't win it just keeps going.

Me: OH OK KOOL...

I go to TSC

Felldon exclaimes, "NE 1 WANT 2 HUNT RATZ????!!!!"


And that was pretty much it. Anyway, times changed and I found out that I was the only one of my friends that would ever understand GS. I never told anyone about it.

- Arkans

[Vullfen]

Started back on AOL, so that must be almost 10 years of playing by now. That was back when you didn't try to sign on from 4 to 9 p.m. and walking through Town Square was death b/c you'd be stuck in 10 minutes of screen scroll. That was always fun.

I never really tried to explain it to my roommates/friends. It's a little hard to relate it to something a rugby player/frat guy would understand.

My most recent attempt was: "It's like that Xbox game Fable that you play, there are just no graphics. Ooh, you look woozy. Here, have a Miller Lite."

[Prosperanna]

My brother has never understood why I play GS. He grew up on a steady diet of Everquest and Diablo, so the concept of a text game with no graphics where you have to do more than just kill stuff is foreign to him. ;) As for my friends, I think the people I hang out with now would understand why I play, but the people I hung out with in college would laugh at me to my face.

[AnticorRifling]

All my friends pretty much get it. Even if they don't play they think it's cool. My wife on the other hand thinks it's the devi but when has she ever been right? :cool:

[DeV]

Thankfully my girlfriend plays so she doesn't make a big deal about me spending hours in front of a computer playing a text based game. She's the first girl to be completely cool with my online habits and that makes me happy. My friends think its weird and have just resorted to the smile and nod tactic when I talk about Gemstone. I don't talk about it with them anymore because they just don't get it.
In conclusion, what Harmnone said. There is no normal anyway.

It's normal to be abnormal anyway.

[StrayRogue]

I just tell my friends/housemates that I earn $500 a month from running a few lines of code. I tend to stop their inquisition when they start looking at the screen by inviting them to a game of W3. The only person I've ever really described this too in depth was Chica, in her naive years.

[Wezas]

I was introduced to the game by Oaksheerii - or as I knew him, Jason from Richmond, VA. He and another person I used to party with both played. 10+ years ago I ran a BBS using the 2nd phone line in my house. There were a few "games" that were basically just text that I put on there to go along with the message board and l33t haxor files.

I tried to get my girl to play when we first started dating. Had her make an account when it was still free on AOL (so that I could show her around by being in game as well). That lasted about an hour. "This is kind of boring" & "Are you SURE there's no graphics?".

A few other family members know - most of them don't care, others are amazed when they look the game up on E-bay and see the high prices.

As for talking about it in public - I really don't have anyone to discuss it with. My co-worker and I do get some strange looks when discussing our latest round of Socom II or UT2004 at Popeye's though.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by StrayRogue
The only person I've ever really described this too in depth was Chica, in her naive years.

We're still waiting of her to "get it". :D

[StrayRogue]

Lol yeah. Most of them shake their head in disbelief when I show them the Ebay stuff.

[Edited on 3-12-04 by StrayRogue]

[Sweets]

I think people assume I am normal until they get into conversation with me.:lol: I have been into roleplay since high school when me and the brains (geeks) would get together for a nice game of D&D. I wasn't anywhere near as involved or as clever but hey, I was a chick interested. I was well accepted.:duh: Since then I have been very open with my Gemstone and rpg involvement. My bestfriends, one a minister, one a sweet but vain beauty, one a stay at home Mom that has the most cutting wit you have to laugh at yourself, and my husband all think I am a bit on the nutty side for playing but love me for who I am. Each have tried the game and surprisingly it was Gail, the minister who was the most interested.
I say surprisingly based on the many religious ariticles you see floating about on the demons in roleplay. Gail isn't your average minister though.
I also have a friend from high school that contacted me not too long ago regarding her son. He's nine and LOVES anything roleplayish, she says to me. Can you help him and I pick out some good sites and books?

I was in heaven. I told them about Gemstone but said it was an older game. If he was interested in playing I would advise me or her being present. (No, I don't think gemstone is a family game.)

Has anyone's eyes glazed over yet?

[Skeeter]

You all play a text based game??? and pay money???

WTF?? freaks!!11!!oneone!

[Amaron]

My hubby says I am nuts.

he rolled a character once and gave him over to me after a few days.

All he said was You are wierd.

So now I call him my troll.... lovingly of course

J

:heart:

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by Amaron]

[SpunGirl]

My friend Eric showed me how to play GS when I was 16, on AOL. I picked it up again four years later out of curiosity (that was in '01, when I created Naessi). My husband and I were already dating and moved in together that fall, so he just accepted the game. When I kept playing it for another year, he started to ask me when I was going to "outgrow" it. He finally figured out (about the time I decided to go to my first Con) that that wasn't going to happen.

He's met a few people I play the game with that are my close GS friends, so he's more comfortable with me going to Simucon, Thrilla, Vegascon parties, etc, by myself. Last year he popped into Vegascon for a few hours to say hi and mingle, but he gets bored.

As for my friends, they just refer to it as my "nerd game" but always ask me about the parties. My parents refer to it as "your cult" and made me call every day to report that I was unraped, unmutilated, unmurdered and unrobbed while I was at Simucon. But they're getting a little better about it. I mean, I'm 24, stable job, no debilitating addictions (that show up on a drug screen, anyway), college degree, married someone they like. They can't really complain, can they?

-K

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by SpunGirl]

[Wezas]

Anyone here whow as introduced to the game by a friend. Are any of those friends still playing? From what I've seen/heard over the years - the majority say "no".

[4a6c1]

Ahh man, first/weirdest experience of Gemstone affecting the 'normals' of my life.

I was trying to finish Jihnas background and brainstorming with my husband over the phone while I was at work. Everytime we added something to the story I had to summarize it outloud to see how it sounded.

Well...I was in the new office with the new staff and I had forgotten they arent used to me yet. I had been talking for about 30 minutes describing a the ritual where she was banished from her tribe and killed over and over again when I looked up and my PA was staring at me with these huge saucer eyes.

She came in and meekly told me that my voice was echoing (loud voice + no furniture) with sort of a nervous laugh and offered to close my door. I felt so sorry for her!

I gave her a long lunch and learned to close my office door.

Now, when I visit that building the PA always asks 'Would you like me to close your door for you?' before I can even sit down in my chair or open the laptop. :lol:

As for the rest of the people in my life, they have gotten used to me I think. I've introduced the game to nearly everyone I know. People usually try it for the first month or just dismiss it as one of my weird quirks. I'm fairly sure at least 6 of them still play.

[Snapp]

The friend that introduced me to GS quit when it stopped being free on AOL. Of course, so did I, for a little while.

As far as anyone else understanding, I don't even bother trying to explain anymore.

[SpunGirl]

No for me too, Wezas.

-K

[Drew]

Originally posted by Wezas
Anyone here whow as introduced to the game by a friend. Are any of those friends still playing? From what I've seen/heard over the years - the majority say "no".

Kind of, I played it sparingly for a few years then a friend reintroduced me in 1994, she still plays from time to time.

[faiyth]

My boyfriend knows I play Gemstone, my family can never know because they still tell me how proud they are that I no longer play... heh. My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy for playing a game where I don't shoot everything I see or race cars. I think he's nuts for playing motocross games on our PS2 for hours at a time. He also thinks GS4 only costs $5 and that all the pay events I've gone to and enjoyed for $30+ dollars were free. If he ever found out I pay so much for them, he'd freak out and make me quit. I told him that anytime he feels he wants me to quit all he has to do is ask and I'll do it.

[Jolena]

As a child (and even now as an adult) I always really loved medieval/fantasy books that had the endings you could control, so that there were several endings you could have at the end depending on your choices on the book (anyone remember those? ). I remember my mom getting so angry at me for reading so much that I neglected my chores around the house and even my homework at times and she'd take the HUGE box of books I had in my room to pore over :laugh:

I have always enjoyed the freedom of text over graphics even as I played games on atari (yes I'm that old), nintendo, and then all the newer game stations out. I think that freedom and the ability to change my surroundings while interacting with so many others who affect my character's world in a text based game will always keep me interested.

I started playing DR first actually and then one of the players in the game after about 2 months told me about GS and I was hooked after a few weeks. :) I've now been playing for a bit over 4 years and don't think I will ever lose my interest in it. :lol:

As far as friends/family.. my b/f plays it obviously (Stunseed) and my bestfriend thinks it's slightly interesting but she's more into partying and dancing etc. She's asked a lot of questions and looked at it while I played before but it's not the same for her as she's not as into text and books as I am. My stepmom thinks its the devil and is very disapproving while my dad and mom think it's okay. My mom is supporting of it as she thinks it's much better then a graphic game since it requires more of my imagination, which in her opinion is always a good thing (love my mom! <3 )

I have gotten some awfully strange, horrified looks while discussing some of the game with friends and my B/f on my cell phone though walking through a store lol That kinda makes me giggle to be honest.

Ah well, what's normal anyhow. :shrug:

[Drew]

Originally posted by Jolena
As a child (and even now as an adult) I always really loved medieval/fantasy books that had the endings you could control, so that there were several endings you could have at the end depending on your choices on the book (anyone remember those? ).


Choose your own adventure!

http://www.gamebooks.org/gallery/cyoa001f.jpg

[KymberlynX]

My ex b/f introduced me to the game in November of 2000 and helped me roll my my first character...a dark-elf sorceress. I was almost instantly hooked and have been playing ever since.

At the time, I had a roommate and whenever she asked what I was doing, I would gladly tell her about the adventures I was having in the game. I would be totally animated, twinkle in my eye, telling her about how I went to orcs to get 10 scalps for the task for CoL:

Her: "What does CoL stand for? Circle of Love?" *laughs at her own wittiness*
Me: "Nooooooo...Council of Light...we have to do tasks and give gifts and we get special powers."
Her: "Uh...okay" *looks at me like I'm strange, shrugs her shoulders and walks away...apparently sorry she asked*

After that, she would always ask me how things were going in my "Circle of Love" :lol:

My family knows that I play but rarely asks me questions about it. I introduced my niece to the game a few years ago and she is still playing now. There is also a guy here at work that shares my love of RP games...he and I swap stories about our respective games all the time.

[KymberlynX]

Originally posted by Drew
Choose your own adventure!


OMG...I remember those. I used to :heart: those books!!

[Chadj]

How old is teh niece?
Is she hot?
What's her character?
<3<3<3

[KymberlynX]

Originally posted by Chadj
How old is teh niece?
Is she hot?
What's her character?
<3<3<3

Niece is 20...

...and since she reads these boards too, I will let her answer the question about who her character is. ;)

[Eiderfleur]

Originally posted by Chadj
How old is teh niece?
Is she hot?
What's her character?
<3<3<3


Jesus Christ Chadj! Do you always think with your cock? I mean seriously every single woman out there and you are there sniffing at her crotch like a fucking dog!

It doesn't matter who the girl/woman is, and you make yourself look really stupid by doing this constant chasing.

As for those books, I remember reading those, years ago and then rereading them and changing what decisions I would make to get different endings.

I don't usually tell people I'm playing Gemstone, they don't need to know THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND ME! :cry: I just tell them I'm playing a computer game. lol

[Nieninque]

Originally posted by Eiderfleur

Jesus Christ Chadj! Do you always think with your cock?

He thinks?

[Landrion]

Originally posted by Wezas
Anyone here whow as introduced to the game by a friend. Are any of those friends still playing? From what I've seen/heard over the years - the majority say "no".

You'd be right in my case. I was introduced to the game by Lanthalasara, Morduskull and Khilandar's players. None of whom still play GS.

[Sean]

My roommates and friends make fun of me for playing non stop madden moreso than gemstone now a days. But back when I played more I was just unfront about it. It's a game, theres text and no graphics. Most of my friends just assumed it was some chat client. I'm not sure what bothered me more the prodding for playing a text rpg or that they thought i'd sit around in chatrooms or whatever.

And to answer wezas question, the person that introduced me to playing was my bio lab partner my 1st year of hs. He got banned shortly after and lost interest.

[Victril]

I started Gemstone 3 years ago when i was sentenced to this scum pond of a state called Delaware. I couldn't imagine playing for 10 years. Thats something to feel guilty about ;) I have a REAL g/f now and am about to be an NCO, so maybe i can shake it off....maybe.

[AnticorRifling]

If you're not an NCO in God's Corps it doesn't matter :cool:

[Back]

I have a long history of gaming. When I was little, I used to watch my dad and his friends play Panzer Leader on a massive board. We used to play simple campaigns since I was only 9 or so. I really liked Wooden Ships and Iron men.

From there we used to play the Dune game that came in a big box. Freaky stuff and it made me read the book at 12.

In Jr. High some kids were playing D&D. I watched for about 5 minutes and was hooked. Got the neighbor kids to play, bought all the books, made gods etc. Then played things like Car Wars for a while.

Hadn't had a D&D game for a long time, then on an old BB I used to tinker around on, I found a game like GS... Rose something. Players used to give out silver if you transfered time to their account through yours with a credit card.

With the internet still new I cruised chatrooms for laughs. One night someone IMed me about GS. Gave it a try and thats all she wrote. Played for about a year and a half before moving on to Legends of Future Past, then Inferno, and a few MUDS along the way.

As far as my family is concerned, gaming and computers have always been a part of who I am, so they don't think twice about it. Its been a part of me since I was a wee lad. My friends think its odd there is only text, but understand the gaming part. We play PSII and XBox together so there is that kind of understanding.

That guy who IMed me about GS? No idea where he is now.

[Betheny]

My mom was convinced, and still convinced, that I am an Internet 'addict'. She thinks it's unhealthy. I think it's more healthy than watching TV, but whatever.

[DeV]

I know what you mean Maim. The other day by best friend told me I needed to start attending IA meetings for my internet addiction. But, whatever.

[Drew]

Here's a questions, I know some folks won't agree, but are there people out there who play GS but consider D&D people "real" nerds?

[Sean]

Originally posted by Drew
Here's a questions, I know some folks won't agree, but are there people out there who play GS but consider D&D people "real" nerds?

Me but generally because I'm in denial ... and I can't stand D&D. When people compare me to a D&D player or make jokes that would generally be geared at them towards me and GS it cuts me the deepest!

[Caiylania]

I play D&D but they hate me. I'm always getting into arguments over mechanics and RP. *cough*

I've been playing GS on and off for 3 years. Maybe 2 years accumalative?

As for how I found GS....... well... it was 2am..... I was horseback riding through the desert and GS came into my life.

That is all.

[faiyth]

I got started nearly 10 years ago when I was 15. I was playing all those Vampire games on AOL and junk. They had these RPC (Roleplaying Chatrooms) that I use to ::walks in to the bar::.. that's how you roleplayed.. Everything was acts.. heh. Anywayz I met Galyden via one of these and he told me to come try Gemstone. I said sure.. went and tried it for about 2 hours.. got bored.. gave it up. So... then I got bored of the RPC one night, tried Gemstone one more time.. and have been hooked ever since.

~ A

[Chyrain]

heh...a couple of weeks ago, my family was over for dinner and my 8 year old nephew was following me around. I had come into my bedroom and he saw my computer screen (I usually leave my characters logged in all the time when I'm away.)

He says, "Danielle, what is that screen on your computer?"

So I sit down and say, "It's a game."

and he says, "how do you play?!"

thinking this was a great bonding moment, I proceed to take my ranger out to kill soemthing. I explained to him the rooms scrolling past the screen, read to him a few little things and then show him how I take my arrow out and kill something. One shot, through the eyeball...wood sprite dead.

and all excited I say, "see?! I killed him in one shot!"

and he says, "Psht. Boring game, Danielle." and walks out!

heh.

[Snapp]

Originally posted by Victril
I started Gemstone 3 years ago when i was sentenced to this scum pond of a state called Delaware.
Stop hatin on my state!!! :mad:

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Caiylania
As for how I found GS....... well... it was 2am..... I was horseback riding through the desert and GS came into my life.

That is all. :(

We need a "CLEARLY THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY" smiley.

[4a6c1]

:popcorn:

I want to hear this one

[iohova]

my ex's cousin introduced me to GS back in the aol days. at first i was like "ok, thats neat. but not enough to keep me interested or addicted like you"
here i am, years later, still playing (course, i did take a few breaks, but i still play)

trying to explain it to "normal" people? ugh. i hate to try. heh.

and yes, we're all nerds for playing it :lol:

[GSLeloo]

For me I can see Gemstone in two manners. One is like a book... most people my age really don't read but I find more enjoyment in a book then in a movie. I think words can often describe more than an action... so for me I prefer text to begin with. Then it's also like a new storyline every day and I love soap operas so it sort of follows that also...

I was introduced by a friend who played on AOL um... ... ... aha, 9 years ago. This person who introduced me has not played for about ... ... ... 9 years.

[Betheny]

DELAWARE BLOWS.

PS don't send the 'hard core ex new york gangsta types that moved to delaware cause it's cheaper to live' after me. :( :(

~FLEE

[Marl]

Originally posted by Maimara
'hard core ex new york gangsta types

~FLEE

I thought all of those came to Atlanta??? :?:

::listens::

Yep. Gunshots coming from the east tonight.

[Kainen]

Originally posted by Drew
Here's a questions, I know some folks won't agree, but are there people out there who play GS but consider D&D people "real" nerds?

I can't say jack about D&D nerds.. cuz I was one :D

[Miss X]

Originally posted by Wezas

Originally posted by StrayRogue
The only person I've ever really described this too in depth was Chica, in her naive years.

We're still waiting of her to "get it". :D

haha.

I remember when Nick first told me about GS, he was in a bad mood and when I asked why he said something about a game he played an argument with someone in his "house." I was really confused about how someone could be annoyed about a game!

Think it was a few weeks later he said I should try it and I only intended to stay for the trial month....

I only really told my best friend about GS, I'm still trying to convince her to try it out but she gets confused looking at my screen! ;)

[Caiylania]

Originally posted by Latrinsorm

Originally posted by Caiylania
As for how I found GS....... well... it was 2am..... I was horseback riding through the desert and GS came into my life.

That is all. :(

We need a "CLEARLY THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY" smiley.
That wasn't clear???

Alright here we go... My friend Dawn and I were at a club which had the gal to close at 2am. We weren't tired! So the brainstorm came for us and our friends to go to the stable (which had a picnic party area) leave my truck's music on and have fun up there.

Since we were there, I let my horse King run around in the arena next to where we were. Well, this was about 2 months after 9-11. Living on a military training facility, there were new ID checks all over the place, on the post even. Random spots where they checked people.

One of these was on the way to the posts stable (which is across the street from the shooting range.... bright eh?)

So Dawn gets this bright idea for me to ride King through the check point. Even though I was the only sober one there I went for the idea and so King was saddled up. Now this was in the Mojave desert in like November.... it was pitchblack outside the arena so until I got to the main road I had to totally trust my horse. I couldn't see shit.

So we get the road and meander down until the guard post comes in sight. The looks on those two soldier's faces was priceless. WTF!!!11!!!!!111 has never been so visual. By time I got up there they were both standing on either side of the concrete blockade and I of course, as all should, pulled my 'vehicle' to a stop.

They asked for my ID, and then one whispered to the other (sound carries out here) do we ask for registration..or ownership or whatever??

I had thought of this. So I dismounted and showed the paper we have to have showing the horse is ours (military! oiy).

This led to conversation (they had no idea there was a stable on post) and the two guys had someone to talk to (not much buisness at this time of night)

Well Dawn wanted to know what the hell was going on since I had been gone nearly half an hour by this time. My truck pulls up and she gets out. End up talking to the guards for awhile. Time comes for us to leave and the other guard suddenly goes," SHIT!!!" and runs back into the camo tent.

We look over and there is a laptop inside and he is furiously typing. Being the nosy types we were(are) Dawn and I were like, what is that?

"My wizard just died. Fuck."

I don't know why they had Internet in the middle of the desert. Don't ask.

[Snapp]

Caiy wins the award for "Most Interesting Way of Discovering GS."

[Diamondback]

Wow.

Yeah, I don't think many will top that but surprise me and keep the stories coming?

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Caiylania
Alright here we go... Thank you. :) Also, I agree with Snapp.

[Caiylania]

Do I get a trophy? :saint:

[JadeScarlet]

My friends know about gemstone, but most of them think it costs too much or just aren't interested. My parents on the other hand that playing games is childish and unacademic, and isn't good for the planet and that I should use any time not for my studies to do volunteer work and make the world a better place by working for peace and social justice.

I remember my senior year in college I got run over by a car (wasn't seriously hurt, just a sprain that put me on crutches for a while) and I was working on my thesis and going to physical therapy for my knee and doing work study and my dad calls me and says that I should spend about 20 hours a week (ie all day saturday and sunday) volunteering and said it was very selfish of me for trying to relax every now and then.

Okay that was a rant....maybe I'm just bewildered at how different I am from my parents and how they just never seem to understand me. When I met my boyfriends parents we ended up drinking and playing settlers of cataan all night. When andy met my parents we made plans to go out to dinner, but then my mom decided to work late (she works from 6 AM to about 8PM every day for the past 30 years) and cancelled and my dad said that he had something important to do and cancelled also.

Okay, I'm ranting again.

Workaholic lawyer+Workaholic social active buddhist = 2 children (1 plays lots of fantasy computer games and goes to school to study archaeology, 1 plays lots of command and conquer and goes to civil war reenactments)

I think we were both switched at birth and there is some very frustrated law student out there who's parents can't understand why she doesn't want to join their D&D campaign.

[Fengus]

Originally posted by Drew

Originally posted by Jolena
... end depending on your choices on the book (anyone remember those? ).

Choose your own adventure!


How about Lonewolf, anyone play those? Those rocked, that and there was a slew of them set in the Tolkien world.



I first found GS3 at AOL around 94, after I moved from Compuserve because the per hour rates were much cheaper (~$3 for premium stuff). At CIS I played the original MUD, MUD1, renamed British Legends (which you can play for free online now), and also The Island of Kesmai, which was text based also but shit like this (this wont come out right):
(.'s are empty spaces)

...#....#
...#....#..........a - orc
...#.a.#..........b - snake
##....###
b..............
##.^.###
...#....#
...#....#

So when I came to AOL I was looking for a replacement. I only played it for about 6 months then cashed out all my major gear. Gave it another try a year ago and have paying since, not playing constantly however. (Also I tried it for a free month when it first went to the web, but had little time to bother with it then.)

[Methais]

<<Other dude: "Dude, it has no graphics, how the hell do you know what you're doing?"

me: "Come here... read." >>

All that scrolling text tends to scare a lot of people off right away, even after you say "You don't even need to read most of that shit to know what's going on."