Cruse, if you’re not familiar with the man’s work, is a writer-cartoonist who helped pioneer the trail of gay comics. His work was found in various humor magazines, in Heavy Metal, in the Advocate throughout the 80s….he really did bring his work to a widely varied group of readers. His style is instantly recognizable, and his work generally has a deeper and more nuanced feel than a lot of sex-humor style strips I’ve seen through the years. When we started our comic Circles back in 2000, we wrote to him, and he was very kind and receptive to our letters. He even gave us permission to republish some of his funny animal strips in one of our issues.

So if you’re looking for some comic work that ranges from sweet to raunchy to emotionally wrenching, allow me to suggest three of his seminal pieces for your enjoyment.

An Eclectic Collection of Miscellany

The book I spotted way back when was a collection of Cruse’s work through the years. Entitled “Dancin’ Nekkid with the Angels”, this collection was stunning to me as a college student. Penises! The man was drawing penises! And some of those penises were *gay* penises. Given just how deep in my closet I was lurking in those days, I’m still stunned I brought the book up to the cash register. As it was, doing so helped me take my first steps towards the door of that closet. Seeking out other, similar work ultimately led me to Glad Day Books, a now-closed gay bookstore in Boston. I was soon developing a veritable library of work that had no place in a closet.

But I digress.

Cruse’s work in this book really runs the gamut from gross to funny to sad. Bizarre comics like “Under the Influence of a UFO”, in which the narrator tells us of an period during his childhood in which he repeatedly inserted a knotted string into his nose, join pieces poking fun at the gay community, like “Dirty Old Lovers”, in which a pair of lauded role-models of the community turn out to have a rather seamy side.

One story which has always stood out painfully in my mind is a piece called “Billy Goes Out” in which a young gay man cruises a gay neighborhood looking for, as Cruse puts it “sex and/or love.” The reason I find it so haunting is that the character, while looking for whatever he’s looking for, is remembering and/or fantasizing about various events in his life. These seem to include what might be the funeral of his lover, and the violent reactions of his lover’s family towards him. I felt very deeply about this piece, and it still affects me whenever I read it.

A Story of Love, Told in Strip Form

It was many years after reading “Dancin’ Naked with the Angels” that I discovered Cruse’s comic strip “Wendel”. I found it through a book called “Wendell All Together”…which wasn’t, actually, the complete book it sounds like. Happily for you, dear readers, the event that inspired this column was the release of “The Complete Wendell”, a new collection of everything, including a brand new “Where Are They Now” comic strip and an introduction by Alison Bechdel. This is an excellent piece, and it really illustrates Cruse’s ability to tell a story, still be funny, develop likable (and not so likable) characters, and keep things moving at an excellent pace.

The strip centers on Wendel Trupstock, a young aspiring-writer who’s looking for love and/or sex, to paraphrase from above. He finds both in the form of Ollie Chambers, who yearns to be an actor (but who works in a copy shop.) Other characters in the series include Sterno, a childhood friend of Ollie’s who invades his apartment; Farley, Ollie’s son from a disastrous marriage; Deb, Wendel’s co-worker at Effluvia magazine, and her lover Tina; Wendel’s uncle Luke, and his lover Clark (the Dirty Old Lovers mentioned above), and a huge cast that help the main characters find their way through a maze of love, life, fear, and the crazy, troubled times of the 80s for the gay community. Honestly, though, it feels just as on-spot and topical today as it was 20-30 years ago.

One review I quite like about “Wendel” says, if I may paraphrase, that the strip pulls back the curtain on being gay and reveals that the characters are just people. And that’s just how it feels. You could substitute any sort of relationship for the relationships shown in “Wendel”, and the stories would be just as poignant, funny, touching, real, and warm.

Cruse’s Masterwork?

In 1993, DC Comics started a new imprint called “Paradox Press”. This imprint released some of the most incredible and important comics work of the last few decades, like Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics”, John Wagner and Vince Locke’s “A History of Violence”, Max Alan Collins’ “Road to Perdition”, J. M. DeMatteis and Glenn Barr’s “Brooklyn Dreams”, and Howard Cruse’s “Stuck Rubber Baby”.

Published in 1995, “Stuck Rubber Baby” is a coming of age story about Toland Polk, a young man living in Alabama in the 1960s at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. As the novel progresses, he comes to terms both with his own racism, which he wars against, and with his homosexuality, which he gradually comes to accept.

This book is amazing. Not only is it a deeply moving story about incredibly important issues, but it’s also some of Cruse’s most detailed artwork. It uses a complex cross-hatching style to give texture to objects and backgrounds, and it has more panels per page than many comics. It took four years to create, and the love in it really shows.

Without a doubt, I feel that “Stuck Rubber Baby”, while not as fun as many of Cruse’s works, is probably his most important and the one that will continue to be found in bookstores and libraries for years and years to come.

Your Turn

Do you know Howard Cruse’s work? Is there a piece of his I might not have mentioned that’s a particular favorite of yours? Let us all know.

That’s right, folks. This geek girl is a football fan! And I know I’m not the only one.

Think geekery and sports don’t go together? It’s time to dispense of the stereotype that geeks are the weaklings who couldn’t play or even understand sports. In a Venn diagram of geeks and sports fans, there is big area where the two groups overlap. There are a lot of us hybrids, and we should feel free to wave our Terrible Towels.

From Geek To Sporty Geek

Admittedly, I have never been much of an athlete. I was the chubby kid who was picked last for the dodgeball team and was almost a full lap behind the rest of my gym classmates. I went on to play intramural broomball in college, but you could never rightfully call me a jock. (Anyone who knows me in real life is laughing their asses off right now at the thought of me as a jock.)

I liked watching sports, though! My junior high years were a golden age in the NBA, with players like Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone making the game classy and fun to watch. Like a lot of North Dakota kids, I bled purple for the Vikings, even though I really didn’t understand football. When I went off to college, I took advantage of my student pass and went to every hockey game I could, and a fair number of football games too. The geek who would become my husband finally explained football to me, and it opened the gates to football heaven. It was a proud day when my college-mate (and fellow small-town North Dakota kid) Jimmy Kleinsasser was drafted by the Vikings. Since then I’ve spent pretty much every Sunday afternoon planted in front of the TV, and I’ve become enough of a football fan that I even watch games between teams I don’t really care about, because a bad football game beats 4 good hours of work.

Geeky Sports Fans Are Everywhere!

Speaking for my personal geek circle, pretty much all of them have at least a passing interest in sports, and many are as rabid football fans as my husband and I are. Last weekend’s Star Wars game was interrupted several times for updates on the college games, and we were sidelined for a few minutes when we were all stunned by the loss suffered by the University of Montana Grizzlies. Most of us don’t game on Sundays during football season, and a number of us have skipped Saturday night games to watch the NFL playoffs.

Plenty of the geeks I know only online are sports fans, too, based on their Tweets and Facebook posts on game day. As much as I hate the Green Bay Packers, I grit my teeth and bear it when reading Margaret Weis’s and John Kovalic’s status updates. Because they’re Margaret Weis and John Kovalic. The rest of you can keep your Packers love to yourselves!

The loyalty and dedication many sports fans have for their teams borders on the obsession other geeks have with Star Trek or Final Fantasy. The guys and girls who get into costume for every game are the cosplayers of the sports world (those Raiders fans are a sight to behold!). And then there’s the fantasy football geek. Have you listened to these guys, with their stats and trades? They’re huge geeks! Nerds, even! Whether they realize it or not, the guys at the sports bar rattling off Jay Cutler’s number of fumbles for this season versus last season without having to look it up have crossed over the border into the Realms of Geekdom.

Should You Transition To Sporty Geek?

Should all geeks like sports? Of course not. If you’ve tried watching sports, even with a kind friend explaining the rules to you, but it just doesn’t catch your interest, that’s just fine. Like any other thing that people geek out about, it’s not for everyone. But it’s yet another available geek flavor, and no geek should ever think that it’s against some unwritten geek rule to like sports. Whatever sport you like, there’s no reason you can’t set the dice aside for a few hours and watch your favorite team or athlete do their best to roll a critical hit.

And for those who have joined the +5 Cha community, actually becoming active in a sport is a good way to help in your health and fitness goals. If you don’t like the gym, taking part in a team sport can be a good way to get your exercise in while having a lot of fun. After all, sports are games – and we’re all about games, right?

In the end, my Vikings lost this week. Oh well, Vikings fans are used to disappointment. I guess that’s one thing that makes RPGs better than sports – your team (of adventurers) might screw up, but at least they don’t lose!

What’s your favorite sport? Do you geek out about it, or is it a casual interest for you?

Before you accuse me of joining the commercialism bandwagon, remember that I’m talking about making gifts. I’m as annoyed as anyone when WalMart starts putting out Christmas trees before they stock the Halloween candy. But for the crafty geek, this is the time to start making plans for making gifts.

Making things with your own two hands takes time – much more time than a trip to the mall to buy gift cards for everyone – and if you don’t start now, you may find yourself taking a week off from work in early December, crocheting and sewing for 16 hours a day, not enjoying a bit of it and refusing to touch your crafts again for months afterwards. (Yes, I speak from experience.)

People who know me in real life know I’m as big a procrastinator as they come, but even I have been known to make a plan from time to time. And I have one for making gifts for the important people in my life for whatever holiday they celebrate at the end of the year. Even if you’ve never made anything before in your life, there’s still time to do it, if you follow this timeline.

September: Make A Game Plan

Make a list, check it twice. Think about who you want to make gifts for this year. Write down their names, then come back to it in a day and see if you forgot anyone. Then, add a couple of empty slots to the list to account for the unexpected that can happen between now and the holidays: the old friend you reconnect with, the new friend you make, the person you somehow completely forgot about. Now you know how many gifts you need to make.

Pick a project. In my experience, it’s easiest to make everyone the same thing, or at least similar things. Doing so means less stress, because you only have one supply stash to worry about, and you can get a rhythm going and maybe even make an assembly line, depending on what you’re making.

When picking a project, be realistic with yourself about the cost of the supplies and the time involved. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

Here are some examples of things you can easily make for everyone between now and the holidays: a hand-painted mini representing their character, a dice bag, a simple hat or scarf, a piece of jewelry, homemade goodies. Things you might be able to make, if you really work at it: a full jewelry set, a cosplay-appropriate Hogwarts or Dr. Who scarf, a drawing or painting of their character. Things you should probably go ahead and make your plan for next year: a full cosplay outfit, a full-sized afghan/blanket, an embroidered family crest for their character.

Money, money, money. If you already have a lot of craft supplies on hand, making gifts can be very cost-effective! If you have to buy everything new, it can add up quickly. And don’t forget about shipping costs! That’s what often bites people in the ass – they have the money to make the gifts, but not enough to send them (this has happened to me a couple times). Start budgeting now.

Have a back-up plan. Life has a funny way of happening while we’re busy making other plans. Something as simple as coming down with a bad case of con crud can leave you scrambling for time to make all the gifts you had planned. Decide now what you’re going to do if you get in a bind, whether it’s making cool I.O.U. cards to give your friends (with promises of the finished gift to come!) or putting the minis away for another time and making cookies instead.

October: Get Things Rolling

Learn your craft. If you’ve never knitted or baked before, learn as early as possible (you may even want to do this in September, if time allows). Buy an instructional book, look up videos on YouTube, or find someone to teach you. Sometimes crafts come easily to a person, and you’ll pick it up right away. Sometimes you struggle. If you’re having a hard time learning how to crochet, this may not be the year to make everyone a hat. Don’t feel bad – remember, you have a back-up plan to fall back on!

Do a practice run. So you think you’ve found the perfect jewelry project/knitting pattern/fudge recipe for making the most awesome gifts EVAR. Great! Now, make one of those necklaces or pairs of socks, or a batch of fudge, for yourself. Is it as great as it looked on paper? If you’re not happy with it for yourself, you won’t feel good about giving it as a gift. This is also a great way to judge the time involved. If making that necklace turns out to have a lot more time-consuming fiddly bits than you expected, you need to either reschedule your time or pick a simpler project.

Gather supplies. This time of year, craft stores have sales and coupons galore. Check the Sunday paper, or better yet, sign up for their e-mail newsletters to get coupons delivered right to your inbox. Grocery stores also start having baking supplies on sale around this time, and most of the ingredients for your holiday goodies can be bought a couple months in advance with no problems – even butter can be bought early when it’s on sale, and stored in the freezer.

Get to crafting! Start making all those awesome gifts. Figure out how long each one takes, and make a plan for how you’re going to get them all done in time. Make the gifts that need to be shipped first.

Early November: In The Home Stretch

Craft, craft, craft. You’ve got a lot of gifts to make, and the holidays will be here sooner than you think. Don’t procrastinate! It’s much better to get everything done early than to be panicking in December.

Buy wrapping/shipping supplies. The stores are full of gift bags, boxes, and wrapping paper in November – buy it now for the best selection. If you’re giving homemade goodies this year, pick up some holiday tins, or even better, the reusable Ziploc containers, and consider the container to be part of the gift. Stop by the post office to pick up some of their free Priority Mail boxes, and buy the tape, bubble wrap, and tissue paper you need to make sure everything reaches its destination safe and sound.

Late November/Early December: Wrap It Up!

Bake those goodies for shipment. The post office gets crazy busy the closer we get to the holidays, and you really don’t want your cookies and fudge getting lost in the shuffle. If I’m shipping goodies, I try to bake them on Thanksgiving weekend or in the first week of December, and mail them ASAP. Always use Priority Mail for goodies, and make sure the boxes are marked “perishable”.

If you want to go ahead and bake the treats for local delivery at the same time, go ahead! You can either deliver them early (why wait for Yule? I want cookies NOW!) or pack them up in their containers and pop them in the freezer until the gift exchange party.

Ship everything else. Strive to have everything in the mail by the second week of December.

Get out the wrapping paper. Once you have everything made for your local deliveries, make a wrapping assembly line and get everything tied up pretty with a bow. Don’t forget to put a gift tag on each one as you go! Then stack them by the Festivus pole and relax with some hot cider. Your work here is done!

Play Santa! Give out those awesome gifts and enjoy the warm fuzzies you get from seeing your hard work delight your friends and family.

Making gifts for the holidays can be a lot of work, but it’s also very rewarding and a lot of fun. Just start thinking about it now, pace yourself, and remember – if it becomes more stressful than you think it’s worth, you’re defeating the purpose of the holidays. There’s no shame in buying everyone a book instead of making them a bookmark if that makes your life easier. But if you have the time, the supplies, and the inclination, give it a try. It just might make this holiday season the best one EVER.

What are you making for gifts this year? Have you received a handmade gift that meant a lot to you?

If not, here are a few ideas to get you thinking…

What to Know

Basic phrases in Klingon
You should be able to greet people, bid farewell, and casually remark that “today is a good day to die” in Klingon. If you haven’t checked this off your list yet, you can find instructions and pronunciation guides of all kinds online. Remember to use the phrases regularly so they’ll stay fresh in your mind. majQa’!

How to set up your computer and network
If you’re proud of your computer skills, you probably did this when you were eight. For the knitting, manga, or model geeks out there, this is still an essential geeky skill that people expect you to have. And it’s useful to be able to help that pretty girl or cute guy set up their new computer or home network, if you catch my drift.

The entire “all your base” script
Any geek should recognize this, and if you don’t, you need to learn now. Youtube can instruct you in the ways of this secret geek handshake. If you’re not sure if you’re among friends, blurt out, “All your base are belong to us.” If there’s laughter, you’re safe. If you get blank stares, edge away. Just beware… if you recite it too much around your friends, it gets annoying, and somebody might set up you the bomb!

At least one computer language (other than HTML)
You probably already know basic HTML, but don’t be lazy. Take the time to learn some computer language and you can impress employers, cute nerds, or webmasters at will. You might even be surprised at how useful it can be.

The basic plot of either Star Wars or Star Trek
How many times have fellow geeks started making red shirt jokes or quoting lines that made you stare blankly? It’s a really embarrassing feeling! Learn the plot of one… or both for bonus points and best results.

What to Do

Make or build something related to your main obsession
If you’re a gamer, have you ever built a gaming computer? If you love manga, have you tried to write one? If you play D&D, have you built your own fantasy world and campaign from scratch? Try it out! All of these activities are fun and will award you plenty of geek XP.

Go to a fan convention
It can be about Star Trek or Supernatural, Comic-Con or Anime North… as long as it’s geeky and you go, all’s fair. This is the ultimate experience in geekiness for many, though others say it’s the ultimate experience in overheating and fatigue. It’s still full of nerdy glee either way.

Drive a Prius and pretend you’re in White and Nerdy
Do I really have to explain this? If you’d prefer to avoid the experience, act out any other Weird Al video and you can still get the nerd cred. Tape it and post it on Youtube if you feel like risking being laughed at (a la the lightsaber kid), for the chance of bonding with other nerds.

Play Pong on the oldest (or newest) console you can find
Program your own if you want to really impress people. Otherwise, it’s still fair game if you’ve played it enough to describe how the game works. …you have played it before, right?

Back up everything
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… a public service announcement disguised as a life list item. Seriously, back up all your stuff – WordPress installations, games, emails, whatever you have that you’d miss. Make it a fun afternoon with some Pepsi and chips, music, and nerdy friends out to accomplish the same mission. Take pictures of all your external hard drives in a circle. Did I make it sound fun yet? Darn…

What to Be

The life of the party (even if just once)
You might be a socialite geek, or perhaps you’re a total introvert (I’m raising my hand), but this is an experience that’s bound to make you happy. Maybe it’s a geeky party or a “normal” one, but either way, having everyone hanging onto each word of your latest story is a pretty cool feeling.

A star in Japan
Maybe it’s harder to be one these days, but the Japanese are still generally fascinated by foreigners. Take full advantage of this status and use your gaijin power to wile your way into show biz. Appear on talk shows for them to laugh at your bad Japanese, or volunteer for game shows; voice over English in commercials or coach famous Japanese singers. It’s easy to be a star there, and you’ll be the envy of many sheltered North American geeks.

A cosplayer
If you haven’t done this yet, you need to. It’s a surreal and bizarre experience if you’re holding tightly onto your expectations or haven’t been to a convention before, but it can be hilarious and very gratifying when photographers rush to take pictures of your costume.

A podcaster
Chances are very good that you already have all the equipment you need. Maybe your podcast will only last for an episode or two, but it’s still pretty cool to be able to say, “Check out my podcast.” The public downloads podcasts… the geeky make them.

The proudest geek you can be
Yes, it’s cheesy. It’s also essential if you want to identify as a geek in public. Though the very g-word has shifted from having entirely negative connotations to having a kind of cool, chic air about it, it’s still important that we represent geekdom proudly!

Your List

So, what’s on your life list? Here are a few things on mine that inspired this post:

• Play a full board game of Sid Meier’s Civilization without sleeping.
• Visit Akihabara (in Tokyo).
• Build my own gaming computer.

Share your geeky goals and dreams! Don’t be shy, you’re probably not the only one who wants to do it.

GenCon is next weekend!  Have you made your packing list yet? While everyone and their grandma will remind you to shower daily and remember your dice bag and extra socks and underwear, I’m going to take it one step further. These are things you may not think to pack, but will save your game – and possibly your dignity.

1. Writing Utensils

For some folks, this is a given. They’re in your gaming bag. Done and done. But how many KINDS of writing utensils do you need?  Turns out, four.

1. Mechanical pencils with erasers: For most RPGs and other games. Mechanical is important because sharpening is annoying (and requires bringing a sharpener).
2. Pens: For when you’re sitting at a table for twelve at The Ram, getting separate checks and paying with credit cards. Just like every other table.
3. Black and silver Sharpies: The best options for getting books signed by your favorite writers, especially if you catch them at a time when they’re not at their booth.
4. Wet erase marker: For D&D companion character cards. The glossy material is impossible to write on with anything else.

2. More Than One Pair of Shoes

I made this mistake at Origins. I thought, “I love these shoes! They are so comfy!”  By Friday night, I was ready to lop my feet off and crawl around Columbus. It is tempting to free up real estate in your suitcase by wearing the One Pair of shoes for the weekend, but do yourself a favor and pack a second pair of footwear. Swap out your shoes every day. It’ll combat sweaty foot odor AND make your ten little piggies happier.

3. Toilet Paper

I’ll wait until you’re done laughing…

Are we good? Hear me out on this one. In the travel aisle of Target, you can get a little individual roll of toilet paper. It’s about the size of a toilet paper tube and in a plastic case. Slip this in your purse or gaming bag. You probably won’t need it.

But… big con, lots of people. You rush into the bathroom. IT’S A POTTY EMERGENCY! You sit, you ____, you reach for the toilet paper and… it’s all out.  You could ask a neighbor if they can spare a square, or you can reach in your gaming bag for your personal stash and think, “THANK THE GODS GEEK’S DREAM GIRL TOLD ME ABOUT THIS!”

Note: As much as I love success stories, please don’t share these particular success stories with me. Thanks!

4. A USB Hub

How many people do you cram into your hotel room?

How many electronic devices does each person have?

How many electrical outlets are in a hotel room? 2, 3, 4? Maybe, if you move the furniture and unplug the lamps.

Bring a USB hub and you’ll be the hero of your hotel room. Everyone can charge up! No more fighting for outlets, angering the hotel staff by shoving desks across the room, or running out of battery just before you could snap that awesome photo with Wil Wheaton.

Note: A power strip works just as well, but get the ones that allow bigger AC adapters to hang off the edge rather than take up two spaces.

5. Copies of Your Identification, Kept Elsewhere

Make a copy of both sides of your driver’s license or state ID and/or your passport picture page and keep them in a place other than your wallet or purse. Just like toilet paper, you probably won’t need it, but if you do, you’ll want to kiss me.  If your wallet is stolen by an industrious pickpocket or you leave it on a table somewhere and it vaporizes, you are pretty S.O.L. when it comes to flying home, at least not without a heap of trouble. Having a copy of your ID makes it much easier to explain to the friendly TSA agent that you really are who you say you are, just sans wallet.

How About You?

What other surprising or weird things do you find indispensable for cons?

See you in Indy, geek friends!

I’m reminded of what Kyle’s mom said in the South Park movie:

“Horrific, deplorable violence is okay, as long as people don’t say any naughty words!”

Roleplaying is an escape from the real world, where we can forget about the things that make our normal lives less pleasant. But romance is one of the good things in our world! If you’re a regular reader here at GDG, even just of the Geek Life columns, odds are that you have a little romantic in you. Why wouldn’t you want your precious characters to find some love and happiness?

I want to make it clear that I am not advocating RPing sex at the table. While that can certainly spice up your after-game activities with a real-life partner, unless it’s restricted to a one-on-one game session or to a very small, very close-knit and comfortable group, it’s going to be awkward at best, squicky at worst. That said, I am a big advocate of PCs and NPCs alike flirting, hooking up, and even falling in love and having babies, regardless of setting or game system.

What About Love?

It’s never occurred to me not to have romance in my RPGs, and perhaps I’ve been lucky that it’s never been an issue with any GM or game group I’ve played with. For me, I like the realism involved. Boys and girls, boys and boys, and girls and girls are going to be attracted to each other. That’s simple human (or elf, or dwarf) nature, and something I’m not comfortable ignoring.

The door of opportunity for character development opens wide when a little romance is introduced. As an example, look at the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. (Seriously, go look at it. Then wipe up the drool and come back to finish reading my column.) Would Spartacus be as deep a character without the undying love he feels for his wife, Sura? That passion is what drives him to fight as he does in the arena. Is your character an adventurer just for kicks, or is she trying to earn enough coin to free her beloved from the mining camp he’s been unjustly imprisoned in? Love is a powerful motivator, and romantic successes and failures alike can shape a character’s personality.

If you’re a fan of roleplaying as opposed to roll-playing, the laws of attraction present some fantastic RP opportunities. A little diplomatic flirting can help you get everything from information to a discount from the blacksmith. Having deeper romantic connections in high places can get you and your companions out of a tight spot (or into it, if the romance ended on a sour note). Love interests within a party can bond a wizard and a cleric into a spell-slinging battle machine who can predict the other’s actions and fight in perfect harmony. And of course, GMs enjoy being evil and having one lover wounded or captured to see how the other reacts. Romance can add serious depth to the game.

What’s The Problem?

The question of whether to have romance play a part in a tabletop game tends to get kicked around a lot among gamers, both on internet forums and in person. Those who are against it are usually pretty vocal, and there are a few common themes in their reasoning.

One is that romance in any form will be a distraction and take away from the game. That can certainly happen. It’s also a distraction if the ranger insists on playing his flute at any opportunity, or the barbarian makes a ridiculous battle cry every time the party is trying to sneak up on an enemy, or if the monk keeps disappearing to work an investigation from his own angle. Anything can be a distraction if played inappropriately. It’s the GM’s job to make sure that doesn’t happen, but the players also have a responsibility for their own actions. Don’t turn the romance into a side show and there won’t be an issue.

Another is gender issues. I have known of some gamers – usually guys, but occasionally girls too – who have hang-ups with, say, a male GM, voicing a female NPC, propositioning their male PC. I would urge gamers not to read something into the roleplaying that isn’t actually there. Remember that it’s called “role” playing. If your cleric, Bob, accepts an offer to share a room at the inn with Ed’s sorceress, Jillian, that implies nothing about your feelings for Ed, or Ed’s feelings for you. It’s about Bob and Jillian. Be confident in yourself, your friends, and the abilities of all involved to roleplay, and there’s nothing to worry about.

Sometimes, I hear the argument that there are no rules or precedent for sweet lovin’ in any of the game rules (the official ones, not the 3PP supplements). I would like to direct you to the “Life in Faerûn” section of the Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, released by the big boys themselves at WotC. Right there in the equipment list are nararoot and cassil powder, both of which are described as herbal methods of birth control. If that isn’t official acknowledgement that sex can and does happen between characters, I don’t know what is.

Maybe We Should Slow Things Down

There are obvious times when you should not add a romantic element to your game.

If even one person in the gaming group is uncomfortable with the topic. Gaming is a fun activity that’s supposed to relieve stress, not cause it. Gauge your players carefully, and if they appear uncomfortable, pull them aside and ask them about it. If the seducing of the bartender simply isn’t their favorite part of the game, but only because they’d rather be killing goblins, that’s OK. Not every player loves every minute of every game session. If the seducing of the bartender is seriously freaking them out, though, it needs to be cut out of the game if you value that player.

If there are kids playing at the table. This shouldn’t require any explanation. Teenagers are a different story, and need to be judged on a case-by-case basis.

If you have “that guy” (or girl) at the table. You know who I’m talking about. The one who giggles like a 12-year-old at any mention of “sex”, “breast”, “wood”, or “duty”. The one who makes inappropriate comments, both IC and OOC. The one who would just make a romance-themed moment in game awkward for everyone. If this person games with you, you’re better off leaving the love for sessions when they’re not present, or for another game group entirely. (Then again, why is this person at your table in the first place? That may be a subject for another post…)

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, the only way to successfully bring a new theme – romantic or otherwise – into your game is to know your players. If you’re confident they can roll with it if an NPC flirts with them, go ahead and do it in the next session. If you think they can handle it, but aren’t completely sure, ask them. If it just seems like a disaster waiting to happen, don’t do it. If you’re a player who would like to see a little more love and a little less war in the game, talk to the GM. She might be willing to bring it in if she knows the players are interested.

But how to add romance in, and to what degree? I’ll talk about that more…in a later post. Bwahahahaha!

Is there romance in your RPG? Why or why not?

You’ve told your mother and endured her lecture about safety while traveling abroad.

You’re about to depart for Tokyo, the land of incredible robots, super-smart scientists, and… let’s face it, hot girls and guys. (And really weird fetishes, but I don’t judge.) It’s the Mecca of geeks everywhere. Of course you’re excited.

So what are you going to do there besides glee yourself silly and look for geisha? This mini-guide is the jumping-off point to help you plan your perfect vacation. These are just a few flavors of geeks, but even if you don’t take a special interest in these types of geekiness, you’ll probably enjoy the destinations I’m covering… so read on!

Anime/Manga Geeks

Has anyone not seen a Miyazaki film? If you’re a geek, you need to visit the Ghibli museum. The museum isn’t a typical, boring museum… it has places to rest if you just happen to get sick while visiting, a no-photography policy instituted so that you remember to experience the museum with your own senses rather than through a camera viewfinder, and a set of principles that revolves around creating a place to explore, enjoy, and feel. You won’t be disappointed!

You probably know the name of Osamu Tezuka, also called the “God of manga” by fans of manga worldwide. The museum consists of permanent exhibits, short film screenings, an animation workshop for you to try it yourself, and a library for you to read manga in. A manga fan’s dream come true.

Finally, don’t forget to visit Comiket if you’re in Japan at the right time. It takes place over three days, and occurs every August and December. Imagine the biggest comic book fair you possibly can, then imagine over 500,000 people attending it. Yeah, that’s Comiket for you. If you can read Japanese, all the doujinshi you can imagine are open to you. To look for specific retailers or genres, just get the catalog (in book form if possible, so you can bring it along while visiting Comiket).

Train Geeks

Riding the shinkansen is practically mandatory for train geeks visiting Tokyo. All five of the main shinkansen routes start in Tokyo, so depending on where else in Japan you want to travel, you can choose the appropriate line. One runs between the major cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Hakata, another goes north, a third goes north-west, a fourth goes to central Honshu, and the fifth takes you to Nagano. Enough choices for your geeky satisfaction?

On that note, you’ll probably want to pick up a Japan rail pass if you’re going to be traveling outside of Tokyo much, or riding the shinkansen – though it doesn’t include the nozumi (super-fast) shinkansen. It has to be purchased before you travel, but it will save you a lot of money.

And finally, if you’re a train geek, you can’t go to Japan without visiting the Saitama Train Museum. It’s located in Saitama and focuses on history, education and the preservation of the heritage and physical elements of Japanese trains… and admission is just 1,000 yen! How can you say no to that? Some of the exhibits include Japan’s first locomotive, early passenger carriages, locomotives from the end of the Meiji era, and more train cars and locomotives all the way through to the shinkansen era and rail freight system.

Geek Mecca

Have you noticed the destination that’s missing above? If you answered, “What about Akihabara?!” then you’re right (and if you’ve been thinking, “This z doesn’t know what she’s talking about, Akihabara pwns all!” then I apologize for leading you on like this). That’s because just about every flavor of geek can find something to entertain them in this famous “geek district” of Tokyo. Heck, maybe it’s the primary inspiration for your trip to Mecca – er, Tokyo.

Go to maid cafés, or the equivalents that exist for ladies, too! Don’t restrict your visits to the daytime, either… going at night can yield many memorable experiences, too. Huge department stores full of manga, small used video game stores, and little electronics and computer part stalls will all draw you in and fascinate you. It’s impossible to list everything about Akihabara that a geek will find heavenly. Just go.

Don’t pretend you didn’t have one long geekgasm while reading this article. Now you know the must-visit places, so start saving for that plane ticket… and the suitcase full of weird, random, and high-tech stuff you’re bound to bring back.

What places in Tokyo are you planning to visit on your dream trip? I’d love to hear your itineraries!

UPDATE (4/22/10): The hiring window is CLOSED. We have nearly 100 candidates to consider and we’re pretty sure the perfect ones are in there!

We’re hiring!

Geek’s Dream Girl is hiring article writers for both the Geek Life and Geek Love sections of our website. Since being hired as the full-time copywriter at ThinkGeek, I just haven’t had the time to dedicate to writing blog posts. I also know there are lots of geek girls out there with a lot to contribute who need a platform to do so. Seems win-win that we pair up, yes?

Here’s what you need to know:

About Us

• Established in February 2008
• Between 12-15k unique visitors each month (per Google Analytics)
• Written by geek girls (E, J, and sometimes-Y) with occasional guest posts
• Focused on topics of dating & relationships, online dating, geek news, culture, and gaming
• Our Business: Online dating profile writing for geeks, by geeks

(We are not hiring online dating profile writers or coaches at this time. The lovely J and I are taking care of that just fine on our own… so far!)

About You

• Geek girl, age 18+ (one exception, see below)
• An awesome writer, even if you’re not published anywhere yet
• Interested in one (or any!) of the following:
  • Writing articles about topics important to other geeks, especially if said topics are not already covered by one of our current writers (otaku, cosplay, board gaming, technology & gadgets, comic books, RPGs other than D&D, etc).
  • Writing articles about dating and relationships (bonus points if your degree or pending degree is in a related field!)
  • Writing articles about dating from the viewpoint of the homosexual geek (for this, you’d obviously have to BE a homosexual geek.) – This is the only area where we’d take a male writer. GAY GEEK GUYS – we want you!
• Can write 1 post per week, approximately 500-700 words
• Would like to be a paid writer on the intarwebz
• Not a diva, attention whore, or shit-stirrer. That’s just not our vibe.

To apply

1. Send an email to both e AT geeksdreamgirl DOT com and j AT geeksdreamgirl DOT com.
2. Tell us a bit about yourself, your writing experience (again, don’t worry if you’re not published anywhere yet!), and the types of articles you’d love to write.
3. Pitch us ideas for 3 different articles. Give us a title and short synopsis.

If we’re interested in you, we will contact you to ask for a sample article.  This article will remain 100% yours, unless we hire you, in which case it’ll count as your first official article on Geek’s Dream Girl! Compensation will be discussed privately with the candidate or candidates we choose.

Questions? Ask ‘em below. Don’t be shy.

Got a friend who would be perfect for the job? Please pass the link on via Facebook, Twitter, email, and IMs. Spread the word!

I’m a major fan of Harry Potter, and I’m eagerly awaiting opening night for the sixth movie.  I’ve been to at least one midnight book release party, and I intend on getting a Hogwarts Express at some point for my Christmas tree.

It wasn’t always like this, however.  I once said I would never read Harry Potter, because it was a cult (cult meaning obsessive fandom, not anything religious).  The first three or so books had taken the world by storm, and I barely knew anything about it, although I admitted it would have been right up my alley at ten years old.

Then I saw the first movie.  I was entranced, and read the first book.  It was good, but I wasn’t hooked just yet, and I decided I’d read each subsequent book after the film.  Fast forward to one year later: the second movie comes out, I read the second book… and the third… and the fourth… all in 24 hours.

I don’t know why I get so stubborn when “everyone” loves something.  My sister and brother-in-law tried to get me to watch Firefly for probably more than a year, but they were so gung-ho about it that it turned me off.  Eventually I caught it when some friends were doing a mini-marathon, and guess what?  It was a great series.  I loved it.

I could say that over-zealous fans turn me off, but I didn’t actually know any of the Harry Potter sort before I read the series; and besides, who am I to judge someone for taking joy in their fandom?  At any rate, whether it was young rebellion or a bit of sf snobbery, I’ve made an effort to take more suggestions over the years.

What about you?  What have you come to love despite your best efforts?

Aside from the ubiquitous Ahnold one-liners that make me groan, I really liked the film.  And it got me thinking: in many respects, short stories often make better fodder for films than do novels, especially in the realm of sf.

One of the main problems in developing a sf novel for film has to do with world-building.  A sf or fantasy novel often deals in totally foreign environments that are very specific.   The author spends a certain amount of effort creating a setting; the idea is to envelop the reader in this new world. If the author and the reader don’t share exactly the same vision, that’s okay; no one will ever know. in a short story, words are more often reserved for advancing the plot.

When a filmmaker attempts to create an alien world, they’re often asking for trouble – whether it’s because of the limitations of the technology or budget, or because their vision clashes with longtime readers.  Those who have been convincingly enveloped in their own vision are often jarred when a movie isn’t how they always envisioned it.

Similarly, the pacing of a novel – especially an epic tale of 200,000 words or more – doesn’t always lend itself to the pacing of a good movie, and tough decisions must be made in the adaptation.   Inevitably, someone’s “favorite part” gets left out (Tom Bombadil, anyone?).

When it comes to movies, a short story is more like the broad strokes of a painting, ready to be filled in. That’s not to say that short stories can’t be memorable or evocative, but there’s often less details to quibble about. Whereas a movie might have to condense a few extraneous characters into one or cut a subplot altogether from a novel, there’s usually no such problems with a short story.  A few words of description can become something much more – it might not match with the reader’s vision, but they’re typically less invested in a short story.

In essence, with a short story a movie can typically add, whereas in a novel someone is often forced to subtract.  There are exceptions to everything, of course, as well as the occasional movie that is actually better than the source material altogether (I prefer the movie version of Jurassic Park, though I wish they had left in the bit about the triceratops and gizzard stones) .

I do think it’s strange that short stories are becoming less popular at the same time as Hollywood seems to be needing more and more original inspiration.  Next time I complain about yet another sequel or remake (I hear they’re remaking Footloose), perhaps I should pick up an anthology or a magazine subscription!

Do you have any favorite short stories that you’d like to see in movie form (mine is “The Veldt”)?  Any adaptations, of novel or short story, that strike you as particularly wonderful or terrible?