Retreat Forward

I find something very unappealing about viewing tabletop gaming (or any hobby in general) as if it’s some kind of important cultural identity. I don’t personally find a lot of value in tying my personal worth to a niche hobby, even one that I greatly enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bothered by taking the game seriously. I’m a pretty obsessive RPG fan myself. I know more about the history of Dungeons & Dragons than any person really needs to know. My hobby is pervasive, going beyond the actual play of the game. I spend a lot of my limited free time tweaking rules, home-brewing game systems, or working on campaign ideas. I’ve got my own campaign world that has existed (mostly in my head) since my buddies and I first explored its lands some 20 years ago. You know, just like you. And that’s the thing. There are casual gamers, to be sure, but the most vocal gamers, the ones you’re bound to notice online, share an interest in RPGs like one could call, dare I say, geeky.

It’s amazing how time consuming college can be. I had more time when I was in the Army than I do now. Granted, I’m not in class the equivalent of a full workday, but the combination of homework, studying, and regular father-of-four family stuff is a flat-out exhausting. Part of it was getting used to the change. Spring classes turned into Summer classes, which will soon give way to Fall classes. The schedule changes every few months, but I’m getting used to the feel and flow of balancing the workload. Weekends, surprisingly enough, are relatively free (as long as I keep as busy as possible during the week). In an effort to get back into things, I’m making a concentrated focus on this blog. It’s mostly an echo chamber, I know, but I didn’t start it so I’d get famous or even any followers. The writing is the important thing. Giving myself a goal of at least a weekly post helps keep me organized and productive. Yes, I’m organized and productive with regards to my classes, bu