Interview with a Gamemaster

Part 2 in the Pay to Play Chronicles

Author's Note: If you haven't read my earlier post Tales of a Mercenary Gamer, go do so. Now!Macht Shnell!

As I sat in the parking lot...er driveway, of Casa 'de Gamer I realized that this whole thing might just be for real. I got out of the Baby Truck and strolled towards the door. I had no idea at this point of what to expect. I was fairly certain that there would be no black t-shirts and body odor.

I rang the doorbell and was greeted by a well-kept individual. He looked like he belonged in a country club; I found myself secretly hoping his name wasn't Bif or Tad.

"You must be Simp" he said.

"Yessir, and you must be Malaichai" I replied.

"Please, come on in!" His smile was warm, his home was well-lit. He had yorkies. "Can I offer you anything to drink?"

"Coke would be wonderful."

He fetched me a cold coke and returned to the well endowed primary living area. In the interim I had the opportunity to take in my surroundings. Ample light shown down on the area from a high vaulted ceiling so as not cause glare on the big-screen television. To my right a stairwell descended into what I could only assume was the den of evil, or gaming den. I could see book shelves from where I stood. On a nearby coffee table I spied the latest Stephen King novel, that's good I thought to myself. I also saw the one of the "Left Behind" novels nearby, hrm I thought...maybe it's a gift. The games for the game cube were the to-be-expected faire, a few sports titles, a few first person shooters. The house was modestly decorated, but had obviously been done so by a woman. So he's married, okay that's good I thought...unless of course she hate's being a gaming widow. No toys scattered anywhere, relatively valuable objects within easy reach from the floor, the dogs are excitable but not neurotic...good, no children to interupt.

"So, Simpson", Malichai said returning "I have to say that you don't look or smell like a gamer." The smile on his face was infectuous, the gleam in his eye made me at ease. I was going to like this guy.

"Well, that's good," I was kind of stunned actually, "I hope."

"Oh definately," he replied, a gentle laugh framing the phrase.

From there we launched into conversation that basically summarized the experience of the initial exchanges and before long we were joined by Malichai's business partner The Pipe Smoking Man and an employee that I will call Walks With Angels.

The three proceeded to launch into the interview. I whipped out the palm-pilot and began taking notes. The story they laid at my feet was one that I had indeed been anticipating, and quite frankly, unsurprising. They were an eclectic group that couldn't find a GM that could match or meet exactly what they as players wanted. They had ran into too many competitive douche-bags (my words) that took them having fun as a personal attack (I am paraphrasing here). They had started a business recently and as a result had done rather well for themselves. Their business was staffed by all gamers. Malichai and The Pipe Smoking Man were pretty much the bosses.

So these guys proceeded to grill me for about an hour and then provided me with the chance to ask a few questions of my own. It was all pretty stale from there. I took ample notes. Eventually a fourth member arrived, The Pole, and he was brought up to speed.

Cigarettes were smoked, notes were taken, it all went rather well.

After a short time, we had gathered enough information from one another so I made to leave. Everyone shook my hand and thanked me for coming.

As I got in the Baby Truck and headed back to my apartment my mind was swimming. I think I knew then that I had this in the bag. I was still nervous though. Of course I thought of a thousand different things that I felt that I should have said, but such is the way of these things. I decided to just leave it up to Karma and see what fell out from there.

A few days later, Malachai sent me an email saying that I had the job.

That so ruled.

So it was official, I was going to be a Pay to Play GM. Holy shit, how cool is that? I immediately let all of my other gaming friends know (those in my Celebrity Game, and those others that receive my services for free). Everyone was of pretty much the same mind: Coolest Thing Ever.

Eventually words of caution and negative feelings would be displayed, but initially everyone I spoke with was fairly happy for me, or at least they faked it well enough that I believed them.

I sent Malachai and e-mail in response letting him know that I accepted his offer. He contacted me shorlty thereafter to set up a date to make characters. We confirmed it, and I sat in my chair and smiled.

I smiled alot the next week or so.

I didn't know then that I had just taken a step into a place that would springboard my life into a whole direction. Change was a comin' but it was good.

Stay tuned, next month the chronicle will continue. Until next time, I remain...

Son of Simp