| From: | Mike Goldberg <michael.goldberg@*******.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Lying down the sword upon the mantle. |
| Date: | Thu, 19 Oct 1995 13:43:55 MST |
disappeared. This isn't particularly easy or something I ever
expected to write. I will not be joining you all when you move to
wherever Shadowtk and the rest will go.
It isn't due to work reasons, aside from there being for to much work
to be dedicated to a story. It is more to do with politics. To me,
you don't need a story to be huge, to be entertaining. You need it to
be touching, emotional, and written solidly with a good grasp of what
can "realistically" happen with the given characters. You need to
have a good feel of what the other characters, that aren't your own,
are like. You need to have vision.
I have never been one to greatly go outside the existing rules within
what FASA has published. I have to my knowledge gone outside the
rules once. Nightmare permanently scaring Scarface. As most of you
already know, I like to stay close to game rules. I will from
occasion run NPCs, but for the most part the posting I prefer to do is
with characters that you can legally create from the rules in
Shadowrun and the other things that FASA directly has published.
I noticed several things in the past three years that I have tried my
best to deal with. From fundamental differences in preferences of
story writing, to styles of gaming, and to just how different people
handle things. I am not saying I am perfect. I am not saying I am
holier than thou.
I am merely saying this, and I will pull a reference to something that
someone pointed to me about Maxim for this one (but Brian Angliss
isn't the only conflict of differences that has occurred for me):
What I view as acceptable in a campaign world are vastly different
from others. In my campaign world, if I had an AA corporation, it
would not have an orbital facility. Especially since the only orbital
facilities that I can think of offhand are one owned by Ares and the
other the Zurich-orbital that heads the corporate council. There are
other cases, and to be frank, I didn't even think about the orbital
case until someone else on the list (who will remain nameless) pointed
it out to me off the list.
Now to be fair, I have had a lot of good times on the list, and a lot
of rough times on the list as well. But I think you should all know
something about me. I like finishing stories -- I usually have an
incredible urge to finish a story and give it justice NO MATTER WHAT
IS GOING ON. No matter that I had a friend die. No matter that I had
a ton of exams to prepare for. No matter that I had to take two hours
worth of driving for an interview. No matter that I had no access for
a weekend or more. I always tried to give the stories justice.
This story that I am working on, I have no urge to finish. I know the
outcome of a lot of the different elements already. I know how I
would work about getting the rest, and I have no urge to do any of it.
The last time I gave up a hobby was due to politics, and I believe it
is the same this time.
Too many differences between how I view the FASA created world and how
everyone else views it. And that is the fundamental problem that has
caused me to finally lose interest.
I won't guarantee that this will be the last time I write for a
shadowtk like listserv, or that I won't even rejoin you all later
(assuming I can find you), but merely that right now, I have lost that
basic edge that keep me going all these years.
When Shadowtk and plot-d move, I will not be going with the move. I
want to stress again that it isn't Brian Angliss or anyone else that I
am pinning the blame on for driving me away. I lost my edge. I think
it is due to the politics of everything going on (not just here), but
it is merely my perception of things. What worried me more than
anything else was losing friendships. That was why I left my last
major game-like hobby.
It has been an interesting three plus years. Best of luck to all of
you. I will still have e-mail if you want to keep in touch. As
Doomsday once said, "I just want a peaceful life. A life where I am
happy. I wonder if dat will ever happen."
Take care my friends.
Michael Goldberg
