I started by being a member of a RPG group in primary school (when I was 8 years old) way back in the mid 1980's. We played the old 'Dragon Warriors' campaign books and for those that don't know or don't remember, they were a set of 6 books covering a whole world and the rules for magic and combat. It was a great and very simple RPG system!
As I grew older I came across the AD&D game by buying the original Commodore 64 version of the RPG computer games box that had Pool of Radiance, Curse of the Azure Bonds and other ancient RPG computer games. I played these games so many times that I lost count of the number of times I completed Pool of Radiance and the other games on the C64 and PC (at last count about 8 times!!)
Then as I was going to high school (about 14 years old) I wanted to get into pen and paper RPG so I bought a number of AD&D books and we played in the 'Forgotten Realms' and 'Dragonlance' campaign worlds. My friends and I had a great time fighting many evil monsters and saving the world from destruction!
And as we left high school we gave up RPG's and played 'Magic the Gathering' which was great fun but a bit on the expensive side. After that I never really went back to pen and paper RPG's or card games, I just played the computer RPG's that came out every so often.
For a while I didn't do anything with RPG's or Medieval related things until I happened to meet my friend Donald at Tafe in February 2000. He and I struck up a good friendship and when I went around to his place one day I saw a handcrafted sword hanging on the wall. I asked Donald about the sword and he told me he made real swords for fighting and for customers.
I also found out about 'The Circle of The Sword' Medieval group and I went along, knowing what was involved after talking to Donald about it. Even before I got there I knew I wanted to be a member!
Now, I have also found out about the 'Society for Creative Anachronism', another Medieval group who specialize in preserving the past eras of history mainly to do with Medieval times and use real armour and costumes! The SCA also do full-on combat and archery and I am slowly building up my collection of armour, weapons and costumes.
I look forward to spending the years ahead having fun and learning and refining the skills of the past to be passed onto future generations.
If you want to find out more about the groups I am involved in, then you can email me at <[email protected]> or chat to me on ICQ number 18031844
Paul dressed in his Knight's armour
Paul dressed in his Scotsman garb
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