This lead me to think of my close friend–one of the few who doesn’t live out west–and master story teller, Will.  I was into a number of  Role-Playing games long before I met will in my freshman year of college.  It was after I met Will that I realized how Role-Playing could be more than just a good time with friends, more than a simple distraction from whatever teen-age angst/suburban sorrow I suffered at the time.  Will turned simple, basic quests–a delivery quest, what’s the the box quest, revenge quests–into more than a game. Will crafted stories for each and everyone of us around the table.  Will was, and still is, a writer, director, and producer who made us feel like we were an all star ensemble cast in a movie or prime time TV show. Our RP sessions were not just Will’s ideas. He encouraged (sometimes forced) us to explore the setting, and the themes, of our game worlds.

Will makes his living writing.  He writes games, stories, essays and the occasional poem.  He still runs games for folks lucky enough to live in his neck of the woods, and I don’t see him all that often.  But every quest I finish in WoW, every RP event I run or particpate in, I compare to a story that Will told when he lived just up the street from me.  The fact that I am going to visit people in Seattle who can live up to the standard I have set–Would this work for Will?–only makes me miss my friend more.

Will is one half of the genius behind Gameplaywright, a website that talks about stories and games.  Its on our blogroll for a reason. While we are away, go play on his sites.  You will not be disappointed.

*A picture of the young artist, drinking a single malt scotch.