The Many Worlds of Diane Mullen

The Many Worlds of Diane Mullen

Playtime

I am a Gamer. I participate in fantasy role-playing games, including Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Arduin, and Shadowrun. For those of you who may have heard otherwise, AD&D, and other fantasy games, is NOT Satan worship or anything else having to do with demons. We also do not promote (or condone) drug use, excessive drunkenness, orgies, rape, or anything else destructive. These games are make-believe - we pretend to live in another time, or another world, where magic works, the gods are active and involved, and technology may be limited. Want to know more about what gaming is? Come visit my Just what is this Role-Playing Anyway? page. One of the other gamemasters who attended GenCon '98 says "All you need to play AD&D is paper, pencil and pizza - and in a pinch you could do without the paper and pencil!" That's a great description, but I would add one other thing -- an imagination is also required.

John and I went to GenCon '98 in Milwaukee. This is an annual convention (1998 was year 31) for gamers of all varieties and nationalities. It was held at the Milwaukee Convention/Civic Center and lasts for three days. They've now moved it to Indianapolis - go to their webpage here for more info!

We had a blast!!!

There was so much going on we couldn't do everything we wanted to, but we still did a lot. We were able to play a game run by Ed Greenwood, better known to many as Elminster. We bought stuff, we played, we just enjoyed ourselves tremendously!! If you have the chance to go, I encourage you to do so - it's well worth it!

I've also attended DragonCon in Atlanta - a similar type convention, but with a little bit wider appeal for scifi/fantasy/anime fans as well. I had a wonderful time at this con too!

Links for gaming and gamers:

For anyone who is an RPGA member in Florida, you are aware of the Grayhawk areas . . . Florida is a part of the Prinicpality of Ulek - go visit their page for more information.

RPGA is the Role Playing Gamers Association

LARP is Live Action Role Playing, somewhat like that practiced by the Society for Creative Anachronisms

Society for Creative Anachronism

OK, speaking of the SCA ... we have recently joined this group of harmless historical nuts. Basically, this group is trying to recreate the middle ages (approximately year 100 to year 1600) as it should have been - complete with plumbing, sanitation, and A/C!

Individuals do research into specific time periods and countries that they would have liked to live in and create a 'persona' - someone who could have lived in that time and place. They research the clothing, and then make it (or get someone else to make it for them). Groups then get together, wearing the appropriate garb, for events. Everyone tries to share their time/country of expertise and otherwise just have fun!

Most of the known world has been divided into 'kingdoms' within the SCA. We started out in the Kingdom of Trimaris, which encompasses most of Florida (not the panhandle), Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Antarctica, and outer space (by virtue of having gotten our Kingdom symbol on a shuttlecraft, thereby making us the first to claim space ...). We now live in the Shire of Endewearde in the East Kingdom.

I am known as Anya Mineshti Demitro, a woman of mixed Mongol and Romani descent. My Romani husband is dead and I have joined with a Mongol Horde (the Black Dragon Horde) and have remarried. My new husband is John, the Celtic Mongol. This is the persona of my husband - a Celtic mercenary who has joined the Mongol Horde.

I do have pictures of myself, John and our daughter Colleen, in garb at various events ... click here to see them!