Lots of reading, but being introduced to tabletop RPGs in general is hard to do with just reading a particular rulebook. You can get a lot more feel for a particular system while creating characters. Because we're all sorts of different skill levels, from very familiar with Shadowrun to not familiar with that system at all (me) to not familiar with RPGs (you, Teague), working together to create characters will get a feel for the party as well as explaining a number of things needed for the game.

If the reading legwork is too intimidating - and again, that's totally okay - just show up on Monday with some six-sided dice (aka "dice" to non-gamers) and a willingness to learn.

For those that this means anything to, my first RPG was AD&D 2nd Edition. I knew basically nothing of the rules, I just showed up and the other players helped me figure things out. (I was also 13 at the time, my uncle was the DM, and my Dad was one of the other players, but still.)

If that all meant nothing to you, it means I started out in the deep end of RPGs without having had any swimming lessons, but my fellow players kept me afloat and taught me to swim, and we'll do the same for anyone else who's interested this time around.

Fun fact: given enough of something you begin to get delusions of grandeur.

I AM A GOD

(Actually godling, my dad's collection is easily five times as big, maybe ten.)

I wanted to be a video game designer, largely in part to the awesome interview at the end of the strategy guide for the game Diablo. Fast forward quite a few years, I get to college to get a Computer Science degree and find out that I can't code worth beans, squeaking by with C's my freshman year because I documented the hell out of my programs to say why they should have worked even if they didn't. Sophomore year I walked into a math class for CompSci, took the "you should know this stuff by now" pretest, then NOPED the hell down to the registrar to switch to the only major that had anything resembling film classes, because I was really digging this whole Star Wars fanfilm thing I'd been getting into the last few years. I ended up knowing more than the teacher of the "film" class but that's okay. I met cool people, including my wife, and graduated with a Professional and Technical Communications degree (combo tech writing and graphic design). Eventually I ended up where I am today, as a wedding videographer. I hope it's not what I do the rest of my life, but it could certainly be worse.

What's an opinion you have now that a younger version of yourself would be appalled at?

A slight flare in the port fusion reactor when powering up from a dead stop

Ah right, setting. I prefer sci-fi over fantasy but can do well in either. (I'd also prefer sci-fi because I'm in a semi-weekly D&D 5th Edition campaign in the Forgotten Realms setting, so sci-fi'd be a nice change of pace.)

Oh shelter names. Ronon was posted with the name "Carter", but his earliest medical record with them suggests he came in with the name "Gremlin".

RE: sleeping puppies. Ronon curls in a tight little ball when sleeping, while my boss' two Bernese Mountain Dogs sprawl like nobody's business. I wonder if the thickness of the coat has anything to do with that.

Also because I am a sucker about such things I must point out BarkBox. 25-30 USD a month with roughly 40-50 USD worth of treats and toys and stuff.

That was amazing, thanks so much for sharing. I'm going to watch it five more times now if that's okay with everybody else.

Very well written, Teague. Though I can't speak to the VFX specific side of things, my internship at a wedding video company went much the same way - take time on what's assigned, be awesome, a good demo reel, etc.

One thing I'd add is, don't be afraid to ask questions. When I have interns working under me now (went from intern to lead editor in two years, granted it's a small company but still), I'd rather they ask a somewhat stupid question than try to stumble their own way through it for an hour. It'll frustrate them, it'll waste time, and while they may eventually find out a way to do it, chances are it won't be the best way to do it.

Also, I was going to try to give you a Diet Coke. I spent about twenty minutes looking for a video whose title I can't remember for a version of this with no text. Then I looked closer and realized it was a Diet Pepsi. Never could find what this originally belonged to. But, thought that counts.

Only one I've read was a gift, Moving Pictures. Thoroughly enjoyed it, though, and it's been too long since I gave it a re-read.

I have Star Wars Racer on my OC and still play now and again. I'd love to get a cabinet from the arcade version and somehow patch the full game into there.

/nowthisispodracing