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Post by Aramis of Erak on Mar 29, 2022 1:32:21 GMT -5
I grew up in Anchorage Alaska... the satanic panic is still going on to a very low (but religious right dominated) low boil. Last bookburning I was aware of - specifically targeting D&D and Palladium - was in 2012 or 2013. It also was thriving due especially to the high cost of petrol - the city then and now is driven by Tourism, Oil, and Federal Government. In about that order now, but oil first in the late 70's and early 80's.
Being a city of a quarter million, there was a large enough group of gamers to support multiple stores carrying games. Including, by the mid 1980s, games by some Aussies. Hunter Planet, and later, Lace & Steel, Albedo, and a few others.
It is worth noting that, early on in the internet era (early 90's) many Aussie gamers on line were grossly ignorant of the history of the hobby. The exceptions including some legends in their own right, such as Phil MacGreggor and Paul Kidd, fathers of the Aussie RPG industry.
Both of whom seem to be wonderful humans on top of it all...
Being a child of a civil servant, I was firmly upper middle class... Being in Alaska, the economy was thriving on the rest of the world's economic woes...
RPGing was present in every high school in Anchorage by 1982. I have spoken to guys who were gaming at East, West, Dimond, Service, and Chugiak who were playing in the 1981-82 and 82-83 school years... I can attest to groups at Chugiak, East, West, Service, and Bartlett in 1983-84, because I encountered them on various activities during the school days, and had friends at Stellar, Dimond and Service who had groups at school. Chugiak had an extra long lunch - 45 minutes plus 5 minutes passing time either end... If you look at the district.. Eagle River is a 21st C addition to the district. My eldest went there.
And in a small irony... last time I was subbing at east and chugiak, there were groups playing in the same locations in the complex as when I was a student at Chugiak. (1983-1987).
And if one hasn't read Hunter Planet... it's filled with that special Aussie brand of absurdist humor. (You're playing an alien hunter who is hunting humans for sport. In modern (1980's) Australia.)
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Post by houndle on Mar 29, 2022 5:13:26 GMT -5
I was aware of the satanic thing in the UK, but it seemed to be confined to relatively fringe religious groups and the more hysterical newspapers. I have to say that publishers did sometimes go out of their way to be provocative. In my teens I had some gaming material that I wouldn't necessarily have been comfortable discussing with my parents. Nowadays I would have no particular issue with controversial material being released for T&T providing it was properly flagged as such and handled in a thoughtful way. I can understand the appeal of pushing boundaries, though now being some way past my teens I wouldn't necessarily want to use it in my own gaming.
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Post by alkazar on Mar 29, 2022 15:20:56 GMT -5
I'd like to see the cover art of different editions of T&T printed up as wall posters. Especially the French version.
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order99
7th Level Troll
Coffee-fueled Carrion That Walks Like a Man
Posts: 1,039
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Post by order99 on Mar 29, 2022 21:07:02 GMT -5
I'd like to see the cover art of different editions of T&T printed up as wall posters. Especially the French version. Yes. All of the Art! From everywhere! Available as Screen Savers, printed Posters, a Coffee Table Art Book! Pleeeeaaaaassssee? I haven't tried to inflict Serious Bodily Harm on my Credit Card for months and months and months now...
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Post by alkazar on Mar 30, 2022 0:40:32 GMT -5
and coffee cups don't forget those.
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darrght
4th Level Troll
Wow, I'm a 4th Level Troll!
Posts: 447
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Post by darrght on Mar 30, 2022 2:56:36 GMT -5
Sounds like we had it easy in the UK - no satanic panic here that I was aware of in the 80s. Wasn't really labelled nerdy either as so many people tried it. Probably helped that I was at an all boys school (so less showing off in front of the girls). There was some bullying, but not related to RPGs. Not sure what your UK school was like in the 80s zanshin but gaming was definitely considered "for nerds" at mine (1978-1985)
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apn
5th Level Troll
Posts: 578
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Post by apn on Mar 30, 2022 11:03:33 GMT -5
Also considered for nerds at my school in Harrogate (secondary school 82-86). Luckily even though I was a beanpole and a couple of the other lads a stiff breeze would have blown over, one of the group was a big lad and no one messed with him (and by association, us). By fifth year people started leaving us alone as we'd started to fill out and four of us were big 6 footers plus. We didn't look for trouble but if it came calling someone was gonna get a crack back most of the time. I remember once a 'cool kid' came up to me and punched me as hard as he could in the face on a dare to 'knock a nerd out'. I didn't even blink or flinch, simply shrugged and carried on walking.
No bother after that.
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Post by ProfGremlin on Mar 30, 2022 18:23:21 GMT -5
and coffee cups don't forget those. Hmm... not sure quite how to interpret this one, alkazar. I think it is a well known fact that order99 inflicts bodily harm on coffee pots. Poor things just can't keep up with him no matter what the roast is. On the other-hand, you could be suggesting T&T art be added to coffee mugs. In which case - Yes! I need a Vital Spots mug!
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order99
7th Level Troll
Coffee-fueled Carrion That Walks Like a Man
Posts: 1,039
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Post by order99 on Mar 30, 2022 20:36:48 GMT -5
and coffee cups don't forget those. Hmm... not sure quite how to interpret this one, alkazar. I think it is a well known fact that order99 inflicts bodily harm on coffee pots. Poor things just can't keep up with him no matter what the roast is. On the other-hand, you could be suggesting T&T art be added to coffee mugs. In which case - Yes! I need a Vital Spots mug! Ahem. I have never inflicted harm on a coffee pot in my life! It isn't their fault that they are so small and limited in capacity-now when I accidentally put three of them on the same power strip, well, um, I do carry spare fuses... And yes, I would love Artwork on coffee cups, if only for family and guests. My own personal mug is already custom-fired clay on a titanium wire underframe and colorful triple-strength glazing, 3.5 cup capacity with a reinforced handle...I really don't think that you could retrofit artwork onto a finished product, and even if it could be done nothing beats the 'Sunset Sunburst' custom glazing that the designer gave it. But yeah, an Art-covered 'normal' sized mug for delicate sipping as I read my T&T Coffee Table Art Book would be nice!
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Post by alkazar on Mar 30, 2022 22:24:56 GMT -5
Hmm... not sure quite how to interpret this one, alkazar. I think it is a well known fact that order99 inflicts bodily harm on coffee pots. Poor things just can't keep up with him no matter what the roast is. On the other-hand, you could be suggesting T&T art be added to coffee mugs. In which case - Yes! I need a Vital Spots mug! Yes, I'm suggesting T&T art on mugs.
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viva
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 111
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Post by viva on Mar 31, 2022 10:34:42 GMT -5
I cant tell if folks are asking for "new" things like this or just didn't know some already exist (mugs, t-shirts, etc): www.cafepress.com/+tunnels-trolls+giftsAlso I am pretty sure there were some Flying Buffalo products there not long ago but I don't see them now. Either faulty memory or changes made by Websphere. Could be good or bad sign but I assume good like maybe they have their own outlet, re-doing this one, etc.
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Post by alkazar on Mar 31, 2022 11:38:55 GMT -5
I cant tell if folks are asking for "new" things like this or just didn't know some already exist (mugs, t-shirts, etc): I sort of derailed the thread and was mostly hoping to get it back on track and assumed the others were just going with it.
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etaion
2nd Level Troll
Posts: 63
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Post by etaion on Apr 1, 2022 11:34:19 GMT -5
Hmm... not sure quite how to interpret this one, alkazar. I think it is a well known fact that order99 inflicts bodily harm on coffee pots. Poor things just can't keep up with him no matter what the roast is. On the other-hand, you could be suggesting T&T art be added to coffee mugs. In which case - Yes! I need a Vital Spots mug! Yes, I'm suggesting T&T art on mugs. Steins. I used to make and sell stuff on one of those online screen-printing sites and did well with the steins.
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Post by okgamer on Apr 1, 2022 14:51:59 GMT -5
I cant tell if folks are asking for "new" things like this or just didn't know some already exist (mugs, t-shirts, etc): I sort of derailed the thread and was mostly hoping to get it back on track and assumed the others were just going with it. We removed the cafe press site, we weren't happy with the offerings, and frankly it generated no revenue. We're looking at other options currently.
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Post by zanshin on Apr 2, 2022 11:42:23 GMT -5
Sounds like we had it easy in the UK - no satanic panic here that I was aware of in the 80s. Wasn't really labelled nerdy either as so many people tried it. Probably helped that I was at an all boys school (so less showing off in front of the girls). There was some bullying, but not related to RPGs. Not sure what your UK school was like in the 80s zanshin but gaming was definitely considered "for nerds" at mine (1978-1985) One of the most prominent roleplayers was the schools shot putt champion from the age of 12. That probably helped 😊
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