1. What do you do outside of the game? What would you like to be doing? (Work, school, projects, etc.)
"For work I am a school counselor. It honestly is one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had. In the course of my studies and then through some very different on job experiences I feal it has helped me evolve and grow. We are just entering summer vacation time for schools too and let me tell ya if you thought they were cool when we were kids in school they are even cooler when your an adult. As far as projects going, I have a few things running on the 3D printer now actually that I am excited about (Some future prizes). I have a really cool plasti dip pike I need to finish up as well as a few shields to make for Matthew Hewitt. But that is another benefit of summer it is my big crafting season lol."
2. What hobbies do you enjoy other than LARP?
I really have gotten into disc golf. It was another way of getting out in the woods doing a physical activity with friends. My little brother Jacob Ruggiero/ Mogar got me into it and I am addicted. I am also a fairly big wrestling fan and try to hit as many shows as I can :) That and I fancy myself a gamer both Table Top and videogames. Currently play Have a Nice Death Day and Hypercharge Unboxed
3. Favorite meal, dessert, and drink?
Favorite Meal is tough as I love all kinds of food. But my gut says its a toss up from good Southern BBQ or good stuffed manicotti or maybe a lasagna. Although if I am being honest probably pizza Dessert I am an Ice Cream guy specifically since I am blessed to live between 6 farms that do local creameries Drink. I am a big fan of water, diet coke for pizza and burgers, but if we are talking alcoholic bevy I enjoy a good whiskey preferably an ol fashion or more recently a big fan of Gin and Tonic/Seltzer specifically if you get the flavored seltzers.
4. If you could go on vacation anywhere, where would it be? Would you bring anyone?
I love to travel! I actually went to Bermuda with fellow Neden Boy Priest Z/ Alex Sokolowski. But I would love to do New Zealand with my Neden family and walk the Lord of the Rings trail. There are some cool guided 14 day excursions that look amazing.
5. Are you working on any life goals that you’re willing to share?
Professionally I am always looking at different phycology and counseling conferences.
Realms wise. This year dusting off getting back into event holding. Recently helped Ethan/JB with the Neden BBQ and Tournaments of the Blue Rose 1024 Welcome to the Shadowlands which was last October. This was a labor of love by Casey/Karmha and I am happy to have helped run the tournaments.
6. Favorite outfit other than garb?
I do like dressing fancy but you can usually find me in cargo shorts and some nerdy tank top (Star Wars, Anime, Doctor Who)
7. Do you have any professional or personal skills you’d be willing to talk about?
Professional: As a licensed counselor I have a lot of great listening skills and coping mechanism and strategies for people who may need to chat or vent. Personal: I love writing one shot D&D campaigns and then 3D printing specific figs and building custom terrains to throw a little Razzle Dazzle on a one day session. I also really like being crafty and making props for events or plasti-dipped bottles/ water coolers, and boff weapons and shields.
8. What drew you to the realms, and what keeps you there?
Tom Johnson/Blade saw me dressed up for work on Halloween one day in my King Richards fair kit and asked if I wanted to hit people with foam bats. I went to fight practice that week and have never looked back. So the initial draw was this wild gateway into an awesome combat system that let me live out all my RPG fantasies (I never knew this outlet existed and wish I learned of it sooner). What keeps me here is the people. This game is a lot of things and some excellent things that make us unique. But, time and time again it is the community that consistently impresses me. I have seen fundraisers for fallen friends, veterans, food drives for children. I have seen us come together when of us where at our lowest and I continually watch people develop these new found families that they can thrive as their true self with like minded people. So our combat system, accessibility, and frequency are all top notch traits it is the people that makes the Realms what it is.
9. Favorite movies/shows/books?
I really like the Lord of the Rings Movies, I am a particularly HUGE Star Wars fan, and musicals have a special place in my heart. Shows I am an anime buff I am currently watching the Blood of Zeus which has been a fun ride. But I am always open to anime suggestions. I also dig Doctor Who, Evil, House of Dragons, The Boys, and I just finished the best show I have ever seen in my life Ted Lasso Books: I like anything spooky. But I really love the Dark Tower series.
10. If you happened upon 3 wishes, what would they be? (Wishing for more wishes doesn’t seem to work...)
1. Unlimited funds. Having that security and allowing me to do some awesome things for not only those around me but the world would be amazing. 2.To be able to speak every language. I married a Foreign Language teacher and as mentioned above love to travel. I think being able to really travel and communicate with the locals makes the traveling experience all the better. 3. This description might only be for a select few who seen the show Heroes. But there was a character Hiro Nakamura who was the master of space/time. I think having that ability to now not only travel seamlessly throughout the world but also through time itself would be wild....If not that superpower than a TARDIS and the knowledge on how to operate it lol..
11. Who would you like to see interviewed next?
There are a lot of people I think would make for some great interviews.
Ed Drummond (Tuli/Murmur)
My handsome prince Alex Sokolowski (Gavin/Priest Z)
Paul Tilton (Sir Grindon)
Sarah Fournier (Evie) [Check out Sarah's article here!]
12. Anything else you’d like to add?
If you'd like to do one of these interviews, send Dani Lacasse (lilpotatogem on Discord) a message to let her know!
