My name is Marcel Beaudoin. I live in Gatineau (just across the river from Ottawa), Quebec, Canada where I work as a Patent Examiner in the Organic Chemistry division. (Despite my PhD being about as far from Organic Chemsitry as you can get). I am married to a wonderful woman who tolerates my gaming. She looks at it as something I should have grown out of, and, except for one of my gaming group, the rest are not allowed to enter our house. I have also been threatened, upon pain of Bobbetization, to never expose my daughters (3 1/2 years old and 11 months) to D&D.
A couple of years ago my best friend, who has been playing RPGs since AD&D, invited my to his 3.5 Age of Worms campaign. I had been out of the RPG world for a long, long time, and didn't know where to start. I came here, and started asking what books I should get. I started hanging around the forums at that time off an on.
Once 4E was announced, I saw it as a chance to get into a system on the ground floor, so I started being much more active in the forums. I keep coming back because of the community. There are some people on the forums that I have no doubt that, were we in the same city, we would be playing together and good friends. Also, the different points of view. The WotC forums aren't discriminatory. It isn't oriented towards people of a particular country, race, religion or any other societal factor. They are limited by the love of a game. They are inclusive, not exclusive. The only barrier to entry is the desire to play D&D (or MtG or other WotC game).
My home on the forums is he DDi forums, and then right after that the D&D HQ forums and Wizards COMmunity HQ forums.
I currently play D&D (3.5 and 4E). I have dabbled briefly in MOL, and am looking forward to eventually getting into DDM. When I am not RPGing, I like to read a lot. Mostly science fiction and fantasy, although I do enjoy a good techno-thriller (Tom Clancey) from time to time.
When I am not gaming, I do a lot of biking to and from work. It is about 12 km each way, so it is good exercise. Soccer (rec league at lunch) and golf also. Lots of reading and surfing the net. I have also recently discovered a mild addiction to reading blogs. mainly RPG-oriented ones, but also sports, lolCats (and dogs) and some MMO gaming ones.
Now - Ask me a question. Any question. Preferably not D&D or DDI related, but I will answer those as well.
I do find your job funny, though, I must admit, because I have friends in Organic Chemistry, and that is a REALLY hard subject to Major in. :D
Of course, I do have to ask, what's Bobbetization? Or do I not want to know?
Look up Lorena Bobbitt on Google. It is a very interesting case of why you don't want your wife to find out about your cheating if there are lots of sharp knives nearby.
EDIT: Don't do it, Mud!
makes mental note to google that at home, not work
Tub girl??
makes mental note to google that at home, not work
*wince*
Word of caution. You can never unseen what you've seen. This is especially true with tubgirl. She ranks up there with the goatse guy, 2 girls 1 cup, and lemonparty. [EDIT - I list these, not to entice anyone to view them, quite the opposite, in fact. If you've seen one, know that the others are just as bad - this is to give a frame of reference]
In short - these are "shock sites" - the kind you link your friends to just for the priclessness of seeing "that look" on their face.
If your curious and open-minded, they're worth peeking at, if only for the culture references. If you're easily shocked, offended, disturbed, or weak of stomach - avoid them like a nuclear meltdown.
That said - my question is - should I create a similar thread?
(I mean. . . I probably should in the RPGA area, but. . . here?) are you a sens fan? (i believe most of the canadians are not, even if they live in the vicinity)
do you believe any of your teams can actually win the stanely cup in the close future, maybe even this year?
would you mind recording every game and burn them on dvd and send them to me? (highly theoretical question, but pack some maple sirup as well in the unlikely case you decide to do so.)
are you a sens fan? (i believe most of the canadians are not, even if they live in the vicinity)
I am a Sens fan. You are correct in that most Canadians are not Sens fans. Canada has a number of hockey teams: Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple
do you believe any of your teams can actually win the stanely cup in the close future, maybe even this year?
It will be difficult. Statistically, it is hard due to the higher number of American teams. However, I believe it is possible. The Sens have shored up their blue line, and a lot of other Canadian teams are looking to do well this year. One thing against the canadian teams is that, except for Toronto and Montreal, we are all considered small market teams. So the revenue from TV deals and ad deals is smaller than for other teams.
My question is where did you get the username 'mudbunny' from?
First, I'd like to say that I think you (and AsmodeusLore and Wolfstar76) do an incredible job with the Insider forums. 'nuff said.
Don't forget Cart_Sprinter. He does an amazing job with the FAQs
My question is where did you get the username 'mudbunny' from?
When I was in university, I was on a dragonboat team (Maximum Wavelength). After one of the weekends of competition, during which there was a significant amount of rain, there was a fairly large mud puddle in which a bunch of us decided to go sliding. Needless to say, we got pretty coated in mud.
For a lark, I was also wearing a pair of bunny ears.
And my apologies to Cart_Sprinter for leaving him out of the due recognition.
And my apologies to Cart_Sprinter for leaving him out of the due recognition.
Eeyore voice: I don't mind, happens all the time.
Mudbunny: Any questions? Are you sure?
What do clouds taste like?
If the moon was made of limberger cheese, would we smell it on earth?
Do smells travel in a vaccuum?
Pirate or Ninja?
Superman or Batman?
What is your favorite color?
Analog or Digital?
Ocean or Space?
Feel free to elaborate on any.
(If this doesn't get me banned from this thread I may have more :P)
What book is on your nightstand?
There are a couple:
Bambi (Disney)
Beauty and the Beast (Disney)
Orlando Bloom Ruined Everything (Foxtrot comic collection)
Collected stories of Sherlock Holmes
The Hidden City (David Eddings)
We Few (David Weber & John Ringo)
Eberron Campaign Setting
d20 Modern core book
Book of the Righteous (Green Ronin Publishing)
What do clouds taste like?
Wet. A bit like chicken if you happen to swallow a bird at the same time.
If the moon was made of limberger cheese, would we smell it on earth?
If your nose was sensitive enough to do that, you might want to catcha cold sometime between now and tomorrow. I am having spaghettio sauce tonight, and that always does interesting things to my intestinal tract.
Do smells travel in a vaccuum?
Depends on how good of a travel agent they have and whether it is the high-season or not.
Pirate or Ninja?
Ninja
Superman or Batman?
Batman
What is your favorite color?
Black. Although, to be nitpicky, black is an absence of all colours, so perhaps my favourite colour is none?
Analog or Digital?
Meh.
Ocean or Space?
Ocean, because I have heard what they plug you into in space suits to be able to go to the bathroom, and it doesn't sound pleasent at all.
Ocean, because I have heard what they plug you into in space suits to be able to go to the bathroom, and it doesn't sound pleasent at all.
IT IS NOT.
It is, in fact, the single most uncomfortable feeling I could ever imagine. Eeyore voice: I don't mind, happens all the time.
Ack! He used an Eeyore voice!
*Rhen hangs his head and then hands Cart_Sprinter his pot of honey*
For mudbunny: Who are your top five musicians/groups?
For mudbunny: Who are your top five musicians/groups?
Metallica
Breaking Benjamin
Our Lady Peace
Scooter
Warp Bros
Although I also admit to currently being a big fan of Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, but I suspect that is just a passing phase
Okay, using my creativity to steal from one of my favorite shows, I give you the Pivot Questionnaire (assuming, of course, that you choose to answer):
What is your favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
What turns you off?
What is your favorite curse word? (This one might require some creativity)
What sound or noise do you love?
What sound or noise do you hate?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Cmon people, aren't you curious as to what makes him tick?
I think it is the bomb he swallowed to save the orphanage. It just hasn't gone off yet. Of course it could just be a clock and the story is false.
;)
Chocolate
What is your least favorite word?
nochocolate
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Something wierd
What turns you off?
Morons
What is your favorite curse word? (This one might require some creativity)
Despite 6 years in the military, my favourite curse word is son of a female dog or GDMFSoaB!!
What sound or noise do you love?
My daughters laughing and playing together
What sound or noise do you hate?
The alarm clock in the morning
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Doggy Day care owner
What profession would you not like to do?
Porn star. (I mean, it would be fun for a couple days/weeks, but then I think I would just get jaded and numb.
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
You have been a good father.
I think it is the bomb he swallowed to save the orphanage. It just hasn't gone off yet. Of course it could just be a clock and the story is false.
If it was a bomb, I hope it was a stink bomb. At least then I would have an excuse for the foul odors I have been emitting the past couple of days.
African or european? :D
Okay, once more, with feeling (because I'm in the bed with a nasty cold and have nothing better to do):
African or european? :D
African...no, european.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
* where you at any of the three home games?
* if not, do you ever go there?
* if not, why not?
* how much time a week do you spend on hockey compared to dnd?
other side questions:
* rangers - why would one not dislike them?
* t. vanek - why would one not like him?
[mind what you're saying, he's an austrian hero]
* what's better: lacrosse or hockey, football or soccer?
* summer or winter olympics?
mediocre start for the sens in this season... i thought i'll use that a reason to bring this thread back up..
* where you at any of the three home games?
* if not, do you ever go there?
* if not, why not?
* how much time a week do you spend on hockey compared to dnd?
Nope. Not at any of the three home games. I usually end up going to about one or two games a season. I don't go more often because the fans in Ottawa are really quiet and really sit on their hands. It is a quiet, quiet building. I don't spend a lot of time on Hockey, to be honest. Hardly any.
* rangers - why would one not dislike them?
Drizz't/Aragorn back-splash. They have been so publicized and take up so much "space" in the popular culture, and especially in D&D culture that it gets easy to dislike them and anything resembling them.
* t. vanek - why would one not like him?
[mind what you're saying, he's an austrian hero]
Who?? (I am not being silly here. I had no idea who he was until I did a Google search)
* what's better: lacrosse or hockey, football or soccer?
Hockey.
Football. Although to be honest, they both are interesting, and I fusually will watch soccer on TV when I get a chance if it is a team whose name I recognize. Although not North American MLS, it has to be European, EPL, one of those leagues. I play it once or twice a week at lunch time all summer with a recreational league at work.
* summer or winter olympics?
Winter olympics. I find the sports involved much more interesting.
What's your favorite Character/Class/Build/Etc. to play, Mudbunny?
I really don't have a favourite anything. I play D%D to have fun with my friends. My characters do tend to be the kind that open doors "to see what's on the other side", drag corpse bits around to test for traps, and feel that fire and/or violence will solve most problems.
I don't spend a lot of time on Hockey, to be honest. Hardly any. [...]
I usually will watch soccer on TV when I get a chance if it is a team whose name I recognize. Although not North American MLS, it has to be European, EPL, one of those leagues.
well, this explains a lot.
we should really swap tv-channels... as i can hardly ever see north american sports here without either staying up the whole night in some obscure places, or watching crappy fan-based (and i believe mostly illegal) livestreams. soccer is all over the place, hardly a day without a game...
also, i meant the ny rangers, but i can see how that was misleading in a dnd environment.
ps: i would not watch MLS either.
about tom vanek: what i like best is not him being austrian, but him being good and the austrian media suddenly interested in icehockey. i got to watch some real good hockey (on a good tv screen with high quality and still at home) when they decided to show the playoffs live, and that's why i hope all the best for the sabres - and that they maybe decide to bring some more than 1 football game per month in austrian tv.
---
ah, yes, and my next question:
do you believe canadian football to be worth it? i always had the impression that it was different just "to be different from the NFL"
also, i meant the ny rangers, but i can see how that was misleading in a dnd environment.
I don't like the Rangers because they try to buy Stanley Cups. While it may work in baseball, because baseball is really an individual sport played on a team, hockey (like soccer) is very much a team sport. There needs to be a lot of team chemistry for it to be a good team. A crapload of stars on one team does not make for a good team. A team with a lot of talent, yes, but not a good team.
Don't get me wrong. I think that MLS is a good thing for North America. Soccer is a very cheap and inexpensive sport to play compared to a lot of other sports in NA. I think it will take some time, but the desire for soccer will build up until it approaches being competitive with some of the lower european leagues.about tom vanek: what i like best is not him being austrian, but him being good and the austrian media suddenly interested in icehockey. i got to watch some real good hockey (on a good tv screen with high quality and still at home) when they decided to show the playoffs live, and that's why i hope all the best for the sabres - and that they maybe decide to bring some more than 1 football game per month in austrian tv.
If you ever get a chance to to see a professional hockey league play, be it NHL, or one of the top european leagues, I would highly recommend it. The atmosphere is completely different from watching it on TV.do you believe canadian football to be worth it? i always had the impression that it was different just "to be different from the NFL"
There is a bit of that as well. But, when watching, the CFL is much faster than the NFL. There is also more passing. The CFL is only 3 downs, the playclock is a lot shorter (28 seconds vs 40 seconds) and the offensive and defensive lines are *much* closer together. In the NFL, there is a couple of yards. In the CFL, the distance is the length of the football.
There is a lot of "to be different from the americans" attitude, but there is also a great deal of pride in having it's own league.
Trivia note - The NHL is the only league in the world where the players on the winning team get to take the trophy home with them in the off-season. Each player gets to take the trophy with them for a couple of days.
If you ever get a chance to to see a professional hockey league play, be it NHL, or one of the top european leagues, I would highly recommend it. The atmosphere is completely different from watching it on TV.
Trivia note - The NHL is the only league in the world where the players on the winning team get to take the trophy home with them in the off-season. Each player gets to take the trophy with them for a couple of days.
1) as the opening games for the nhl seem to be coming to europe regularly now, i hope the next ones will be a bit closer than stockholm or london. (i know, there was one in prague, but well - it was the rangers!)
however, there were already some world championships in austria or near austria. you get to see lots of the nhl stars, although the bigger ice makes for a much slower game. and to cite tom vanek: "3000 people in innsbruck made more noise than 40000 in the us" - which has its ups and downs, of course, since the louder people also tend to be more aggressive towards others.
2) yeah, i know. if the sabres ever manage to win that title, vaneks day 'll likely be in a close vicinity to me, so i'll make sure to visit.
@soccer: i'm aware that it is very popular and still increasing, the best thing about it is the space you need to play soccer - none whatsoever. every halfway leveled field can be used, that's why they play it everywhere in south america, with self-made-balls in the slums as well. the crappy thing about MLS is, that they go the wrong way that many european clubs went years ago. they just import what looks good on paper (Beckham anyone?) and then wonder why nothing good happens to the sport. they need a proper youth program, like they have in place for the other major leagues.
I really don't have a favourite anything. I play D%D to have fun with my friends. My characters do tend to be the kind that open doors "to see what's on the other side", drag corpse bits around to test for traps, and feel that fire and/or violence will solve most problems.
Hehe, yes....Fred the Trap-Finding Zombie. That never gets old. :D
After all my candidate just barely made VCL, and that for another section.
How did you get to become a Senior Volunteer Community Lead?
Time in post. After you have been renewed once, you automagically become SVCL.