Introducing Katherine!

You may have noticed that a mysterious new blogger posted on Stupid Ranger this morning. Do not worry, we have NOT been hacked by Jesus. This was simply the first post by our new regular contributor!

Katherine, this is the Internets. Internets, this is Katherine.

Katherine plays in our D&D group, and she's an ordained minister. You've probably already seen her first post, which is part of a series called DMing the Bible, which I'd mentioned in a post a couple months ago.

Whether you're a religious person or not, I think this series is important for two reasons. One is because it is a great example of being able to take one's inspiration for roleplaying and character development from any source and adapting it for your own use. The other, which is much more important in my opinion, is that her column proves that you can mix religion and roleplaying. It's better today than it was back in the 80's when people thought the D&D Basic set came with a free sacrificial dagger and pentagram construction kit, but there are still quite a few people out there who don't get what we do and are afraid of it. Katherine makes a wonderful, educated counterpoint to all this blind fear while staying true to her beliefs -- and not by taking sides and arguing points. She simply shows you how to walk the line by doing just that, and in doing so erases it behind her. I haven't really seen anything quite like DMing the Bible before, and we're honored to serve as a place for people to see it.

Katherine also makes splendid breaded pork chops. For these reasons and many others, we have invited her to contribute to Stupid Ranger. Everyone, please give her a warm welcome!

In addition to Katherine, you may also be seeing some guest posts from other authors appearing occasionally. Please do not panic. Or, if you do panic, please post it on YouTube.

Introductions...

I believe that everything new deserves a proper introduction. You can't just create Cyril the Barbarian and hope everyone figures out that your great sword and slightly-British accent means that you actually attained a high level of education, but you were thrust into severe poverty at the loss of your family's homestead and had to make your living smashing things because no one would hire you as a scribe. These are the kinds of things you need to explain through proper introductions. And while this site isn't exactly a character, it still needs a bit of introducing. So, here goes...

Once upon a time, four friends set out to find a way to make the world a better place. They decided to use their unique talents to create a virtual home where they could share their experiences with other adventurers looking for guidance. And thus it was that "stupidranger.com" was born.

Fairy tale endings aside, there really was a night when we were all sitting around a table at the local Jimmy John's, lamenting over lame jobs and seeking an outlet for our love of all things D&D. We knew that if we could pool our talents, we could create a website dedicated to the adventure. And here we are. So, please allow me to introduce ourselves.

I am affectionately known as Stupid Ranger, and I am the rules lawyer. I revel not only in the playing of the game, but also in the knowledge of the fine details that make things more interesting.

Vanir is a genius of comic absurdity and spontaneity. From his strange but entertaining mind have come of some the most colorful characters with which I've had the pleasure to adventure. I know you'll look forward to the tales he will tell of Lumbar... but I'll leave the rest of that introduction to him.

Dante is the magician behind the scenes, making this place an electronic reality. In his spare time, he crafts incredible adventures as one of our DM's. And I have the distinctive privilege of being married to him. Sorry, girls, he's taken!

eFreak rounds out our fab four. While she doesn't always have time to indulge in rolling dice, she is always supportive of our addiction and cheerfully hostesses our sessions. But more importantly, she brings to us the gift of inspiration. She encouraged us all to think bigger, inspiration that lead to this very site.

On behalf of us all, I welcome you to these hallowed pages. You have traveled here in search of kindred spirits. Many of you who tread here know of the intense excitement of success and the crippling agony of defeat because you've experienced both fates, each dictated by a single die roll. Some of you may not have had the pleasure (or pain) yet; you are the souls who have come in search of the knowledge gained by adventurers before you.

I have a great many things planned to share with you, and I hope you will continue to come back and visit. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me through stupidranger@stupidranger.com.

Know that you are always welcome here; those to whom adventure calls should never adventure alone.