I'm finally here!

[Beren IV]

Well, I finally have time to come!

My (real) name is Andy and in the real world I am a paleontologist (currently working on a Master's, but will be going for a doctorate shortly).

I am, like all of you, a dedicated Tolkien buff, am working on my own p&p Arda role-playing system and am GMing a forum-based Tolkien roleplay right now over on the Heavengames forum (Hall of Woders section of the Age of Wonders forum - I am known as Beren V over there, not IV). I also created a not-yet-complete but at present fully functional mod for Age of Woders Shadow Magic, am working on a Battle of the Five Armies scenario for that mod and will subsequently embark on a massive project making a campaign encompassing the full breadth of the War of the Jewels.

I was attracted to The Last Alliance because of the development teams' remarks about how visions of Arda can vary and there are many different ways of interpreting Tolkien's wonderful works, particularly the "unfinished" works published posthumously by his son. I have discovered that my preferred vision of Arda is a little unusual in that I prefer Arda as a very fantastical place and that I like the Edain and their descendents as being in many ways more Elf-like than Human. I have questioned the project leader about my possible role as an essayist in the past (about two months ago), but at the time I was too busy to contribute (I was trying to publish a paper). I see that an essayist has joined since then, so we shall see. I bring an open mind to Tolkien - the most important reason why I wish to contribute is so that we accomodate different ways of envisioning Tolkien's wonderful world in our game.

My favorite of Tolkien's stories is, as is obvious by my forum name, is the tale of Beren and Lúthien. Lúthien in particular is my most favorite character in the entire legendarium (I'm not Lúthien IV because I'm male). I prefer to envision Beren as an Elf, not a mortal (as he is in The Tale of Tinúviel in the Book of Lost Tales II), and I prefer to think of Melian's concieving Lúthien as consisting of creating a body capable of it rather than some divine mingling of Maia with Elf in spirit (thus Lúthien is also an Elf, not a half-Maia). I also like Lúthien's power as being based off her dance (again as in the Tale) more than song (as in the Silmarillion version). Aside from that, I think I like the complexity of the Silmarillion story. I cannot decide whether I like Lúthien raven-haired (as in the Sil) or golden-haired (as she is in an early draft of the Lay of Leithien); ideally, I like the idea that she can switch back and forth with the power of her dance. I have just presented an example of the vast richness of possible visions in Tolkien's world that I am so fond of!

In addition to paleontology science in general and Tolkien, I am also interested in and reasonably familiar with history and am an active member in the Society for Creative Anachronism (in which I am known as Alfgeir the bard).

[Centurion_13]

Welcome BerenIV

Paleontology has always interested me, however its not the kind of thing I'd like to do as a job. Now all my interesting dinosaur questions I had prepared for the trivia games are going to be useless.

I think you will get on pretty well around here, especialy with the TLA people as they share your common love of Tolkiens works.

I enjoy his stories and have a few of them (The Silmarilion, The hobbit, and of course LOTR and an some kind of encyclopedia which I lost ) but I tend to enjoy historical RTS games than fantasy which is why I joined the 0ad team.

Best wishes

Shan Coster

[Uppy]

Wow uh..... lol Enjoy the forums and OA.D and TLA.

[DarkAngelBGE]

Welcome, Andy.

Nice that you are into your Master already. Good luck with it as well as the doctorate! Have you ever had any fear when working alone in the evening?

Definately not the kind of thing I'd like to do as a job. Why do you enjoy it so much?

[Yiuel]

Yé! Someone who favors Lay of Leithan over Children of Húrin

We probably could have great discussions about it.

On the opposite, I like the concept of the Elven maiden vs. the Human man. I think it adds an interesting dimension to the story, as how both Children of Ilúvatar could get together, Two sides of the Same world. And we can also feel how Tolkien had pleasure in writing the whole story at all, and why he took a posthume nickname Beren on his grave (giving Lúthien to his beloved wife).

So, welcome to our paleontologist

[Paal_101]

An SCA-er! I've been wanting to join them for quite a while You ever go to Pennsic War?

[Beren IV]

Hadn't checked this in a while (thought only two responses would come).

The biggest problem I have with Beren as mortal is because it generates what is from my prospective a potentially fatal flaw in the motivations of the Powers that Be (Eru, the Valar, whoever makes the decision of what to do with B&L). It also bends the species concept around quite a bit (a little bit of my paleontological background seeping in there...).

No, I have never been to Pensic (I have always lived too far away). I will before too long, though!

[DarkAngelBGE]

Since you are almost at 20 posts now, you should be able to say something about how you like it here, Andy. Do you like it here?

[Argalius]

Hey Andy, I'm sorry I didn't reply early, I somehow missed this thread. But have fun anyway.

[Beren IV]

Since you are almost at 20 posts now, you should be able to say something about how you like it here, Andy.  Do you like it here?

Well, it's been interesting. I am not here every day, since activity seems fairly slow, but then, I don't have a problem with that. I originally came here hoping to join the TLA team as an essayist, but I have noticed the extreme literallism applied to a significant amount of the thinking, and am not sure how well my vision fits with that (I am more on the other extreme), so we will see. I certainly am looking forward to the game, though - IMO a liberal view entertaining multiple interpretations is better than being dogmatic any day!

Edited April 10, 2005 by Beren IV