Matthew Mendoza
Apprentice
My staff and I have decided to give some background on ourselves so you know where we are coming from and our experience. I dont really know many of the Alliance community so if you feel the urge to share too then be my guest. So far our team consists of me, Luke Goldsmith, John Perkins, and Mike Meeker. There are a couple other "behind the scenes" people but I'm not sure if they want to be acknowledged...
Anyway, I'm Matt. I'm originally from California. I was in the army for 14 and a half years as an intelligence analyst. I started playing paper and dice games when I was a sophmore in high school(so 18 years worth, now) and started running my own games after I had a firm enough grasp on the rules, a few months later. I have contined to run my own games everywhere I've had to travel due to the military. I had come into contact with my first LARP in 1999, but it lost my interest quickly due to the paper/rock/scissors style of fighting. Last year, I met John Perkins and Luke Goldsmith and they introduced me to boffer fighting, and told me that there are many games out there that use this style of fighting in fantasy role playing games and the one in particular Luke recommended was Alliance. I think its great! Getting exercise, testing your fighting skills in a safe environment, role playing through a story. Its like improve theater but your stage is this big park, or farm, or 4H camp, etc. The nearest one to us was like 4 hours away though, for me that was far when I first started out but I've since changed my mind about distance vs worth. And I understand a lot of you travel much greater distances to events. But the distance was initially what prompted me to pursue starting a chapter in VA.... Even though at the time, I hadnt actually been to an event yet. Eventually, after doing some research and deciding that yes, I did want to do this. I contacted Mike and went to my first couple events. The events were amazing of course! I'll never forget it. I'm sure no one ever forgets their first event. I got to play a High Ogre Shaman Tribe Leader... The PCs came to tell me how to fix a curse that had befallen the land. The Gypsy lady who was deemed the spokes person for the group seemed quite nervous... and I didnt seem to help her much by slamming my goblet on and weapon on the table when I misunderstood what she was telling me...
but it all worked out and they left with some tokens of my gratitude. That was the highlight of my first weekend. Well... I think thats it... if there are any questions, then you are welcome to ask.
thanks for reading.
Anyway, I'm Matt. I'm originally from California. I was in the army for 14 and a half years as an intelligence analyst. I started playing paper and dice games when I was a sophmore in high school(so 18 years worth, now) and started running my own games after I had a firm enough grasp on the rules, a few months later. I have contined to run my own games everywhere I've had to travel due to the military. I had come into contact with my first LARP in 1999, but it lost my interest quickly due to the paper/rock/scissors style of fighting. Last year, I met John Perkins and Luke Goldsmith and they introduced me to boffer fighting, and told me that there are many games out there that use this style of fighting in fantasy role playing games and the one in particular Luke recommended was Alliance. I think its great! Getting exercise, testing your fighting skills in a safe environment, role playing through a story. Its like improve theater but your stage is this big park, or farm, or 4H camp, etc. The nearest one to us was like 4 hours away though, for me that was far when I first started out but I've since changed my mind about distance vs worth. And I understand a lot of you travel much greater distances to events. But the distance was initially what prompted me to pursue starting a chapter in VA.... Even though at the time, I hadnt actually been to an event yet. Eventually, after doing some research and deciding that yes, I did want to do this. I contacted Mike and went to my first couple events. The events were amazing of course! I'll never forget it. I'm sure no one ever forgets their first event. I got to play a High Ogre Shaman Tribe Leader... The PCs came to tell me how to fix a curse that had befallen the land. The Gypsy lady who was deemed the spokes person for the group seemed quite nervous... and I didnt seem to help her much by slamming my goblet on and weapon on the table when I misunderstood what she was telling me...
but it all worked out and they left with some tokens of my gratitude. That was the highlight of my first weekend. Well... I think thats it... if there are any questions, then you are welcome to ask.thanks for reading.
I hope to make it down but it doesn't look like it will be as soon as I hoped. 
