FreakyFerret Q&A As part of my continuing interview series, I recently spoke with FreakyFerret, one of the most fun board mods, and best ST out there. Jelan: How did you first start playing vampire? FreakyFerret: Well, it was 1993. I met a new group of friends, and they introduced me to "Vampire" the 1st edition. After a few sessions, our regular ST wasn't in the mood to run a game, but I really wanted to play. Being the bullheaded person I am, I became the ST for the game. Jelan: How did you first find out about Redemption? FreakyFerret: I saw a blurb about it (Redemption) on the White Wolf site. I then found the Nihilistic site from a link on there. That was back in like 1999. Jelan: How did you end up being a revered board mod? FreakyFerret: *laugh* I wouldn't say revered, especially considering some of the e-mails we have received. However Trail (the Nihilistic Webmaster) found the moderating duties were too much for one person. He then hinted in a post on the boards he was considering some people for mod status. I was 100% confidant Sandman was one of those people, and I congratulated him in IRC. Sandman told me his thought was I would wind up being selected. We went back and forth expressing our expectation for the other to get the position. It was humorous. "No, you." "No, you." "Nah uh, You Sandy." Anyone listening in on that private chat would have thought neither of us wanted it. Thinking back, maybe I should have taken it as an omen. It was a few minutes later Trail showed up in IRC and offered me the position. Banshee was made a mod at the same time. Jelan: What kind of e-mails have you received? FreakyFerret: Well... let me just say some people feel they have a right to be a big meanie pooppie head to anyone they want anywhere they want. When we shoot them down for it, they decide we shall take all the pooppies they were going to share with the board. Jelan: What happened to this Trail? FreakyFerret: Trail is still around. He is Nihilistic's Webmaster in his spare time. The website itself usually doesn't require much updating, so he only needed to find someone willing to help out with the message board. Since Trail volunteers his time to maintain the website and had no budget to hire anyone, that left his only pool of resources the fan base. We are all grateful to Trail for the work he did and still does for Nihilistic's site. Without him, the board would not be the wonderful place it is. Jelan: Have you ever felt cheated that, although Banshee and Sandman got Easter eggs, you didn't? FreakyFerret: An Easter Egg is usually a special treat for the staff or fans. It would have been really cool to have an Easter egg. However I don't feel cheated. There were subtle eggs for me in some of the letters on the Activision site and here and there. Further, Nihilistic's staff and Activision's staff have always been helpful and have given me more of their time than one would have expected. Such as when I wanted to write a general document to detail some things the SDK didn't cover. Several Nihilistic staff members worked with me to help me understand some of the nuisances of the game. They answered emails and chatted with me in IRC. They made themselves accessible. To myself, as a fan of the game, I think that is more reward and appreciation for my efforts than I could ever ask to have. Jelan: How long do you spend on the boards every day? FreakyFerret: well, during "Siege Week" (when the game was initially released) I would spend anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day. Since things are now slowed down to a dull roar, I usually spend 3 to 5 hours a day. Jelan: Why is Banshee so mean when moderating the boards? FreakyFerret: *laughs uncontrollably* Isn't it obvious? All women are evil creatures from h*ll! Rebuke them! Forsake them! *chuckle* Seriously though Banshee is actually the nicer one of us. She does her very best to insure every person on the boards is treated not only fairly but equally. I don't worry so much about stepping on toes. I simply see a job that needs doing, and I do it. I do try to be considerate there are other people with real emotions and real vulnerabilities on the other side of the screen. I try to make the board as friendly a place as anywhere - as friendly as my own home. However sometimes you just have to grab the rowdy trouble making gate crashers by the seat of their pants and toss them out forcibly. Then you offer cookies and a shot of vodka to those left. :) Jelan: Are you a goth? FreakyFerret: I am Gothic in that I appreciate some things "main stream" society does not. However I have a perma-tan and look horrible in lace, so I'm not a Goth. Although some guys in lace with pale skin and lanky bodies make me want to be Goth. *giggle* Jelan: In what ways do you think Nihilistic failed with Vampire? FreakyFerret: Well, I think Nihilistic did a fantastic job with the game. They delivered an inspiring game and I think went beyond expectations for the first edition of a WoD computer game. Of course, like all things, not every bit of it is perfect. For instance I would have really loved to see the Abilities stats included. (Stuff like: Brawl, Crafts, Computers, and Languages) I would have liked to have Willpower in the game also, but that's just the "Pen and Paper purist" in me speaking. Looking at the computer game as a separate entity all by itself, I would pick the editing tools. I wish they had spent a little more time fleshing these out. Jelan: In what ways do you think they excelled? FreakyFerret: There are quite a few areas. I'd have to say the main menu, where you select if you're going to play a Single Player game or a Multi-Player game. Hehe, just kidding. Seriously there are so many enticing elements to the game, I could not cover them all here. The Storyteller feature is obviously one of the greatest additions to the multiplayer genre. However Nihilistic did a great job with the artwork and modeling of the game. If you have a chance, just load the game in LAN mode and look at the detailing with all the various character models. Jelan: What do you think of the situation with the quality of WON? FreakyFerret: I have no comment on Won.net. Jelan’s Note After conducting this interview, I found this post on the boards by FreakyFerret. I too must voice my displeasure with Won.net. Grabs a rolled up newspaper Bad Won.net! *whap* Bad! *whap* Badbadbadbadbadbad *whap*whap*whap*whap* Hey, why aren't you moving anymore Won.net? Oh, who put this iron bar in the paper? *Quickly and quietly buries Won.net in the backyard before the neighbors notice anything strange* You can access the post here Jelan: How long do you plan to stay active in the community? FreakyFerret: Plan? Until I reach Ascension. :) Either that or until Nihilistic stops making "World of Darkness" games. If after 7 years I haven't tired of the WoD, I doubt I'll get tired of the Internet WoD anytime soon. Jelan: what's your favorite mod out for redemption? FreakyFerret: The Mage Mod by Yith. It is the best mod I have seen to date. It includes new, quality artwork, ingenious use of Codex, and impressive interpretation of the pen and paper rules. This mod will likely be one of the many examples pointed to by others. Jelan: What's your favorite non White Wolf Vampire book, your favorite White Wolf Vampire book, and why? FreakyFerret: Non White Wolf . . . hm. I don't really have a favorite book over others. However I do enjoy reading Dean Koontz and Clive Barker's works as well as those of Octavia E. Butler. As for White Wolf (WoD) fiction, I enjoyed the "Horizon War" trilogy as well as the Clan Novel series. "Setite" was my favorite Clan Novel, which is odd since they're not my favorite clan. Jelan: What is your favorite clan? FreakyFerret: Caitiff. Jelan: Why? FreakyFerret: Because they can break out of the stereotypes with more ease. Plus I like their weakness from a role player's point of view. It's easy for someone to play a physical flaw. When you have to change your way of thinking as a person and tune into how the character thinks, believes, feels, reacts, that is when you experience the true joy of roleplaying. Caitiffs are not the easiest to do this with because they are so non-stereotypical. They require the most work on the part of the player, but they generate the greatest rewards. Jelan: Any ideas on Nihilistic's next project? FreakyFerret: Yes, I have some ideas, but I'm not willing to share them at this time. Jelan: What would you like to see Nihilistic do next? FreakyFerret: I would most like to see an expansion pack first. This way they work on tweaking the base code a bit and making the computer game universe a bit more rounded. They should be able to deliver it relatively soon - well sooner than a full fledge sequel at least. If they did a sequel to the game, they would be required by common expectations to provide a bit more than what usually entails an expansion pack's content. Jelan: What's your favorite video game other than Vampire and why? FreakyFerret: X-Com 3. It's a great strategy game with enough realism to keep me happy and doesn't cross the line of "suspended disbelief". Jelan: What do you do when you're not being a vampire? FreakyFerret: Well, I'm not a vampire. I'm of the few fans of the game who thinks it would be rather unpleasant to be a vampire. Locked in the same body for centuries would be horrid. It is a curse, not a dark gift to me. As for my "Everyday Routine," though I am usually busy working as a manager of the computer sales and support division of my company. Jelan: Boxers or briefs? FreakyFerret: Neither. Jelan: What's your favorite Vampire movie? FreakyFerret: "Fright Night" is probably my favorite. Although "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" comes a very close second. Both movies showed the depressive qualities of vampiric life contrasted by the light hearted and almost whimsical activities of those still living. I thought it was interesting in both fictions the vampire is much older than the mortal hero of the story. They portrayed near-phobic feelings most people have about growing old, losing the spark of life, and becoming disenchanted with the magic of living in the moment and for the moment. Jelan: Will you ever ST for Redemption again and will you ever finish your uber hub? FreakyFerret: Yes, I will. The only reason I'm not holding nightly games right now is due to real life work. I rarely have time for a full night's rest, let alone run an 8 hour long session. Jelan: So, ferret, what's the best Vampire: Redemption Website out there? FreakyFerret: My favorite vampire website is of course Nihilistic's own, especially their message board. The Map Depo comes up a close second due to all their great content. Not to mention... oh! Um... PlanetVampire is my favorite! It has the most rock and least commercials of any radio station I listen to uh... not that I listen to any stations other than WKRPV! Seriously though I do look forward to PlanetVampire rising once again to the best spot for late breaking news as well as other features. I think you guys are well on the way reseating yourselves in that position especially with the active return of Sandman and latest addition of Jack9. Jelan: Thanks for the interview ferret FreakyFerret: No problem.