It's quite a long tale - but in South Africa the internet is charged per second over and above the
monthly charges - so it began with me getting my email via a friend on good old fashioned Stiffy Disks. I'd read the posts,
write them and then give them back to him to send. I am sure you'd appreciate just how slow it was. But eventually I got the
internet and the whole world of PBeM was opened up.
GM: We know you as Lieutenant Peter Castle on the USS Olympic. What can you
tell us about Guy Sclanders?
Well I am a part time lecturer at the Durban Institute of Technology - in Durban South Africa. I lecture
on Special Effects in the television and film industry, and computer graphics. I'm pushing for them to allow me to teach Animation
techniques as well.
I'm single, fairly out and about to the world in general and hate any form of discrimination - and
preach tolerance and acceptance where ever I can. I'm 23, a big Trek fan, which is difficult - we've never had a convention,
to my knowledge, and South Africa sporadically broadcasts Trek. I've yet to see anything past season five of any of the series
including TNG, and Enterprise is almost totally unknown to me.
GM: You manage to create some of the most vivid and colorful characters in
the game. It is a trend we notice with all the characters you play and you manage to pull these challenging characters off
with out a hitch in the game. What is your secret to writing a flawed character so well?
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I ... well lets see. I personally have lived a life of masks, lies
and corruption. At least that was in the past. I used to only play Romulan Ambassadors with heavy Tal Shiar connection. (I
actually became fairly famous with a certain sim ring for him.) Anyway I saw the light of reason and have become a nicer person.
And I strive for that.
Now in writing a character I like the fellow to have something interesting about him. Some quirk.
A stutter, or no sense of self worth. Basically an embodyment of one or more of my own personal flaws / characteristics. Castle
is the stuttering, self controling type, who doesn't want friends because then he'd have to open up. Dar (From the USS Champion)
is too nervous about his own abilities, has no self esteem, and collects rocks becuase rocks don't talk back, don't stare
and don't want anything but a place to be a rock in.
Once I've got the basics of their flaws down, it's fairly easy. The difficult part is remembering
who's who. That comes from years of being a DM / GM for role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons and so forth.
GM: What do you see in Lieutenant Castle's future as far as character developement
goes?
Well - we know that Castle stutters for no apparent reason, apart from sheer nervousness. And that
he's struggling to be Human - the opposite of Spocks personal stuggle to be Vulcan. And of course young Darin Crites has begun
to rock his boat. Although this is still early days I'd like to see Castle finally figure out just who to accept people -
for just what they are. And not be afraid of hidden agenda's.
I'd like to see the Crites / Castle relationship taken to a further level, and it's interesting to
see just how complicated it'll make matter. If it'll complicate matters. I never really have a game plan.
GM: Is there a Star Trek episode or story you would like to see revisited
by the USS Olympic?
I don't remember the name, because I haven't seen the episode - but I've read reviews on it and so
forth. It's TNG and Picard, Keiko O'Brian (I think) and several other staff members are turned into children. I'd love to
see that happen, or as Patrick Stewart always wanted, all of the characters minds get swapped with each others bodies. That
would be surreal.
GM: What is your favorite Star Trek Episode, Series, Movie, Book?
Without doubt I have Star Trek Six - The Undiscovered Country on the top. Great story, lovely acting
and what a finale. As to episode: Second Skin - DS9. Kira is turned into a Cardassian by the Obsidian Order. I love Cardies...
and series: TNG. Innocent space fun. Book?: The Return - by William Shatner. Romulan / Borg alliance.
GM: ok, The all time favorite Trekkie question; Do you consider yourself
a James T. Kirk or Jean-luc Picard?
Oh - I'm very much a Jean-luc. Patrick Stewart is one of my favorite actors, and well Picard is a
truely Starfleet Captain. I like to see myself as him.
GM: To ask a serious question involving the real world. What do you think of American Politics
as it pertains to the Gay Rights Movement?
Well when I visited the States I went to Texas - Steers and Queers? Look basically you fellows have
a long way to go before you get to anywhere near South Africa's status. SA has a lot of problems: Corruption, violence, AIDS
etc. But we've got some real winners. Gay Rights are big over here, and we're winning. We've got bigger problems to worry
about then sexuality.
I think the States is on the right track - but with people like the general old Texan population around,
it's going to be a long hard struggle. I'd suggest a visit to SA to come and see how we do it over here. We don't use massive
pride marches (although we have one or two) we use the law, and well the power of the Pink (Rand / Dollar) etc goes a long
way here. We are although very isolationist in Durban, country wide powerful becuase we help one another.
All I can say is - take you time, plan your battles, and don't force the issue down anyone's throat.
That only leads to vomit - which isn't nice.
GM: Any advice for the beginning writer? PBEMer?
This is always difficult. Here is how I work - and I think I send out a post ever other day -
or at least twice a week. This is my way of keeping up that posting rate.
I ask myself three questions.
1 - What is needed by the other players / situation. Am I required to respond to a player? Is a player
not responding to me? Is there a situation I have to resolve? Is there anything I can do to motivate someone else to get involved?
2 - Will this post / idea help create an interesting plot line - not for me - but for the other players?
How will this idea / post help others to have answers to question 1 above. Do I have the ability to further the plot line,
or to create a new one? Does this post serve to include the collective (Authors) or not?
3 - Will this post create happiness? To anyone? Will I feel better for writing it? Will I make someone
else feel better for reading it?
Often when there is "down" time - real life is full of exciting things like exams, tests, moving etc.
I always watch how other players handle the situation. Perhaps the GM is away, or the adventure over and we're at space dock.
Most players complain about not know what to do. Answer the three questions above. You became a writer to express yourself,
and free your creative spirit. Do so within the parameters above and you'll never have to worry about what to post again.
Personal notes
Thanks so much to my crewmates, who provide me with endless hours of entertainment, Crites, I really
look forward to what's going to happen next. To our lovely GM - Luke - sir, it's an honour to work along side you, and of
course to Star Trek, the first true exploration of the Human Condition. Thanks chaps.
Well there you have it. A personal look into the insights of USS Olympic P.B.E.M's November's Player of the Month.
