The Seven Sides of Sam Chupp.
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players: they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time play many parts, his acts being seven ages.”
William Shakespeare
- The Seven Sides of Sam Chupp
The Seven Sides of Sam Chupp:
Think you’re ready for the world of Gaming? Nu-uh! Welcome to gaming squared, as Sam Chupp drags you kicking and screaming into the surrealistic world of Role Playing, Gaming, and Board Games, complete with rule books, props, and a bad ass attitude.
1. The Ultimate Gamer: Finally, a gamer you can take home to mom!
It was at the tender age of eight that Sam Chupp was first introduced to the imaginative fun of gaming. While playing a not-so-fun version of D& D (Dungeons and Dragons for you novice folk), Sam realized the potential that role playing and gaming as a whole could provide for him. While other teenagers were experimenting with drugs, under-age sex, and gang violence, this intellectual kid from Atlanta, GA was finding himself in the imaginative world of free form and board game role playing.
“Gaming really kept my head focused. Role playing kept me away from drugs and out of a lot of bad stuff that was going on around me.” For Sam, gaming provided levels of imagination, creativity, and excitement that most kids only get to dream about. Sam’s gaming has allowed him to travel, make lasting friendships, and continue on a journey that paved the way for much more.
2. Game Designer: What you don’t know about Gaming might scare you!
Games, games, and more games became the focus of Sam’s vision for many years. Sam soon teamed up with Mark Rein-Hagen, Ian Lemke, and Joshua Timbrook to create; Changeling: The Dreaming, a story-telling game system based on supernatural characters. Sam drew upon folklore from various cultures including, Native American tribes, Grecian tales, and Indian and African mythology. Additionally, Sam went on to create Wraith: The Oblivion with Mark Rein-Hagen and Jennifer Hartshorn.
Sam won an Origins Award in 2003 for in his work in the gaming industry. The Origins Award, also known as a Calliope or “Callie” is one of the most prestigious awards in the gaming community and represents excellence achieved in the gaming industry.
3. Author: Sam Wrote the Rule book on Role Playing…no really, he did!
Besides being a note worthy game designer and extremely talented gamer, Sam Chupp has taken his ability to dream to a higher level. With his juiced-up gaming knowledge and experience, Sam has literally written the rule book on role playing and gaming. Some of his books include: Sins of the Fathers: The World of Darkness Wraith based on the Oblivion gaming system andVampire: The Masquerade based on the White Wolf Game Studio’s World of Darkness live-action role playing gaming system.
“Like kids on a playground, you just trust the people you play with and throw out a story, using trust as the guide for rules,” Sam tells us about free form role playing.
Additionally Sam is a writer for much of the content in The Book of Nod, an inspirational book for story tellers worldwide. The Book of Nod also is as a best-selling art book which is still considered a “cult” classic and has many people truly believing in the myth of vampires.
But if gaming just isn’t your thing, don’t worry, Sam’s got you covered. In addition to his long list of gaming based publications, Sam is currently working on his newest adventure, a fantasy audio book called Heart of the Hunter, which can be downloaded directly from his website in the form of Podcasts. Pretty neat!
4. Supportive Partner: Sam Chupp isn’t all fun and games.
Although Sam often portrays strong and warrior-like characters in the gaming world, he has also had to use his own inner strength to support his long-time partner, Cynthia, who suffers from Fibromyalgia. Like gaming, Fibromyalgia is not always on the tip of everyone’s tongue but always remains at the forefront of Sam Chupp’s life. Many don’t know the pain and agony that comes with a debilitating syndrome that completely sensitizes the body’s entire central nervous system, as only two percent of the American population suffer from it.
While there are few remedies aside from physical therapy and medication that can combat the extensive list of symptoms that face fibromyalgia suffers, Sam and Cynthia have found their own treatment. Through the use of their own cleverly engineered free from role playing game, called Raven Song, Sam and Cynthia have found a way to transcend passed the physical limitations of her condition and find a peace that has not only relieved the everyday stresses, but has also made their relationship stronger.
- Sam Wrote the Rule book on Role Playing
5. Podcast King: Food for the Masses.
As a game designer, engineer and all-around bad ass, Sam Chupp has found yet another way to dazzle us. Through the use of innovative Podcasts, a function that Sam discovered years before it became a buzz word in today’s web-conscious world, Sam has been able to reach-out to the thousands of hungry minds needing his expertise.
Through the medium of podcasts and role playing, “friendships are formed,” Chupp describes, as he has established nearly a dozen podcasts that focus on topics that range from treatment and support for Fibromyalgia sufferers (Fibrant Living) to tips, tricks and skills for beginning gamers (Square One). Each one of Sam’s Podcast seems to unravel another intricately woven side of Sam. Yet again, Sam demonstrates that not only is he ahead of the curve but is the one twisting its corners.
6. Poet: To be or Not to Be? Sam’s got the answers.
Who would have ever imagined that an engineer and game designer would write poetry? Certainly not me until I met this gifted gentle giant outside the gaming world. Not only can Sam turn a slightly under-used website into a master podcast engine, but he can also turn a pretty mean phrase.
The Bear’s Cast, Sam’s wonderfully thought-provoking poetry blog, serves not only as his main blog and casual podcast page, but also provides witty commentary and insightful messages about the society and social health of our community. While most of this site is geared to getting a slice of Sam’s mind, this blog, in particular, also serves up a slice of Sam’s heart.
7. Father: Why can’t all dads be this cool?
Clean your room, do your homework, and play games…wait, what was that last one? Yep, you read it right, Sam Chupp definitely allows his kids to game. Not many people would appreciate their child’s ability to fantasize and dream in large scale, but Sam is the dad of all dads.
“Story telling speaks to our souls. Attaining something higher than yourself is worth the journey,” Sam explains. “Through role playing, our family learned understanding and the ability to empathize with others, and was used effectively as a reward for my kids.”
While Sam also recognizes the importance of a clean room and good grades, he understands and nurtures the blossoming potential of a furtive imagination. With a son who is now 20 and two daughters who are 17 and 18, Sam gets the importance of supporting his children to reach their dreams. How cool is that?
- The Ultimate Gamer: Finally, a gamer you can take home to mom!
Although many people may not understand the nuances of gaming or free form role playing, there are millions of people world wide that participate and form their very own gaming communities where gaming is not only a past time, but a way of life. For those special few that take part in the adventure-driven role playing world of gaming, thousands within this close-nit community not only recognize Sam Chupp’s contributions, but are grateful for his voice.
By Janean Brown
