And now for something completely different...

[hunter]

A bit of personal news and a request for your support and assistance. The Traveller community has been very good to me over the past decade or so and I've loved the opportunities I was graced with by your support. I'm calling on that support again unabashedly for both myself and hopefully for anyone else working as a professional in this industry who finds themselves in a bit of need.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer today. Frankly I don't honestly know if I have months or years. We're still figuring it all out and I'm trying to absorb the reality of it all. But the fact remains, things do not look great at the moment.

I had originally begun to set up a new site to support the SciFi20 line but I've decided to take it also in a bit of a different direction. Cancer is a damn scary thing just to contemplate for most people, me included...I can't begin to tell you just how scared I am. But, I'm hoping that by blogging my own experiences with trying to continue on with life, working doing what I love, and fighting cancer, maybe I can pass on some understanding and help for others who may be in similar situations as I am. Or hell, for those who are just morbidly curious. Hell I don't mind.

My plans are to use the site to help collect donations to, yes help me get by, but also to start setting up a gaming community supported fund for other game designers in our industry who may also be facing a tough road. More details and my first blog post can be found on the new site.

I'll still be somewhat active over here, much as I have been lately, but most of my time will be spent on the new site. I thank you ALL again for the years of support, both personal and for our work on the T20 and SciFi20 lines. It's been an honor to work with you all, and I hope the work we produced brought you as much pleasure and enjoyment as I and I know the others involved had in making it available.

SciFiGaming.com

Personal Blog
A Day in the Life

 

[aramis]

Damn, Sorry to hear about the cancer... I'll keep you in my prayers.

Edit: I posted a notice on RPGGeek.com with links to your blog and to this thread.

 

[Tobias]

Gosh... I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry.

 

[Border Reiver]

Just read Hunter's blog and working with cancer patients on an all to frequent basis I realise the enormity of what he is about to go through. Here's hoping the diagnosis is wrong. Good luck to you & yours.

 

[McPerth]

Used as I am to treat with patients with similar diagnostics, I still never know what to say when I know it...

I join Aramis in keeping you in my prayers

 

[DaveChase]

Despite any differences of issues over the years, I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts.

Don't wish pain or misery on anyone, especially the long drawn out kind.

Just remember that if you get feeling down or worse, talk to us here, someone will respond and listen.

Dave Chase

 

[Spinward Scout]

I'm very sorry to hear that Hunter. But, I've known several people that beat cancer. Stay strong!

My plans are to use the site to help collect donations to, yes help me get by, but also to start setting up a gaming community supported fund for other game designers in our industry who may also be facing a tough road. More details and my first blog post can be found on the new site.

I've had a similar thought about this. I was wondering if you could ask Marc if you could call it the Traveller's Aid Society. It could be appropriate, I think.

 

[hunter]

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I so much appreciate them all. It's a surreal experience right now...

 

[Dragoner]

I am sorry to hear this, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, Hunter.

 

[Madarin Dude]

Sorry to hear that. I hope it goes into remission.

 

[Starviking]

Hope you can beat this Hunter. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[LeperColony]

All the best to you and yours.

 

[mcgurk]

Sorry to hear this, truly,Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Trouble]

My wife is a survivor (stage 3) she has had no recurance for over 20 years. I wish you the best.

CW

 

[soloprobe]

I will keep you in my prayers

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I so much appreciate them all. It's a surreal experience right now...

What, people being nice to you for a change...?

Seriously, as I said earlier (and I owe you another email when I get time), I'm really sorry to hear this. As bad news goes it doesn't get much worse.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work, and for everything you've done for Traveller over the years:

There have been ups and downs, but COTI is still the most active Traveller forum. I've tried not to do too much damage since I took over, and I hope you don't feel like I stole your baby - I only took the job because Marc asked me, and you don't refuse an Imperial Edict!

And T20 still stands as arguably the best produced of all the post-GDW editions - other companies could learn a lot from you.

 

[Independence Games]

I'm very sorry to hear that Hunter. Good luck.

 

[far-trader]

I'm still at a loss for words Hunter, and words alone are hardly enough but that's all the forum has.

Fight, we're all pulling for you from the sidelines.

And I'll echo Andrew's sentiment, CotI and T20 are among the best things to happen to Traveller in a long time. Thank you.

 

[PFVA63]

Hi

Best wishes.

Pat

 

[hunter]

What, people being nice to you for a change...?

Eh, most are. The select few who aren't are not worthy of rebuttal.

Seriously, as I said earlier (and I owe you another email when I get time), I'm really sorry to hear this. As bad news goes it doesn't get much worse.

Thank you. Again to all that have expressed their good wishes and prayers I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot right now, it really does. I can't begin to tell you how much.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work, and for everything you've done for Traveller over the years:

It was an honor and a pleasure, rest assured. To be a part of a game I've loved all my life and to work with Marc was really a dream come true for me. I can't begin to say enough good things about Marc. Over the years he has grown to become almost a part of my family and has been one of the truest friends one could hope for as well as a mentor to me.

There have been ups and downs, but COTI is still the most active Traveller forum. I've tried not to do too much damage since I took over, and I hope you don't feel like I stole your baby - I only took the job because Marc asked me, and you don't refuse an Imperial Edict!

You've done a great job. It was time for me to step down then for a number of reasons personal and business. Honestly in a way it was good not to have to worry about it any more. And no, you don't refuse when the Emperor calls you to duty LOL my ringtone for Marc is the Imperial March from Star Wars!

And T20 still stands as arguably the best produced of all the post-GDW editions - other companies could learn a lot from you.

I can't ask for any more than comments like this from fans. Thank you very much. We tried to put out the best material we could and not just regurgitate the old stuff over again. I'm very proud of the THB and particularly the work we did on Gateway. I think they both stand out. Of course I am biased, but hearing it from Traveller fans and alumni sure does make one feel good!

I'll have a new post on my condition going up later tonight. Just saw the doctor today after a few more scans. Much as I hate to say, things are not good. But I'm not dead yet, and don't plan to check out anytime real soon. My overall health is still very good, I don't actually have any real symptoms from the cancer. Yet. So we'll take it one day at a time and push the envelope as far as we can with it.

I still plan to try and work on new material. Frankly I need the income. And I'm going to be pushing on getting what Marc and I are tentatively calling the Gamers' Aid Society up and running. I'd like to leave something behind out of all of this. So if you are interested in helping out, please keep an eye on my blog and the new site.

Also if anyone has questions about my condition, don't hesitate to ask me. I plan on being pretty open and honest about all of this in the hope that maybe it'll help others who are possibly facing this or know other who are. You aren't likely to offend me or otherwise upset me in doing so. Trust me, I'm driving my family nuts with the morbid jokes and cracks right now. If I can't laugh my way through this, I might as well just give up and die right now and that's not something I'm going to do.