Welcome to Roadworthy! This is a chance to show off a Road Crew Judge and allow them to share their experience and wisdom. We provide these profiles to help provide insight into their personality and style, and maybe give up-and-coming Judges some advice on improving their game.
From the Hoosier state comes our next Judge, who has such a deep passion for Dungeon Crawl Classics that he and friends formed a company to support it!
Let’s meet Judge Lance Hodge!
Roadworthy: Judge Lance Hodge!
What’s your name, where do you live (and game), and how would you describe yourself?
I’m Lance Hodge. I live in Northwest Indiana just outside of Chicago.
How did you first discover Dungeon Crawl Classics?
I have been gaming since 1979. A couple of my uncles that were only a few years older than I, introduced me to Dungeons and Dragons. I remember the edition they owned initially didn’t have dice. It had chits. I read later that there was an interruption in the supply chain from China for the dice. (Hmm, sound like any current events?) I’ve been gaming ever since, playing several different systems.
My group ran a three-year-long Pathfinder campaign and we were all “crunched “ out at the end of it. My friend Martin discovered DCC and introduced us to it. We played “Portal Under the Stars” followed by Sailors on a Starless Sea and we were hooked.
We were so hooked that three of us started the company, Gaming Honors, to publish third party DCC and MCC content. Then Martin, myself, our sons, and our friend Rob Swanson won the second annual Gen Con DCC tournament and had our names inscribe on the Gong of Doom.
How many Road Crew games have your ran so far?
I have run ten Road Crew Games this year and have an ongoing Monday night game that continued with players I met running games during Cyclops Con.
We just completed People of the Pit, we are now in The Emerald Enchanter and we will eventually be moving into Neon Knights.
How did the quarantine change your gaming life?
I learned about Roll20.net, Zoom, Discord, and Fantasy Grounds. I had never used any of the platforms in the past. Actually, I am gaming more now than I have in a long time. My normal group could only pull off every other week in person due to work and family, etc.
Now I’m running games every Monday and playing in games as a PC every Friday. It’s a great way to stay in touch with friends during these difficult times. Honestly, I am not the only one to express the sentiment that without online gaming I may have lost my mind over the last couple of months. I have also noticed the group really tends to stay focused on the game. The online aspect cuts out some but not all of the non-game related banter. I really enjoy the dynamic. Our group has discussed continuing every other game online even after the pandemic passes.
Finally, I’m gaming consistently with people from different parts of the country on a regular basis which would not have happened but for the lockdown.
Give us a favorite gaming highlight from this year.
Zankor the Wizard spell burned 18 points to defeat the People of the Pit in the final battle and save the damsel in distress! It was epic.
What advice would you give to other Road Crew judges running online games?
Be prepared to use discord or zoom as back up interfaces in case the other platforms are acting up. In general, I have had few problems with connectivity but there have been some.
Also, I use pictures from the modules we are playing to create my own tokens for the PC’s and adversaries. I think it helps capture the overall feel of the various publications.
Interested in learning about our other amazing Road Crew judges? Click here for all the Roadworthy profiles!
