Goodbye Evil Homer

So here we are, and this is 'goodbye' good luck to Evil Homer!  Yes indeed, our local, cuddly Ruiner of Fun has rejoined his family in Austin after staying here a few extra months to finish out the school year at his job.

The portrait I did for Evil Homer, which is a antique looking Homer I modified so it's 'evil.'  I don't think he ever actually liked it though!

Let me say right up front, I don't like change.  I don't deal with it well, and I'm not really sure why - my father was an officer in the military so as a child we did the whole 'move every 3 years bit.'  Also, the internet being what it is, it's not like I can't chat with him anytime I want... and he's moving to Austin of all places!

Obviously I'm affiliated with the group down there anyway, plus I intend to move as soon as I can reasonably make the transition.  (Austin is the center of the Texas psychiatric healthcare system, so my career goals make it the best place for me.)

So I am I just jealous that he moved to the city I want to get to?  Not really - it's more about how important this dude was for our local tournament scene.

I play at Galaxy Books and Comics in Wichita Falls, Texas, which is by far the most competitive store in North Texas.  The Master Manipulator (every store needs one) is simply the best local tournament organizer I've ever seen, and I've played in tournaments all across Texas.  So combine him and a dude like Evil Homer, who has a mind for Theoryhammer I've rarely seen equalled...

...I take that back.  When he gets to running off at the mouth about his ideas, he reminds me of some of the national players currently dominating the Indy circuit.  I get the opportunity to listen to those dudes chatting around dinner and between games at places like Adepticon and Wargames Con, and it's eerily similar to the listening to the locals hold court late on Friday night.

(I tend to listen more than I talk - Theoryhammer is not one of my strengths, and what comes easy to someone like Darkwynn or Evil Homer I have to work at.  I have no problem stealing liberating good ideas, though, and over the years my skill on the table has made up for my lack.  The Bugs! being the obvious exception...)

Bah!  This has turned into one long digression.  Point is, Evil Homer forced our scene to shake off its lethargy, and it was him and the MM(esno) who, after a conversation, kicked off the idea of an escalation league that ultimately helped me make the biggest leap forward in my aspirations to play this game at the highest level.

He was my nemesis, since he's the guy that doesn't have 'casual' games; he plays hard and forces you to do the same.

Good luck in Austin, Homer: those guys still have no idea what's coming!