Most of the really memorable incidents are established early. When you don't know someone, it's those beginning impressions that leave a lasting mark on how you think about someone. And it can be very hard to regard a person as being different from your first impressions of them. I suppose a case in point is Dave Pickering.

When I first started gaming at Berkeley, the first campaign that I joined was John Tomasetti's Spelljammer campaign for the AD&D system. That's where I first met several of "The RuneQuest Mafia" (which I don't think became an appellation for another year or two). That's where I played my fighting mage, who waded into combat with two daggers because first level mages are useless after they cast their one or two spells. Then I died and was reincarnated into an Ogre Magi.

Weird campaign. But anyway I don't remember the other people. I think Eric Rowe and Shannon Appel were in the campaign and a couple of other group people, plus some other people. But I remember Dave Pickering, well not so much remember him as remember a certain conviction that I formed about him.

Let me first say that back then I was a poor role-player (arguable, I still am). It wasn't so much role-playing to me as just putting myself into the character and making the character be me. So I thought that everyone else did the same thing, so if your character was like this then you were probably like this in real life too. Since then I've discovered that although that observation is generally true, there are enough exceptions so that you have to be careful in judging people by how they role-play.

Anyway, Dave was playing some sort of thief-like character. He was sneaky, not altogether trustworthy, and someone who looked out for their interests first. What impressed me was the character's steadfastness, that willingness to do what was necessary to win and survive. Certainly, this was the character that I felt was most likely to survive if disaster ever struck. The character also had a few magical items that would let him get away from danger in just about any situation.

I remember one time, before a big battle. I didn't think we were going to win. So I went up to Dave's character and asked him to make sure that my magic items wouldn't fall into our opponents' hands if we should lose. That's the kind of thing I will remember about Dave. My conviction that he is a survivor, willing to do whatever it takes to win, even if there will be a heavy price to pay. That sort of determination to do the "evil" things, to sacrifice friends for the cause, that's what I think of when I think of Dave.

I do know Dave better now. And I know that he is not like that at all. Sure, he will do what is necessary, but only if he sees no other alternative, and he is quite smart and adept at finding a good solution to any problem. That's another corollary that I've added to my impression of Dave: he gets things done. Pretty much through the years I have always felt that he was the best leader, not only because he accomplishes things, is a good organizer, and a good people person, but because he has the force of personality to get other people to do what he wants.

I have felt for years, and now more than ever, that I'd follow Dave to the Depths of Hell itself if that is what he required of me. Heck, I'd go to Hell alone if he required that of me, even if it meant my certain. Because deep down inside I know that he wouldn't ask that of me or anyone else unless there was no other way. I know that if Dave sends me to my death, there's a very good reason for it, good enough for me to do it willingly and with a clear conscience. And I believe that will be my impression of Dave until the day I die.