1. Tell us a little about yourself...

My name is Ben Matzen and I'm a scientist, specifically an
evolutionary biologist and paleontologist. I work as an environmental
consultant, but will hopefully get back to teaching very soon. I have
a wonderful family with whom I share my love for gaming!

2. What do you do at KublaCon?

I am the Collectible Miniatures and Board Game coordinator. I get as
many super-fans as possible of games like Heroscape, Dungeons &
Dragons Miniatures, and Monsterpocalypse to the tables at KublaCon!

3. How did you get involved with KublaCon and how long have you been here?

I started as a volunteer back in the days of ManaFest. Judging by
the number of Staff Pins I have, however, it looks like I've been on
Staff for 7 years, how time flies! Since starting I've taken on roles
ranging from "super-volunteer", the "dude who sleeps in the dealers
room to keep everything safe", table-top game assistant, and I've even
been Japji's Emily... but the name Emily doesn't really suit me as
Japji and I soon discovered!

4. What motivates you and what rewards to you get out of being involved with KublaCon?

Kubla Staff are family, plain and simple. I get more out of working
with the wonderful staff at KublaCon than I could hope to describe.
They bring their love of gaming and the joy it brings them to the
convention and it is wonderfully contagious

5. What is your earliest gaming or game convention memory?

That would have to be my first ManaFest. I remember being asked to
officiate a Monopoly tournament to which I responded, "there are
tournaments for Monopoly?!?" Ah yes, and LARP'ing. That year I was
Sheriff to David Oberholzer's Prince! I don't LARP as much now since
marrying a non-gamer, but I do have fond memories...

6. What is your favorite gaming or game convention memory?

C'mon, you expect me to choose?! Alright... That would have to be
when I convinced Keith Baker to let me be the seventh player in an
Eberron adventure he was running. He and I hung out drinking "sodas"
for hours afterward talking gaming. That was a great experience.

7. What is your least favorite gaming or game convention memory?

Hmmm... I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. BUT, there are other
conventions at which getting into a game for which you signed up is
about as likely as winning the lottery. AND when you do get into a
game and are even lucky enough to end up there with a group of your
friends, the DM hasn't been properly vetted and flat-out sucks! Japji,
Misha, and Amrit all know what I'm talking about...

8. Give us a top 3 list of your favorite games and tell us your least favorite game.

- #1 is without a doubt Dungeons & Dragons and D&D Miniatures!
- #2 is Settlers of Catan, at least now that I've taken my rightful
place among the Lords of Catan!
- #3 is Talisman, at least now that 4th Edition Black Box plays very
similarly to the 2nd Edition Black Box.
- My least favorite game? Hmmn, there are some bad ones out there, and
any game played with a poor sport is ruined of course. I have to say
that even though I love the comic, you couldn't get me to play the
Order of the Stick Game again even if threatened with a Barney marathon!

9. Where do you currently play games and what do you play when you are there?

I have been running games on Tuesday evenings at Games of Berkeley
for years now. We have a DCI sanctioned D&D Miniatures League on the
1st and 3rd Tuesdays. On the 2nd, 4th, and the occasional 5th Tuesday
a colleague of mine and I run an Eberron campaign.

10. If you could tell all of the KublaCon attendees something, what would it be?

If you like ANY type of game, you will have a blast at KublaCon!!! There
is absolutely something for everyone, from a fantastic Kids room to
seasoned War Miniatures veterans reenacting famous battles. So come
one, come all, to the greatest game convention the west coast has to
offer!!!

Sincerely, -Ben Matzen, aka "Dorkus kublensis"