By Captain Starkiller for BlackOps Station, 2001-01-31

Creator of Starfleet Tactical Simulator

(Interview conducted over MSN Instant Messenger)

Capt Starkiller-
Ok, Rick, why are you a modeler? What makes you do it?

Rick-
Well, I have always been an artist...every since I could remember, I drew and  constructed starships. this is simply an extension of what I have always enjoyed

Capt Starkiller-
That's right, you are one of us OLD people playing the game, did you play SFB then?

Rick-
yes... played since I was 16...guess that's about 12 years

Capt Starkiller-
Very nice, always played Feds?

Rick-
Nope... played Feds, ISC, and Andros

Capt Starkiller-
Yes, the new Andromedan models, very nice. 

Rick-
The Andros always required a bit of finesse, which I enjoyed applying to my enemies to make them shriek...some would refuse to play me tournaments...even after the removal of weapons and power form the ships

Capt Starkiller-
Wow. Did you play a lot of SFB tournaments?

Rick says:
sure did, still play SFB

Capt Starkiller-
How do you feel the rules of SFB are being incorporated into SFC?

Rick -
the Taldren folks are doing quite well imo. they are incorporating the rules as  best they can... I think sfc2 does it even better...the rules are more accurate to SFB then ever before...finally its a fair fight in a fed

Capt Starkiller-
Excellent!

Capt Starkiller-
How does ST:Armada compare to SFC? And have you played KA?

Rick-
Armada is RTS type game. I happen to enjoy it...though some complain about the bugs...lol...sound familiar? But anyway I decided it was time for a mod from me about 8 months ago..that's when I gathered the people I wanted to help and we formed APOC...

Rick-
the mod is Empire and Federation...still considered by many to be the best conversion of armada available

Capt Starkiller-
So, the modeling thing, for you, began with Armada? Did you have 
experience with 3d  modeling prior?

Rick-
nope.... had to learn, because no one else could...and I wanted to badly 
enough to learn 3dsmax and Softimage

Capt Starkiller-
Intense programs for a beginner. You have drafting experience?

Rick -
nope, just the natural artistic talent that runs in my family. A modeler named deemon helped me at first...thankfully...he works for Apoc now...lol...in the Armada section

Capt Starkiller-
very kewl

Capt Starkiller-
What are your plans for modeling in the future? Going to stick with the community for awhile?

Rick -
Well of course I will be making models for SFC for quite some time I think... but in the future I plan to make models for other games as well...I'm hooked 

Capt Starkiller-
Have you seen Elite Forces?

Rick -
played it... we have a presence there as well "Apoc is everywhere"...we have a crew who makes skins...we have the whole ds9 crew....they started making whole character meshes last time I heard!

Capt Starkiller-
Hahah... excellent!

Capt Starkiller-
We have to promote that.

Rick-
near 20 people on the Apoc list now

Capt Starkiller-
How far have you progressed in the SP Campaign in SFC2?

Rick-
almost finished...got side tracked w/ the Kodiak.... decided to just go ahead and make it =, because I like it so much I want to command it in battle...couldn't wait any longer 

Capt Starkiller-
heheheh...I soooo agree...When you first came into the scene, what was your impression of the SFC community?

Rick -
at first most seemed very mature...this was before sfc2 was actually released. much more  mature then the armada community I'm afraid... most of the best of the  armada community  followed us the the Apoc forums...the rest stayed behind in the armada  forums to complain  and attack each other

Capt Starkiller-
Heheh, there always are. How often do YOU cringe going through the Taldren Forums?

Rick -
unfortunately I have had to stay away forum the main Taldren forum due  to the large amount  of complaining and whining...I have the same game as everyone else and it runs fine for me... w/ the occasional crash...

Capt Starkiller-
kewl.

rick says:
it just steams me how people treat Taldren...because Jinxx could just walk away now... no loss in money or  time...people don't seem to get that!

Capt Starkiller-
I know, and I agree. To me, off or on the record, SFC is wonderful... 
I loved SFB, and SFC is allowing so much more to happen with the game. The models alone are worth the fifty bux...

Rick -
I hope he doesn't because the good games and those of us who wait patiently will pay the highest price

Capt Starkiller-
Jinxx and the Taldren gang rule

Capt Starkiller-
So, when you erupted onto the scene from Armada, why the USS Chandley?

Rick -
kick ass ship...why else?

Capt Starkiller-
I have longed for that model since seeing it in FASA manual...

Rick -
me too 

Capt Starkiller-
Sweetness... how long did it take you to nail the textures?

Rick -
not long... just kit bashed out of SFC stuff

Capt Starkiller-
Do the textures intimidate you at all?

Rick -
What textures? I now do my own... I don't bother w/ Taldren textures because I am making non-canon designs...the last 15 -20 ships have had my textures only on them

Capt Starkiller-
and doing excellently. How do you feel about modelers who desire to have others texture their ships?

Capt Starkiller-
Not use other's textures, though that is another question...

Rick -
well I do that too... I send some to Pprboy to clean up or add registries to

Capt Starkiller-
How does the situation at sci-fi Arts influence or affect you as a 3d modeler?

Rick -
which one?

Capt Starkiller-
The "stealing other peoples ideas and running with them if you had done them yourself?" one

Rick -
well I try to ask permission as much as I can...however some people  there do not like to answer, or reply to posts...in those cases I just do it anyway...because I have given them the chance to ask me not to, and they ignored me.  Though I don't go there much anymore...since I'm trying to make non-canon designs

Capt Starkiller-
What's your fave era?
TOS or TMP or TNG?

Rick -
TMP

Capt Starkiller-
kewl
Mine too.

Rick -
hands down...best looking ships

Capt Starkiller-
I so agree.

Capt Starkiller-
Do you have a favorite modeler in the community, other than yourself 

Rick -
lol...well it would have to be Cleeve I think...he is not only a  skilled modeler but a generally helpful person...a good sport. I would get him to join Apoc if I thought he would.  After him (and in no particular order) are the modeling heroes of sfc1 so long ago...Cromwell, Moonraker, Maggot...those guys made us ships when no one else could...there are tons of others that I respect... to many to name them all But I think those 4 made the biggest impression on me, heck I wouldn't even be hear at all  if it wasn't for Cleeve!

Capt Starkiller-
They are great guys, good call!

Capt Starkiller-
So...
(much editing here... heheh)

Capt Starkiller-
why Pneumonic81?

Rick -
lol

Rick -
people always want to know where your handle comes from...funny story actually... I like Johnny mnemonic... the guy has a chip in his brain...lol...but I spelled it wrong Found out about a year later that pneumonic is a lung disease

Rick -
LOL

Capt Starkiller-
Doh!!!

Rick -
but I keep it anyway...still sounds cool

Capt Starkiller-
Are you a smoker?

Rick-
nope...actually it refers to pneumonia...if you have pneumonia,  u r pneumonic

Capt Starkiller-
Ahhh

Rick-
actually I am pneumonic...81 times!!!

Capt Starkiller-
*cough* *cough*

Rick-
lol

Capt Starkiller-
Well... thanks man, I really appreciate it.

Rick-
no prob....