About

Who are you?

I’m Seumas. I’m a 20-something student from Scotland.

Wait, this blog seems to be written by someone called Hammer.

Yep, that’s me. I’ve been using Hammer or HammerIntoAnvil as a username on various sites since 2004. It’s taken from the name of an episode of The Prisoner, a sci-fi/spy TV series from the ’60s. I also use S or § instead of my real name sometimes.

So what should I call you?

Hammer. I’m fed up of people mis-pronouncing and mis-spelling my name. Unless you meet me in real life, in which case calling me by internet names just sounds daft.

I remember The Prisoner. It had Gandalf in it.

No it didn’t. There was never a remake. It was canned in 2008. Anything you see suggesting otherwise is a figment of your imagination. However, the new versions of Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek are both excellent.

OK, so you like sci-fi and wierd old TV shows, what else do you like.

Looking through the site will give you a good idea: role playing games, playing with building models, politics and cooking.

Interests which aren’t really covered on here (yet) include rock music, classical music and classic rock music, sci-fi novels (especially by Asimov and Clarke), video gaming (XBL Tag: HammerIntoAnvil), whisky drinking and real ale drinking.

You really like Roleplay, nearly all of your posts are about it.

Yes. Ironically, I stopped posting about them so much when I found a gaming group in 2009. Starting a Masters degree shortly after may also have caused that.

So what do you play?

Right now, just Rogue Trader. You can read my review of it here. I might eventually get round to writing up some play sessions.

So, politics eh? I bet that’s where the name came from.

Spot on. Given I’m a politics student, I thought it was a nice play on words. I also used to write a video games blog with the bizarre moniker of “The Machiavellian Nerd” so there is a bit of a political theme going on.

But you don’t talk about politics that much?

Not on this blog. One of the drawbacks of the digital age is that it makes it much easier for future employers to track you down. Given that the civil service is one of my possible career paths, and they object to strong political activism, I decided to play it safe. My personal political views can broadly be described as “left-wing liberal green Scottish nationalist”.

Do you write anything else?

Not any more although I’ve maintained several different blogs, written gaming news and reviews for AltNation.com and written reviews and articles for university publication QMUnicate. I’ve also had a few photos published. I decided I much prefer writing as a hobby rather then as a job.

Where else can I find you?

I’m on Twitter and flickr, as well as a few other not particularly interesting social networking sites. As long as you aren’t trying to sell me viagra, you can also email me at Hammer (at) GamesofState.net.