"Abantey is the only program I've ever experienced that offers the adventures of fantasy with a game realistic enough to be believable, but creative enough to allow you to do anything reasonable that you can imagine. It allows you to create a character and follow them through the amazing adventures of their lives while training and learning.

"I wish I could put into words all that Abantey can offer your student. Abantey is built on a foundation of physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and the other sciences. The students create characters that tax their imaginations and creativity as well as their mathematical skills--from probability to computation. The students then have to interact, cooperate, and problem solve to work with the other students to accomplish a goal. It not only works on natural and social sciences and math, it works on social skills and simple everyday decision-making.

"Abantey was not only my favorite activity for much of high school, it was the single program which gave me the desire to learn. It motivated me to challenge myself with Advanced Placement science courses and it enabled me to directly apply what I learned. I cannot think of a better program for students. It was a great after school and weekend activity that I enjoyed more than any other and at the same time it was a major cause of my academic motivation and success. I cannot stress how much Abantey is to thank for my successes."

Seiji Carpenter, Former Roleplay Workshop Student and Game Master

"For the past eight years, I have been involved in a program called The Roleplay Workshop. This is a role playing camp that has sessions throughout the summer and during the school year for kids ages 8-18. In this program, children learn useful skills and improve their education in a fun environment.

"I started out playing the game, called Abantey, when I was ten. When I was fourteen, I got involved in the game master in training program, assisting the adults in running the games. I moved up to a paid position when I was fifteen, the summer of my sophomore year. I was responsible for a group of 3-4 kids each week and assisted my boss in the overall running of the game.

"I have learned a great deal about responsibility from Abantey, as well as how to relate to young kids and to other employees. Because of the nature of the game, I also have had a lot of practice in such subjects as math, biology and geology.

"I have put in a lot of time with this organization, and I think that I also improved it-by refining the system and by having been a positive influence on the kids I have taught. I have developed a good relationship with my boss, and she has helped prepare me for getting other jobs, and having other bosses."

Chris Schoch, Former Roleplay Workshop Student and Game Master

"Role playing is a good way for kids (and adults) to explore themselves. It helps people learn to deal with different situations without actually suffering the consequences. Abantey is a controlled environment, with all the advantages and safety. In addition, it focuses on teaching math and social skills.

"Abantey has helped me greatly. I have learned to work better with people, improved my problem solving abilities, and, it's lots of fun. As I got towards where I am now, I started learning leadership skills. The longer you stay in the system, the more you learn."

Benjamin Gratch, Former Roleplay Workshop Student

"In recent years, role playing fantasy games have received a fair amount of bad press. They've been accused of everything from corrupting the minds of the teenage killers in Littleton, Colorado, to encouraging 'devil worship' in adolescents throughout America.

"The fact remains that young people have always had a hunger for fantasy games in which they can take on new and heroic identities that might be too scary or dangerous to enact in real life. This hunger for fantasy and heroism is reflected in the more than 500 commercial role playing games currently on the market, as well as the increasing number of these games played in cyberspace.

"Rebecca Thomas, a scientist and former middle school teacher, is a strong believer in the personal growth and educational value role playing games can provide. "These games allow young people to explore different facets of their personalities in a safe environment," she says. "They also can be a great vehicle for teaching math, science, conflict resolution and note-taking skills."

"Since 1989, Rebecca has led more than 600 Bay Area 10-18 year olds in role playing games in an imaginary world she created called Abantey. Most of these games have been played intently and imaginatively on the second floor of Dr Comics and Mr Games, the Oakland comic and games retail store which has since 1992 donated free space to Rebecca and her Abantey adventurers.

"Over the years, Rebecca has had the joy of seeing shy kids learn to be appropriately assertive and aggressive kids discover how to 'tone it down.' She's helped young people with attention disorders learn to concentrate, and she's witnessed withdrawn kids open to the worlds of their imagination with enthusiasm. The adventures occur in a room filled with science fiction books, science texts, a personal computer, encyclopedias, maps of Abantey, sketches of the different Abantey races, and the most amazing collection of dice you are likely to see in your life.

"In after school groups and in summer role-playing camps, young people in Rebecca's program become characters in adventures that rival the most daring Hollywood blockbusters. 'Kids come from all over,' says Rebecca. 'Although they are mostly from Berkeley and Oakland, I have players from Castro Valley, San Ramon, San Francisco and Milpitas We even have students who moved down to L.A. or out of state make it back for a week in the summer.'

"As game master, Rebecca dreams up challenging scenarios for the young participants. Students create their own characters through rolling dice and adding points for their characters in various categories, including personality traits, physical strength and material wealth. There are six different cultures in the world of Abantey, each with slightly different morals and belief systems. Modeled after 'real world' cultures, they range from the non-violent and spiritual Baluuds to the Sakeets, who are skilled in physical combat.

"'The program is about teaching kids options,' says Rebecca. 'They can fail miserably in the game, and then come back and fix it. They can try out what it's like to be a Baluud and learn how that is different from a Sakeet. They develop persistence, tolerance of differences and other characteristics that can translate well into real life.'"

Geoff Geiger