It's kind of a blur at this point after almost 40 years, but it went something like this. Got into the D&D action figures and cartoon, but wasn't allowed to get the rpg because the satanic panic was in full swing and my parents were totally on board. So I got Star Wars D6 instead, which was my first rpg and became the standard by which I judges all others, and is still my favorite. I ended up getting the classic D&D Mentzer red box later on and hiding it under my bed.So, talk about how you got into role playing games, and be specific if you don't mind: tell us the first edition that you played, your favorite thing about RPGs, etc.
Never really had anyone to game with in my adolescent years however, but the Lone Wolf and Fighting Fantasy gamebooks as well as the Ultima crpg series kept the gaming spirit alive until I left rural South Carolina to join the Navy, where I met other rpg gamers for the first time.
Even so, I never did a whole lot of face to face gaming. I actually prefer playing rpgs pbp, it gives you more time to come up with responses and do research (on either side of the GM screen). Plus it can provide a fun and interesting narrative to go back and read.
My interests have shifted to board games in the last 5-10 years or so, but I'm looking to stick my toe back into the rpg waters soon.
Favorite systems are D6, Castles and Crusades, classic D&D (never actually played AD&D and lost interest in anything from 3e on), and a few OSR systems. Traditional fantasy is my jam, though sci fi and post apocalyptic do it for me too.