G&T Secret Santa 2016: You'll go down in history...

Hypatia

Sign-ups are now CLOSED

What is this?
It's pretty much Secret Santa, except with partial strangers.
You sign up, you buy a forumer a gift, you get a gift, you post your gift on the thread, we all experience the joy that comes from getting gifts from strangers that are probably better than the gifts your own family gets you.


How does it work?
(1) Read this entire post
(2) Sign up using the instructions below
(3) Wait until I dole out your Santee
(4) Stalk your Santee and figure out what he or she likes
(5) Buy your Santee something he or she will like (minimum $25) & ship it to them by December 31, 2016.
(6) You, yourself, will receive a gift. Take pictures of it and post them. This is not optional.
(7) Take joy in an awesome tradition of happiness and goodwill towards your fellow P-A forumers!

You will be BANNED if you do not send a gift by the deadline.
Also a lot of forumers will have your address. I'm not condoning anything...I'm just saying.

Sign-up Conditions
You may only sign up if:
You joined the forums before January of this year. If you joined after this contact me and you may be admitted on a case-by-case basis.
You are full of joy and awesomeness and prefer giving to receiving.
You are willing to pay international shipping. If you get someone on Mars, then prepare to ship something to Mars. NOTE: The cost of shipping does NOT count toward the $25 minimum.
You can afford $25 + shipping, or create something at least $25 worth of awesome. I will leave this to your discretion, but if you send a box of leaves or poop or a drawing of a penis then expect RETRIBUTION. Unless of course it's a particularly good penis drawing. Okay seriously don't send a penis drawing.
You're okay with maybe getting something that you don't like, up to and including something you cannot verify the price of. If members of your own family get you crap that you don't like, I wouldn't have high hopes for strangers on the internets. I will not entertain complaints that LewieP gave you Halo 3 and beef jerkey wrapped up in an American Flag; but you only like stuff from Japan.
You are going to send an appropriate gift. Seriously, no porn, anything dangerous, anything illegal, or anything that could be considered bad by someone's parents. You don't know how old your Santee is, his moral leanings, and all that. If you have to ask, I wouldn't send it. Err on the side of caution.

The Nitty Gritty Big 3, TAKE NOTE
Here's the low-down, or the rules, that have been grinched up because of past administrative issues:
(1) Get proof that you sent your package. This is the crazy time of year, packages sometimes get lost. Most of the time it works out. Sometimes it doesn't. If you can't provide a tracking number and proof that you sent a gift of sufficient value, you'll get banned unless you send the gift again.
(2) When choosing a gift, please try to pick something that unquestionably meets the minimum. Generally this is a no brainer, but if someone receives a crayon that you claim you bought at a charity event for $100, I am sadly unable to verify that it is a golden crayon and that it meets the minimum.
(3) Due to past issues, I reserve the right to refuse admittance anyone.


Sign Me Up!
Sign ups are now CLOSED!

Past Highlights

Last year's thread
Last year's gift wall (2015)
Gift wall from 2014
Gift wall from 2013
Gift wall from 2012
Gift wall from 2011
Gift wall from 2010
Gift wall from 2009
Gift wall from 2008

Participants!
Total: 82

a nu start
AbsoluteZero
acidlacedpenguin
Anarchy
anoffday
Antoshka
ArcSyn
ArcTangent
ArcticLancer
Bear is Driving
belligerent
Big Classy
Bloodycow
Bobkins Flymo
Bursar
Cameron_Talley
ClannMorgan
cooljammer00
cornell
Custom Special
Dac Vin
dalith14
darunia106
Delduwath
DiannaoChong
DyasAlure
El Mucho
Elin
Elvenshae
Farangu
Frem
Grove
Halfazedninja
Handkor
Houn
Hypatia
ihaveachair
Imperfect
initiatefailure
Jam Warrior
jclast
Kendrik
Kirindal
KoopahTroopah
Kyougu
Lindsay Lohan
Local H Jay
lwt1973
Mace1370
Madpoet
MagicPrime
Maguano
Mechanical
Meglish
mere_immortal
Mighty
minirhyder
MNC Dover
Nessticle
noir_blood
Psiberian
Quical
Radiation
Reve Noire
see317
shadowane
shdowcaster
SniperGuy
spookymuffin
Stabbity Style
SwashbucklerXX
testsubject23
The_Spaniard
thejaxx
theoriginalz
TheRoadVirus
urahonky
vegeta_666
vhannroy
WillyDub
Yoshua
Zython

Big Classy

YAY! I had to leave it last year and though things are still iffy this year (stupid visa rulings) I think I can get in! I'm going to wait though, hopefully hear back from the gubbermint before the deadline for this

THANKS AGAIN @Hypatia, YOU DA BESTEST!

cooljammer00

Fuck you, no they aren't. They can't be. It's only

Oh god.

Grove

Woo!!!! Best time of the year!

Will sign up tomorrow!

SniperGuy

Oh shit this snuck up on me.

I'm moving soon so have to wait to sign up for a bit.

Sterica

Stickied!

BREAK OUT THE WRAPPING PAPER, PREPARE THE STALKING PROTOCOLS, AND WAKE PROXY FROM HIS EIGHT-MONTH SLUMBER. IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!

Mr_Grinch

Hopefully be able to sign up again this year. I've been told I'm awkward to shop for so if anyone is stalking this in two months time, I'd like:

- a 4k oled TV
- a PS4 Pro
- a new car
- a holiday abroad
- an nvidia 1080, and a new pc to put it in
- a Vive to use with that new pc

I'm not expecting all of those, just two or three. I'm not greedy. Thanks Santa.

Local H Jay

This is the first time I can sign up without breaking the bank, I have wanted to participate for years now but my finances didn't allow for it. I am so happy to be able to get in on the fun this time.

Forar

PA Secret Santas are beginning once again?

Yay!

Radiation

Making the great call out. If you know someone is interested please @ them, I'll go through old thread for people who posted interest after thread closed.

People listed in a previous signaling to everyone
@AbsoluteZero
@aerynkelly
@Aioua
@Allforce
@Anarchy
@anoffday
@AnteCantelope
@ArcSyn
@ArcticLancer
@Arikado
@Bear is Driving
@Beltaine
@Big Classy
@Cameron_Talley
@cardboard delusions
@Chen
@Chocobolicious
@cooljammer00
@cornell
@Custom Special
@darunia106
@deveric
@DiannaoChong
@DoctorArch
@Dusda
@DyasAlure
@Dyvion
@Elin
@Elvenshae
@EvilBadman
@Farangu
@Fig-D
@Figgy
@Forar
@Frem
@grim123
@Grove
@Handgimp
@Handkor
@Houn
@Hypatia
@Icemopper
@ihaveachair
@Imperfect
@initiatefailure
@Invisible
@Jam Warrior
@JaysonFour
@jclast
@Kanden
@Kendrik
@Kirbith
@Kirindal
@Kyougu
@LewieP's Mummy
@Lost
@Madican
@Madpoet
@Maguano
@ManetherenWolf
@mare_imbrium
@Mechanical
@mere_immortal
@Mighty
@minirhyder
@Mr_Grinch
@msmya
@Nackmatholn
@never-ending-reign
@noir_blood
@poisonx
@Prime
@Radiation
@Rami
@RisenPhoenix
@Schide
@see317
@shadowane
@Shady3011
@SkutSkut
@SniperGuy
@spookymuffin
@Sweeney Tom
@testsubject23
@The_Spaniard
@thejaxx
@TheOtherHorseman
@THEPAIN73
@TheRoadVirus
@Turkey
@Two Headed Boy
@UEAKCrash
@UnbreakableVow
@urahonky
@vegeta_666
@WillyDub
@xenard
@Zaghr



People listed in the participant list from last year that weren't listed above:
@Antoshka
@ArcSyn
@belligerent
@Bloodycow
@Bursar
@Cameron_Talley
@cj iwakura
@Dac Vin
@dalith14
@Delduwath
@Goose!
@Grove
@Halfazedninja
@Hallowed Faith
@Handkor
@Kendrik
@Ketar
@Lindsay Lohan
@lwt1973
@Mace1370
@Nessticle
@Noizlanif
@Quical
@Shadowfire
@TeeMan
@testsubject23
@The Mantiz
@TimFiji
@vhannroy
@Wickedkarma
@Zython

Please don't quote this without removing the spoiler or @'s

see317

Thanks for the @signal, Radiation.

Delduwath

Thanks for the heads-up, Radiation (and thank you Hypatia for running it)!

I'm in.

WillyDub

Love it! I'm in!

Madican

Alright I'm in.

September...

Delduwath

Dear Santa, let me tell you a bunch about the things I have, and about what I might like for gifts:

Clothing: Nothing, please. I'm super-picky about clothing, so it's probably best to avoid this.

Loot crates: Nothing, please. I have so much stuff already. Any kind of loot crate would be added complications rather than joy and wonder.

Funko Pops: Nothing, please. I know lots of folks really dig them, but I'm pretty neutral on them, and they take up a lot of space. I'd rather occupy that space with stuff I love, rather than stuff I'm neutral on.

Books: I generally read a whooole lot of fantasy and sci-fi. Sadly, those tend to be written by straight, white dudes. I'd love to read some sci-fi/fantasy that doesn't fall in that category. Of some recent books: I have "The Three Body Problem" (although I haven't gotten to it yet); I loved the first book in the Imperial Radch series (but haven't bought the others yet); if you can believe it, I've never read "The Wizard of Earthsea". My Amazon wishlist (which isn't just books) is here: https://amzn.com/w/1BI1F6XLF4Z1A

Comics: I have a lot of comics. Like, a lot. The things on that Amazon wishlist I do not have; anything else might be risky.

Tabletop games: I'm also participating in the Critical Failures Secret Santa; I'll update this post with a link to my write-up for that, which will talk in detail about my tabletop preferences.
EDIT: And here's the link to that post.

Video games: I am almost entirely a PC gamer. I don't have any of the current-gen consoles, but I do have a 3DS (which I actually haven't played in a very long time). Let me show you what games I already have:
Steam account: https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970514226
GOG and Humble Store game lists: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ylLgfdABL-hXIYuVkIRXvXJm77PQO717xZxS8mStW68/edit?usp=sharing
Note: Like a chump, I signed up for Humble Bundle Monthly. I have a bunch of keys sitting around in there that I haven't redeemed to Steam yet. I'll try to do it this weekend.
Note 2: I'm probably going to pre-order Dishonored 2.

In general, I like immersive sims (like the Deus Ex series), stealth games (Thief, Mark of the Ninja), turn-based tactical games (XCOM, Invisible, Inc), RPGs (whether first- or third-person, party or single-character), and - especially - games that do something interesting, innovative, or unusual with mechanics, or art, or storytelling, or whatever. Sometimes the game doesn't even have to be good, as long as it's different! Just, like, think of the artsiest, fartsiest thing; I'm probably interested in that.

Genres I'm not too interested in: MOBAs, fighting games, competitive games in general, tower defense, crafting/survival games (I actually enjoy the genre, I just kinda don't have time for it anymore).

Specific games that I'm interested in (in addition to the stuff on my Steam wishlist):
Witcher 3 GOTY (now's a good time to buy it, I guess, since it's on sale at GOG)
The newest Hitman
Shadow Warrior 2
Owlboy

belligerent

wow. Thanks for the signal. I'm in.

Jam Warrior

Is it that time already? Blimey. In.

Kyougu

Now I know what Batman feels like when he sees the Batsignal.

Grove

Signed up...it's gonna be a long wait until the stalking can begin!

Thanks for the Grove signal @Radiation

Anarchy

Not sure whether I should participate this year. I'm the very definition of a lurker, I've not posted this year, yet have SS'ed every year in this thread for the last 4-5 years.

Farangu

https://youtu.be/ch8MzYclx5I

minirhyder

Thanks for the @!
Signed up and ready to stalk 8-)

Bloodycow

Super stoked for this year! Last year was a blast stalking my santee! So much so that their forum profile still pops up as my most visited sites!

I'm in!

Custom Special

I'll be signing up a little later this year.
Any chance someone get get me a new job as an early present?

Handkor

Gifting time is here, yay!

Thank you Radiation for the summon, we have a nice thing going on here.

ArcSyn

Woooooooo!

Bear is Driving

Mr_Grinch wrote: »

Hopefully be able to sign up again this year. I've been told I'm awkward to shop for...

Books about farts. Easy peasy.

ArcticLancer

In for a penny, in for a bear. I'll send info later on, but the thread has been bookmarked~

Radiation

A few people that mentioned in old thread they missed signups:

@Blackbeard7
@Kendrik
@MNC Dover

Frem

Oh man. This is always a lot of fun, but I always go hyper stalker and stress out tons about present choices. Decisions!

AbsoluteZero

Holy crap. Already??

Daebunz

Radiation wrote: »

A few people that mentioned in old thread they missed signups:

@Blackbeard7
@Kendrik
@MNC Dover

ty for that, I probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise

MNC Dover

Oh man, thanks @Radiation! I sent my PM already...of course, I sent it to Hysteria first. I have a feeling I won't be the only one.

DiannaoChong

Radiation wrote: »

Making the great call out. If you know someone is interested please @ them, I'll go through old thread for people who posted interest after thread closed.



Please don't quote this without removing the spoiler or 's

Thanks so much for this signal. I havent been super active in G&T the last year due to life, but I always love getting to know a forumer from here and hunting for a gift for them! I totally thought that I had missed it this go around! Can't wait to get stalking!

So stoked already!

TimFiji

I already signed up for CF Santa, should I do this one too? You guys seem harder to shop for.

darunia106

Thanks for the @ signing up post haste.

urahonky

Thanks @Radiation I'm in!

Mr_Grinch

Bear is Driving wrote: »

Mr_Grinch wrote: »

Hopefully be able to sign up again this year. I've been told I'm awkward to shop for...

Books about farts. Easy peasy.

I'm still frequently asked for the book about the "trumpy horse". I also occasionally get called a "trumpy horse". For some reason she's not yet taken to the word "fart".

noir_blood

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With a new job position and this whole election thing (Fuck you 538), it's been a stressful day.

I'm not joking when I say that this just made me smile super wide. Thank you Hypatia.

DyasAlure

Hum, should I do it again? I sent the notice to Mrs. Alure for approval.

anoffday

Thanks @Radiation for the reminder and thanks @Hypatia for doing it again this year! This made my day. So excited. This will be my 8th year doing it. I'm growing old here with you guys.