"Real life is always getting in the way of your hobbies," said Mark Roberts, the man behind Gloucester's Heroquest. 
(Gallery 1: 8 pics)
(Gallery 2: 28 pics)
In fact, Mark belongs to the tiny but fortunate group of people able to make a living for their leisure pursuits. His business is to provide ordinary folk with fantastic adventures in a Tolkienesque world of knights, wizards, orcs and trolls. Heroquest is a live role-playing game in which participants don costumes and participate in fantasy adventures of up to five days in length.  | | Our man David prepares to go undercover |
Acceptable The tremendous success of the Lord of the Rings films has brought fantasy closer to the mainstream. This has meant that many more adventurers, who were previously reticent about their hobby, are now coming 'out of the closet'. "Since those films hit the big screen people are happy to say what they've been doing over the weekend," said Mark, "it's become an acceptable adult pastime".  ..it's become an acceptable adult pastime.
 | | Mark Roberts |
One female adventurer has recently written a thesis on how the game helps her to cope with the pressures of everyday existence. It seems logical enough - after all, when you've vanquished a horde of goblins over the weekend, the pressures of office life will seem tame by comparison.  | | David discovers his inner monster |
Creatures Mark's shed is home to the costumes of around four hundred monsters and characters, including orcs, trolls, and giant spiders. "That's a mind flayer," said Mark of one of the latex masks, which depicted a green-skinned humanoid with a tentacled chin, "a creature with powers of the mind." The quality of the costumes and props is striking, a far cry from the 'man-wearing-a-bedsheet' monsters one might imagine. "Our shields and armour being provided by the same company who equipped the soldiers for the film Troy," explained Mark. Lucky I could be stuck behind a desk five days a week...
| | Mark Roberts |
Sitting in the garden of Mark's red-bricked Gloucester semi, the suburban setting seems far removed from a world of realm of magic and chivalry. But Mark is unconcerned about what the neighbours might think. "Almost everyone I know thinks I'm really lucky to be able to do this job," he said, "I could be stuck behind a desk five days a week from nine to five." Given the choice between sitting in commuter traffic or running around the Forest of Dean wielding a broadsword against cave trolls, it's hard to disagree. Website Feeling heroic? Find out more here.
(Gallery 1: 8 pics)
(Gallery 2: 28 pics)
| 
Orcs, goblins and cave trolls are all in a day's work for Mark Roberts, whose job is "turning ordinary people into heroes".
