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Dungeons and Dragons Game Day Next Weekend
Thanks to Wizards.com for the information on next week's Worldwide D&D Game Day, celebrating the game's 30th Anniversary. "Saturday, October 16, 2004, participating game stores will present two adventures well stocked with hapless monsters to slay. Bring some friends to adventure with or meet some new gaming buddies at the event. The mini adventure, Lair or the Mad Alchemist, provides a great introduction to D&D, while The Forgotten Forge offers the thrill of a full-scale adventure set in the exciting new world of Eberron." If you're interested, here's a handy list of participating stores.
Why are people so fascinated with D&D? I really don't get it. There is a recent Wired article about how D&D is almost an alter ego (except they were referring to EverQuest). Not to be mean or abusive, but could it be that people with low self esteem or come from broken families play D&D (most D&D players, note MOST... never said ALL)? I have read several reports that hardcore RPG games really do have a influence on a person's life. The character they are influences the person they are. Often giving them higher self-esteem. Maybe D&D isn't that bad after all.
Just curious where your interests lie. What hobbies do you have that make you a geek?
D&D, like all form of recreation, appeal to some people and not to others. I've played D&D with people who went on to become scientists, graphics designers, special forces soldiers, animal trainers, writers, musicians, security experts, & ministers, among other things.
I've played with punk rockers, fundamental Christians, hippies, bookworms, anarchists, stoners, jocks, Wiccans, conformists, non-conformists, assholes, Bhuddists, & Joe-Sixpack kinds of guys & girls.
At its best it can be like live improvisational theater, a source of plesant memories among friends for years to come, and a way to build social ties among groups of people who might normally hang out with each other.
Sure, you can make the stereotypical jokes about the insecure, pimply-faced nerds who kill thier parents in the night in order to gain some "magic treasure", but in my experience, a large majority of D&D players are down-to-earth "normal" folks, who enjoy engaging their imaginations with some creative fantasy from time to time. Kinda like reading a book, only more immersive.
You know the one thing that makes me embarrased to be a geek? Folks like you.
Oh wait, i can't. The only local game store specialized in RPG stuff disapeared a little while after Wizards of the Coast opened up all their big stores in all the malls around here. Then after a couple years they decided they weren't making enough money (their first mistake was probably buying retail space in malls) and shut down all their stores and went back to wholesaling.
So now i have nowhere to buy the products they're trying to sell. I was hoping maybe the list of stores whould show some nearby place i just hadn't heard about till now, but no such luck.
And yes, i probably contributed to the problem some, but not as much as many other people. I continued to stop by the local store for as long as it remained open as well as going to Wizards of the Coast, but i wasn't buying much at either place since nobody i knew was interested in gaming at the time.
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I am still surpised at the number of people who automatically associate D&D with the "lesser half" shall we say, of society. RPG'ing is an experience rich in entertainment value, as well as being beneficial for energizing youth's imagination. This is one area where Pen & Paper games surpass their video counterparts without much argument. And dont overlook the educational value. A good friend of mine is enrolled in a Senior HS level class that is requiring it's students to create scenarios and scripts for mini campaigns. Even the people in the class who would never pick up dice are excited about the project - and I can guarentee that there will be some excellent Ideas and creative thinking associated with the project. Congrats on the anniversary, and here's to another year of D20 fun!
Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!
How much do I need to grow up to be, like, say, you? What do you do for intellectual entertainment and exercise?
Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!
It'd be cool if they released a custom module for Neverwinter on Saturday for people to play computer DnD online. I'd don't have a gaming club / store readily available and this would be the best way for me to play DnD that day.
Hmm, I notice that "worldwide" means "North America, South America and Europe" ... :-/
Repton.
They say that only an experienced wizard can do the tengu shuffle.
Make sure you pack some extra rubbers if you're heading to one of these events. They're poontang magnets.
In my modest experience, roleplaying is essentially a mental sport, and is good and bad in they ways other sports are.
You're exercising your abilities in an artificial context, for the sheer joy of doing so. The rules are silly, and arbitrary, and not the real point. Neither one of them is "real", neither one has any significance outside the game, but they can be diverting pastimes.
And, most importantly: people who dress up in special clothes for either one are unforgivable dorks who must be severely ostracized.
Does anybody happen to know if that store is still around? I know they fell on some hard times, but it would be an absolute shame if the creators of D&D lost their local game store. Thanks a lot WoTC.
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
Here's a better link for Worldwide DnD Gameday:
0 722x
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/2004
You, sir, are an abomination of nature and the mere thought of your existence keeps me up late at night... for shame...
Want to find a 12 year old that knows the meaning of words like initiative, reconnaissance, dexterity, encumbrance, etc? Go find a role-player. Want to find a teenager that can form a complete storyline with conflict, tension and drama, find a (good) DM.
There is quite a bit to be learned from the use of rule systems (even though they are somewhat arbitrary at times) and the way you need to organize your thoughts to play the game. I find that aspect of gaming is often overlooked, despite how often teachers refer to other types of games as educational aides.
Just my 2cp
-Mendo
Am I the only one who thinks it cruel of slashdot to market D&D to its readership? A readership which is already amongst the least likely to get laid (basement-dwelling unwashed lunix geeks). If they take up D&D, their chances of getting laid goes down even more. Slashdot should be publishing more articles that would help its readership get laid, not inhibit their chances. Something along the lines of ESR's famous 'sex tips for geeks' is what we need, not all this lame D&D nonsense!
Well, My wife and I play D&D and I don't seam to have trouble getting laid... ;->