A Parent's Guide to Role Playing Games

hapycamper writes "Role playing games are evaluated from the perspective of a concerned parent in the latest two editions of the GamerDad Unplugged column. The articles discuss some of the finer points of table-top gaming from a parental perspective, with the first article discussing just what an RPG is and the second addressing some of the main concerns that a parent might have about their child playing an RPG." From the article:"So, the most important things a parent should be concerned about in a role playing game are the game players. Who is your child playing with? As mentioned, these types of games come straight out of the imagination of the players, especially the GM..."

Comments

Incomplete and somewhat Uninformed

[Short Circuit]

I clicked on the link, thinking it might be a good read. And it is, but only from the perspective of someone who already knows something about it. The author stares at D&D, only making passing references to other genres, of tabletop RPGs. He alludes to cartoon, superhero and historic genres, but provides no links.

He also suggests historical-based games as a way to avoid exposing children to religious issues. Questions about maturity requirements aside, he apparently never heard of Egyptian or Norse mythology.

The author uses images of D&D books as illustrations for discussion of evil (Book of Vile Darkness) and religion (Dieties and Demigods).

Apparently, he never read Dieties and Demigods, because it's a fascinating source of information for Greek, Norse and Egyptian mythology. I'm not saying it's a definitive source, but it's certainly capable of spurring someone into doing their own research. The stat blocks for the *ahem* dieties and demigods in the book read like essays on the subject, if you're paying attention.

Hmmm...

[kniLnamiJ-neB]

While I'm glad that parents are checking into this stuff, I'm kinda wondering what's happening to Slashdot. This is the third or fourth article today about "family"-related matters or Christianity in gaming. Considering our usual fare, it seems a bit out of place. Did Taco get overthrown or something?

Re:Just to focus on one quote

[WhatAmIDoingHere]

What about the person who doesn't care about the score, but plays the game for fun? High Score isn't fun for everyone.

Re:Just to focus on one quote

[Short Circuit]

I don't own that book, but I have skimmed it at the bookstore.

It's not really intended for use by players to come up with evil characters, it's intended for use by DMs to come up with convincing villains. Villains constructed from that material will disgust both players and their characters, giving them a goal whose urgency allows the characters to to set aside differences of race, alignment...even religion.

(ROT13 the following text to see an example. But be warned, it's graphic!)

V zrna, qrfpevovat n xvat nf "bccerffvir" naq "ungrq" bayl tbrf fb sne gb pncgher gur cynlref' vzntvangvba. Qrfpevovat ubj n cfvbavpvfg xvat culfvpnyyl naq zragnyyl zhgvyngrf uvf pbaphovarf orsber bofreivat gurz orvat encrq ol qrivyf naq qrzbaf vf tbvat gb eribyg gur cynlref naq punenpgref fb gurl (gur punenpgref) qrqvpngr gurve yvirf gb uvf bireguebj.

Heck...that description will probably revolt some of the people reading this comment.

For campaigns with mature players, such villains are useful and effective. I wouldn't dream of having that kind of villain in a game with kids.

And there's a reason I don't own that book. I find its contents disturbing.

Religious Nuts Vs D&D Roleplaying Games

[Octel]

When I was growing up in the early 80's I played D&D and military role playing games with my friends, most of whom were in band and were into nerdy things. We even had some 'freaks' who joined with us. Most of the time we would game at my friends house, even without his dad being around; most parents knew this but we never got into any trouble so it was cool. Then a new pastor moved into town and his wife found out about our D&D gaming. Of course, being the uptight, morally-holier-than-thou-type she was, there had to be something done to save us!:( She got all of our parents together for a discussion and started in on the "evils" of this game. My one friends mother stood up and asked her, "so you want them to quit playing this game?! Should we just go out and buy them booze and let them party?" Unfortunately her logic was lost on a few parents and we lost several of our players.:( This didn't stop us though, albeit the preaching continued. Forward to a couple of years later when I was in the USAF stationed at a northern tier base. I brought my D&D and Axis and Allies games with me, but saw a notice posted on our barracks dorm from the ultra-rightwing First Sgt stating that no role playing or dice games allowed! Sensing another zealot trying to control what I did I went to complain to our company commander. During the hearing I stated that since we were in the military wouldn't it be foolish to ban a military game (I left D&D out of it)? And, using the same logic as my friends mom, asked him would it be better if we went downtown to drink and possible get into trouble? He agreed and our group was allowed to enjoy a hobby with my new friends.

Re:Addressing the religious issue

[jafuser]

I was denied any opportunity to attend RPG nights with the few friends I did have because my parents felt it was some kind of deviant behavior (due to some local news story about satanists playing RPGs or something).

Being a geek, this kinda shut off one of the best socializing opportunities I had. I was often invited to games by people at school, but I always had to turn them down. So I spent most of my younger days entertaining myself with solitary things like computers, electronics, LEGO, etc.

I figure this is probably why I don't socialize well these days, and have quite a difficult time dealing with people in general, even others in the INTx personality genre.

I think this also impeded development of some subconscious social skills that 90% of the population take for granted; for example, I often feel like I have to simulate social behaviors (i.e. consciously having to make eye contact, insert small talk, or interpret body language, etc) instead of them coming naturally to me as they appear to for most others.

I think RPGs are an excellent way to expand your kid's creativity and socializing skills. If I were a parent, I'd strongly encourage this kind of entertainmet, which is probably a lot more constructive than most forms of entertainment that are thrown at kids these days... =P