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.

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.