Coding and Roleplaying - Is There a Connection?

TossCobble asks: "With table-top roleplaying giant Wizards of the Coast (makers of Dungeons & Dragons, for those not in the know) broadcasting an open call for adventure designers and developers (including an entertaining developer test to gauge your own game-design talent and knowledge), I found myself once again considering the odd appeal of gaming for us programming types. It's interesting that something so free-form-ishly creative, socially dynamic, and utterly fantastical be fun for folks so grounded in logical programming. Of course, my theory is that gaming and programming actually have more in common than we might think. Tabletop roleplaying involves coming up with creative solutions to problems set in a clearly-defined ruleset, involve constant data-tracking and minor mathematical equations, and involve working together with small groups of people toward like-minded goals. Conversely, love of roleplaying can illustrate how important creativity is to good programming. What do you think?"

Comments

A connection? Yes...

[Anonymous Coward]

A lack of women!

roleplaying?

[charliebear]

Well, I used to code, and me and the wife like to role play every once in a while, so I guess there is a correlation.

I...

[Anonymous Coward]

I ... [rolls d20] ... agree totally!

Re:Umm, poor people skills?

[Billly Gates]

Shhh!

I ban you away from my wow tower! Begone!

On coding, roleplay, and Jack Chick

[dacarr]

Well, according to Jack Chick, RPGs of any flavor are satanic. And so if there's a correlation, coding, by extension, must be satanic.

Which means that computer programs generated from said satanic code are satanic.

Which means that, if there's a correlation, and Chick comes to this conclusion, his website will be off the net pretty soon.