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Dungeons & Dragons and IT

Posted by samzenpus on from the expedition-to-the-barrier-peaks dept.

boyko.at.netqos writes "An editorial in Network Performance Daily tries to take a (1d6) stab at explaining why geeky engineering types are also typically the types that enjoy a rousing game of D&D. From the article "The greatest barrier to creativity is a lack of boundaries. Counter-intuitive — almost zen-like — but we've found it to be true. This is why people play Dungeons & Dragons (and similar games), and why network engineers often spend time putting out fires when they could be improving the network."

20 of 243 comments (clear)

  1. We wouldn't have to put out as many fires... by LordEd · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... if somebody would please take their dragon and keep it outside where it belongs!

    1. Re:We wouldn't have to put out as many fires... by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

      The problem is usually that most companies don't hire any more D&D players than it takes to just barely put fires out. You wouldn't be putting out fires all the time if your employer would hire more wizards, although wizardry doesn't come cheap.

      You can get four or five wizards for the price of one, but the catch is, the wizards come with the curse that Rutger Hauer and his girlfriend Michelle Pfeiffer had in that movie Ladyhawke. He was a wolf at night and his girlfriend Michelle Pfeiffer turned into a hawk during the day. A simple email conversation would have taken them days and days!

    2. Re:We wouldn't have to put out as many fires... by plover · · Score: 4, Funny

      A simple email conversation would have taken them days and days!

      Just like working with overseas teams. Except neither of us look like Michelle Pfeiffer OR Rutger Hauer.

      --
      John
    3. Re:We wouldn't have to put out as many fires... by arivanov · · Score: 4, Funny

      You are obviously working with the Asian countries. Switch to Eastern Europe for outsourcing will solve your problem.

      There, you can get both stunning blonds and werewolves in IT. Whichever you prefer.

      --
      Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
      http://www.sigsegv.cx/
    4. Re:We wouldn't have to put out as many fires... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's not a werewolf, it a guy with a "unix beard(tm)".

      The way to check is that you say "say, what's your opinion on packaging systems?". If they growl and try rip your throat out, use the silver bullets. If they start to tell their grand view of how packaging should work, use regular ammo.

      If ever a werewolf were to evolve that has a fur pattern that looks the same as a short sleeved shirt with pocket protector, the human race is doomed.

    5. Re:We wouldn't have to put out as many fires... by VernoWhitney · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...and if you're really lucky you can get a stunning blonde werewolf!

  2. Wait...? by The+Orange+Mage · · Score: 3, Funny

    If IT guys are the pen & paper RPG guys, what profession are those LARPers (Live Action Role-Players) belong to?

    1. Re:Wait...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sorry, but you and your 'friends' are out of the loop.

      Most people in IT have skills that are subpar anyway. Why do you think companies are always complaining about a lack of good candidates. Lemme guess... you decided to get into IT back in the late 90's when it was all the rage. Chances are, you and your 'IT friends' all into this category due to your poor THAC0.

    2. Re:Wait...? by subl33t · · Score: 4, Funny

      They eventually become mimes.
      Sad but true.

    3. Re:Wait...? by Frumious+Wombat · · Score: 2, Funny

      USMC.

      --
      the more accurate the calculations became, the more the concepts tended to vanish into thin air. R. S. Mulliken
    4. Re:Wait...? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 2, Funny

      No one LARTS like a LARPer.

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  3. Hmmm... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 4, Funny

    I always wondered why Dispel Barriers and Dispel Creativity had the same material components.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  4. Re:Oh give me a break by MoodyLoner · · Score: 2, Funny

    My wife and daughter are laughing at you. If I remember, we'll show your post to the rest of our gaming group, and they'll laugh at you too.

    Me, I don't have time - I'm working on feat selection for my third-level warlock.

    --
    No Longer a Menace to Society.
    Alexandria Morrigan born 2/22/01 l. 20.5in wt. 7 lbs. 5 oz.
  5. Re:Oh give me a break by Wonko+the+Sane · · Score: 2, Funny

    Attention to all Slashdot authorities who think they are better than the rest of us:

    You're not. Raving on Slashdot is *stupid*. It's the world's most useless activity. Get a job. Get married. Get a hobby that doesn't involve trying to save VIRTUAL communities. You're an adult for Spaghetti's sake.

  6. Re: this guy has it backwards. by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny

    D&D helped me be a better engineer by:
    1. learning and working with a complex rule set.
    2. Reading and comprehending specifications. The rulebook is several hundred pages long.
    3. Problem solving within a strict set of boundaries, both individually and as a group
    4. Failing a quest gracefully, without a hissy fit or seppeku, and without blaming the Damned Managers! (DM) 5. Carrying a +5 Bastard Sword, for cutting through the red tape when it gets in your way.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  7. For picking up girl^h^h^heeks! by BillGatesLoveChild · · Score: 2, Funny

    Because if you hear voices in real life, it freaks people out. But if you say you hear them during the game, people assume it's normal.

    Seriously: Geeks love stuffing their brains full of obscure facts and extracting them to demonstrate their vast mental superiority. Whether it's from a VAX VMS manual (which is actually worse than hearing voices in your head) or from the Dungeons and Dragons DM's Manual, it impresses others. Not ladies unfortunately, but it will impress other nerds. This is called "The Force Dot Net Syndrome" or "I can't win at the Jocks games so I will invent my own"

    I'd love to play D&D, but have you seen those manuals. There are three thick core rulebooks, plus a zillion extra rulebooks and appenpums and addendiums. In a cave? Get the Wilderness Guide. A magical portal opens? Quick! The Planes Guide. It'd be a nice idea if they could describe the whole game in 32 pages, but there must be over a hundred tomes of 'essential' information.

    Fortunately Blizzard, Mastercard and Peter Jackson have since invented things for those of us who can't be bothered reading.

  8. Re:I used to be a Level 12 Programmer/Analyst by SleepyHappyDoc · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cheer up! Once you become a Level 12 disabled person, you regain the abilities of your old class with no experience penalty!

    --
    Stasis is death. Embrace change.
  9. Re:I'll tell you why by weicco · · Score: 2, Funny

    But it is! I cast a killing cloud from time to time and every time my coworkers caughs with nausea! I'm also pretty good at casting invisibility and leaving work early...

    --
    You don't know what you don't know.
  10. Re: this guy has it backwards. by raehl · · Score: 4, Funny

    D&D helped me be a better engineer by:
    1. learning and working with a complex rule set.
    2. Reading and comprehending specifications. The rulebook is several hundred pages long.
    3. Problem solving within a strict set of boundaries, both individually and as a group
    4. Failing a quest gracefully, without a hissy fit or seppeku, and without blaming the Damned Managers! (DM)
    5. Carrying a +5 Bastard Sword, for cutting through the red tape when it gets in your way.
    6. Limiting time wasted talking to members of the opposing gender.

    Reminds me of an old saying:

    "D&D: Where every girl there is the hottest girl there."

    --
    paintball
  11. Re:ATTN: Windows/Linux refugees! by Original+Replica · · Score: 1, Funny

    So don't force what doesn't come naturally. You'll be much happier if you stick to an OS that suits your personality.

    a Mac user trying to convince the rest of the world he doesn't like taking it in the ass

    All he's saying is don't force it, it will make you unhappy. Sounds like the voice of experience to me.

    --
    We are all just people.