I know there is a non-American presence on these boards, and I was hoping to hear from those of you outside of the States on this.
In the US, even when not played in regularly, there is a general awareness of RPGs, and it has been portrayed in popular culture failry often enough to say it is well known.
In other countries, how well known are RPGs in general, and D&D in particular? Is the game very well known? Do many people play it? How are the games seen?
I know, for example, boardgaming is very popular in Germany (I <3 Deutschland) and the video games are in Asia, so I have a feeling certain segments of those nations may know about these games.
Thanks in advance.
In other countries, how well known are RPGs in general, and D&D in particular? Is the game very well known? Do many people play it? How are the games seen?
I am Uri of Israel and this is my report:
Everybody knows what is D&D in Israel and most people either played a bit in their youth or talked of playing. Adults who play D&D are rarer but still it is very easy to gather a group.Like in every other place, adults who play D&D are considered either geeks or freaks.
LARPers, however, are looked at with disdain and suspicioun and are automatically classified as "freaks", "addicts" and "goths" (which is, by the way, generally true).
Boardgames in israel are extremly common and most homes are stacked with them. There was a time when I saw more Talisman boards then floors...
Hope that was helpful.
I'm from the UK and it's not all that well understood here. I say understood because most people, if asked, would be like, "Um yeah, don't they all, like, pretend they're Elves or som'in'?" But most people don't understand it. My Dad even played the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks in the Army and when I got into it (aged 10) he was like "What's that all about?" (When I explained a little more he asked "What's the point in that then?", but that's another story.)
If you have any specific questions then feel free to ask!
Peace,
tfad
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I am from Germany:
The RPG-community here is quite large, if I may say so!
Most people I know use the english books, because during TSR-times, translations have been awful to say the least. Sometimes rules were frankly wrong!
About the awareness of the game (especially D&D) in public, outside the community - I don't know exactly. I know a lot of people who don't play but know it. A lot of "computer-people" know D&D from various games.
However, we have no serious qualms of some groups who might combine D&D with the Devil, as I know it is in places in the states! People here tent to be more tolerant when it comes to D&D.
One story I can relate though:
Once a mother of one of my players (we were 16 back then) laid a holy cross on top of my players D&D rule-books to kind of excorcise evil from them... d'oh!!!
Well, speaking as a Canadian of Lebanese origin I can answer this question both in Canada (where i've lived most of my life) and in the Middle East (where I currently live).
Canada is pretty much like the states, in that general awarness of the hobby is pretty widespread. People whould have no problems finding groups, societies, stores, etc... that cater to this wonderful hobby and many of its offshoots.
The Middle East on the other hand is a TOTALLY different proposition...hardly anyone has ever heard of Roleplaying, let alone D&D! In fact most think of naughty games in the boudoir when they hear roleplaying lol. There are no stores in Dubai (supposedly one of the MOST cosmopolitain cities of the middle east) that I know of that sell anything game related...and finding a group is nigh impossible. We have one guy in our group that drives from Muscat (Oman) every other week just so he can game, because no one in Oman games apparently (for those that didn't know...that's like a 6 hour drive...plus time and bureaucracy to get past the border!).
I never realized how much I took for granted till we moved out here...oh well...at least I found a group to play with yay!
Be safe all.
The Middle East on the other hand is a TOTALLY different proposition...hardly anyone has ever heard of Roleplaying, let alone D&D!
Hey! Don't generelize :)
That's pretty interesting stuff.
I'm curious if its the same in the Far East as well?
Hey! Don't generelize :)
The Middle East on the other hand is a TOTALLY different proposition...hardly anyone has ever heard of Roleplaying, let alone D&D!
Oops...You are ABSOLUTELY right Uri...my apologies...I WAS generalizing.
Corrected Statement - In the following Middle East countries that I have been to: Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, hardly anyone has heard of Roleplaying.
TFAD pretty much hit the nail on the head for me too. Also hailing from the UK I find that Role Play is a very niche market. It is looked down on quite considerably and those whom partake of it do so amongst close groups of friends. I get the feeling most people just don't understand the very concept of it. I'd imagine most people went on imaginary adventures in their childhood. RP is just a more...regimented style of day dreaming ;)
Just thought I'd add: hobby stores do exist, though often they are small and in the larger cities where they can actually do buisness. Getting hold of books can be difficult without the internet. For example, I myself know of only ONE place in the entirity of my glorious city (Manchester) that sells both Dungeon and Dragon magazines. Such a travesty.
Heh, as an aside I have been contemplating working on this very issue for a documentry I'm in the process of making: I'd love to explore the worlds perception of role playing. I was even planning to come to the US to visit one of the larger LARP groups (such as Darkon), as well as to see if there was any difference between the UK and USstyle of game and gamer.
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Just thought I'd add: hobby stores do exist, though often they are small and in the larger cities where they can actually do buisness. Getting hold of books can be difficult without the internet.
That's true! I live about 700km away from the store I order my books at. I have a RPG-store in the next town, but it's expenisve and not really sorted that good.
Anyway, for all those D&D-foreigners living presently in Germany and who want to buy some stuff, you might just check out (am I allowed to post that here...?):|Ahem, does anybody know if I can post an internet adress of a store here on these boards?
Here in Sweden it's quite well-known, we even have a national organisation with around 96.000 members. However, like most of the other roleplaying communities around the world we have also had to suffer the prejudice of being freaks and geeks. With the introduction of CRPGs like WoW and NWN this has changed somewhat though, and it's become more accepted among the general public. People don't look at me THAT funny anymore when I tell them I'm a roleplayer. Since most parts of Sweden isn't especially religious (although we have a bible belt here too) the "D&D = worshipping the Devil" debate has never really caught on here.
One thing that I've noticed though is that the number of FLGS that carry roleplaying books have dropped dramatically the last couple of years. I contribute this to the web though, since I buy most of my books at online shops myself nowadays.
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In France, it's quite well-known, but it becomes difficult to find players over 30. However, like most of the other roleplaying communities around the world, we had to suffer the prejudice of being "satanists and evil cultists" (at the turn of the 90's) when a few teens, supposed to be RP, broke crosses and wrote strange scriptures in a graveyard. It's over by now, but still people who don't know about RPG think of us as freaks.
About D&D, I think it's mostly played by people who began playing before the end of the 80's (it's the same for "Ctuhlu" since that game was translated quite early and it was far different from D&D).
I wonder why Wizards has not been active in promoting RPG (as a kind of leader), since interest in RPG has declined over the last years in France. Promoting the creativity, imagination, self-development it provides would be FAR much better than trying to sell to a small community all around the world books like "sandstorm", "races of the stone", "kobold's way of life" or "hag's rags", since more people would want their kids to play around a table instead of in front of a screen, and they would sell more...
For german readers, I even played a little bit of "black eye" (some of my friends even bought it there in Germany, the 2 or 3 first box of "die schwarze Auge").
For example, I myself know of only ONE place in the entirity of my glorious city (Manchester) that sells both Dungeon and Dragon magazines. Such a travesty.
The darnest thing, RPG matrials in Israel are plently but no one sells Dungeon or Dragon. Not one store. I just can't understand it...
The darnest thing, RPG matrials in Israel are plently but no one sells Dungeon or Dragon. Not one store. I just can't understand it...
Hi Uri,
May I ask a question? I was wondering what the religious element was in the average man's attitude to D&D and RPG in Israel.
We've seen that some christian religious groups in the US had issues with RPGing and associated it with satanism. Do you have similar reactions of religious-minded groups in Israel? Do you have specific jewish sects opposing RPGing for similar reasons? Is this a thema?
Bocklin
PS: I use the word "sect" in a neutral aspect as in "a sub-division of a larger religious group", not in a pejorative way. Just recognising that a religion is not monolithic and usually has various trends and divisions within it.
The RPG-community here is quite large, if I may say so!
Most people I know use the english books, because during TSR-times, translations have been awful to say the least. Sometimes rules were frankly wrong!
The Community is big enough that major RPGs get translated, if slowly. The translation problem back when AD&D1 was the status quo is attributed to the german publisher, AFAIK.
About the awareness of the game (especially D&D) in public, outside the community - I don't know exactly. I know a lot of people who don't play but know it. A lot of "computer-people" know D&D from various games.
I think RPGs are not that well known outside the "fan base". Younger folks tend to know CRPG, but most people above, say, 45, give you that "what the hell are you talking about" look if you start on RPGs.
However, we have no serious qualms of some groups who might combine D&D with the Devil, as I know it is in places in the states! People here tent to be more tolerant when it comes to D&D.
One story I can relate though:
Once a mother of one of my players (we were 16 back then) laid a holy cross on top of my players D&D rule-books to kind of excorcise evil from them... d'oh!!!
There are probably not that many people being so fervently religious in germany anyway, so the satanism issue is a non-issue here. Dryders story is one of the very few accounts I´ve ever heard over here.
Most people give gothics a wide berth, though, and as many gothics play Vampire, roleplaying is thrown into this equation as well.Stefan
May I ask a question? I was wondering what the religious element was in the average man's attitude to D&D and RPG in Israel.
There are dozens of Jewish sects in Israel most notable of which are the Haredim (the fearful), the Hasidim (the kind), the Kipot Srugot (woven caps) and the Reformists.
The former two live in shut in ghetto-like neighborhoods; keep contacts with the outside world to a minimum (most of them live on social security). They dress like in the 18th centaury, grow huge beards and spend all day praying, reading the bible and tending to their dozen or so children. They consider EVERY activity except studying the bible, praying or observing rites an evil heresy.
Playing D&D in that society could get you beaten or exiled (as is watching T.V, reading a book, driving during weekend).
The later two are normal people except that they believe in god and observe all the old rites. They dress normally except that the men wear little colorful capes and the women always wear skirts. I personally know many Kipot Srogot who play D&D.
PS: I use the word "sect" in a neutral aspect as in "a sub-division of a larger religious group", not in a pejorative way. Just recognising that a religion is not monolithic and usually has various trends and divisions within it.
:)
As 'narnia' as a lot of people are about the hobby though, is it really all that weird that people don't get it?
Me? I've made a pledge to enjoy myself and not hide my hobby! I'm not shy about it and am not afraid of the stigma it kinda carries here in the UK.
The people I work with think I'm a bit 'simple' for reading big books with lots of pictures on my break. Personally I love a well illustrated PrC! ;)
Peace,
tfad
I'm a pretty much plain vanilla American, but I currently live if the middle east communiting Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah - plus a couple other Saudi locations.
I think myself, Ragnarok Raider, and couple other guys are the role playing community in the GCC. Although there is a store in the pink plaza on beach road in Dubai that is dedicated to Warcraft - the only people in it are the three Filipino staff.
TFAD pretty much hit the nail on the head for me too. Also hailing from the UK I find that Role Play is a very niche market. It is looked down on quite considerably and those whom partake of it do so amongst close groups of friends. I get the feeling most people just don't understand the very concept of it. I'd imagine most people went on imaginary adventures in their childhood. RP is just a more...regimented style of day dreaming ;)
Isn't wargaming pretty big in the UK, though? I seem to remember that Games Workshop (Warhammer, 40K, etc.) is headquartered there.
I'm a pretty much plain vanilla American, but I currently live if the middle east communiting Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah - plus a couple other Saudi locations.
I think myself, Ragnarok Raider, and couple other guys are the role playing community in the GCC. Although there is a store in the pink plaza on beach road in Dubai that is dedicated to Warcraft - the only people in it are the three Filipino staff.
Heya Kyr,
I think the store you are talking about is no more =(Although I have never been to it personally, the guys in the group said it closed down 2 weeks ago (I guess business was not BRISK Ha!)...but if you DO find any other stores in Dubai please please share the info, I would be indebted to you my friend.
P.S. When are we gonna get together and game?? LOL =)
Be safe.
There are dozens of Jewish sects in Israel most notable of which are the Haredim (the fearful), the Hasidim (the kind), the Kipot Srugot (woven caps) and the Reformists.
(...)
Thanks, quite interesting!
Bocklin