Slightly bizarre conversion story.
My mother in law stays with us for a couple of months every year. Since her last visit, we've re-discovered table top gaming. So her first weekend here, we explained that one evening was going to be spent role-playing. She looked mildly intrigued and asked if she could watch. Which she did.
We're a small but very rp oriented group (drama, drama, it's all drama). So she was confronted by a bunch of people she otherwise knows as sane including her son, grandson and daughter in law yelping about giant rats and cleaving strikes. Her eyes were quite wide at this point, but she suddenly got the idea, went very quiet and asked if she could play herself next week.
The following week our ranks were joined by an all new, all aggressive 78 year old dwarf warrior banging the gaming table and bellowing "Goodbye Kobbold. Poof, he is gone.". I guess the moral of this tale is it's never too late to find your inner gamer. She's currently planning to convert her home town when she returns. And has the core books on order.
Oh man, that's the cutest thing I've read all week. Thank you for that. :)
Seriously though. I am a gay gamer but never joined any group. Never felt the need. I have been interested but I enjoy spending my time with bree....um....I mean....all you guys and gals. :)
Come now, there's no need for that term... I'm sure we all know at least one straight gamer who'll never breed. : P
(Kidding! Mostly!)
Never. In OAC, I decided that I was going to be as blunt as possible about being a gamer, and never got any flak for it. I was also the drama leader, so I guess people just assumed I was talking about drama.
Now that I'm in the working world, I found out quick that of a company of 2000 around the world, I'm the only one who plays Dnd. It just makes me an individual, I guess.
OAC? Outed as a fellow Ontarian! :)
I agree, I never try and hide my geekyness (hell I even wrote a play about it). I tried being cool for about five minutes in grade nine (about a million years ago) and failed horribly. Now when I'm in mixed company I just throw up the flag and see what happens. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never found it detrimental to my social life or my ability to meet people... except in high school, but like I said that was a million years ago (thank god).
The following week our ranks were joined by an all new, all aggressive 78 year old dwarf warrior banging the gaming table and bellowing "Goodbye Kobbold. Poof, he is gone.". I guess the moral of this tale is it's never too late to find your inner gamer. She's currently planning to convert her home town when she returns. And has the core books on order.
Too awesome! :D
Not afraid to talk about my gaming. I have fuzzy d20 dice hanging from my rear view in my car and carry a spare set of dice. I have a large d20 as a paper weight on my desk at work, along with a mini Cthulhu plushie. :)
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Ya know I'm reading these posts and wondering where I fit in all this...
Because I've lived in four states in the last dozen years I've always been "looking" for a new group to (usually) create or join. I mean, I've gamed (started) 6 gaming groups since 3E. As such, I'm regularly the guy that brings it up to potential gamers. I often discuss gaming.
However, . . .
I always begin the discussion with something like, Oh, I'm a big time gamer (D&D player) BUT, well, there's lots a different kinds of gamers -- ya know, it's a social game, sorta like poker -- so if the players are just there for beer and skittles and to get away from their spouses or there just to smoke pot and hang out -- that's what the game is going to be like. Or if everyone's a strict, serious gamer then the tone of the game is gonna be different. Differnt groups of gamers play in different atmospheres.
And it's part defense mechanism against being momentarily stereotyped, but it's also part sales pitch. I'm trying to get this guy or gal to game with me.
So I guess I'm half in the closet and half out. A true David Bowie of D&D. Yeah, I like that.
-"David Bowie"
Well I've certainly seen attitudes change over the 30 years I've been gaming. During the early 80's (the Mazes & Monsters period) it was pretty bad. I will admit that there were times when I hid my gamer-side -- in my 20's when I was dating. The most receptive communities I've found (outside the SCA -- which is Geek Haven) were the military and software development.
I don't bother hiding now. My wife is a gamer (worse, she introduced me to CIV) and my children are gamers. Both have Fairie Tales characters, and my 9-year-old daughter has a 1st level elf ranger. I haev no doubt that when my son is a little older (he's five) we will have a family game.
The longest lasting relationships (outside those people I'm related to by blood) have been with those friends I've made through gaming.
CJ
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Seriously though. I am a gay gamer but never joined any group. Never felt the need. I have been interested but I enjoy spending my time with bree....um....I mean....all you guys and gals. :)Come now, there's no need for that term... I'm sure we all know at least one straight gamer who'll never breed. : P
(Kidding! Mostly!)
*raises a hand* Present and accounted for!
Though, to be truthful, it's voluntary on my part. The world doesn't need more entities like me running loose. The fact that there are 2-3 others like me is bad enough...
As DM of said mother-in-law game it was indeed awesome. Add to that, she has taken out half of all the opponents faced so far... astounding.
"Now... I am a dwarf, yes? Do I have a beard? Oh good."
The sweetest thing was when we had our own little "Gimli meets Galadriel" moment (albeit in a gender-bending way) when our brave dwarf warrior was somewhat tongue-tied upon meeting the wise and beautiful Lady Markelhay of Fallcrest.
:D
The comic relief coming in the form of the dragonborn paladin who upon being told to bring back proof of having killed the kobolds, asked "Arms or hearts, my lord?"
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Its the only argument I ever had with my parents when I was growing up.
All because my Aunt was deeply religious and kept at my mum about Satanism - that was 1982 though.
Over the years I have gradually moved about and found myself being more and more open about it.
But I still remember the strange looks when I went for job interviews with fantasy roleplaying as one of my hobbies. Now people don't seem so bothered and if they look a little confused, I just say it's like military wargaming which I enjoy as well anyway.
BTW - my parents now help look after our son so I can game all day Saturday every month.
I can see the day when he wants to play, I hope he does.
Cheers - great thread.
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The blonde story made me remember this one which is related to the thread but from the other side.
I was once stood in a pub on the Channel Islands chatting to a lovely Czech girl, Zuska, who had just joined our bank.
She started telling me all about this new game that her boyfirend had started playing with her...DnD. I feigned ignorance (for which I apologised many times after) and spent a very happy hour learning all about the game.
Hearing it from the other side and listening to the people around ask questions was a novel and enjoyable time. What mattered most though was that people were interested.
Cheers
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Rev Rosey's story about her mother in law really made me smile :).
I'm pretty comfortable with telling people I game, and I'm reasonably good at explaining what roleplay is to the uninitiated (mostly from manning the stall for my RP society at fresher's fair every year).
In groups I don't know especially if they're clearly all none-geeky I may avoid bringing it up in casual conversation even if it's relevant. That's mostly the fault of all the incredibly inane people I worked with when I was temping; I got utterly sick of the really poor innuendo when the word 'roleplay' came up. But even then I never lied or skirted the issue if someone asked what I was doing on a game night, as I refuse to be embarrassed or secretive about the hobby I love. I haven't mentioned it at my current workplace as far as I can recall as I don't make small-talk with people here all that much, but I have SirUrza's iconics wallpaper on my work computer in an open-plan office, so it's fairly obvious I'm into some kind of weird fantasy thing :P.
In my experience having a dice bag with a wide variety of colours, sizes and d-types (extra points for things like d100s, d5s, weighted and round d6s, and fancy Q-Workshop and Dwarven Metal/Stone type things) always helps to get people interested. The same people who mocked and made really bad jokes when I brought RP up the first time, were suddenly enthralled the next time it came up in conversation, when I was headed to a game straight after work so I had my dice with me, which I promptly poured onto the table for people to play with whilst I taught them some very simple mechanics for an impromptu game ;).
In my experience having a dice bag with a wide variety of colours, sizes and d-types (extra points for things like d100s, d5s, weighted and round d6s, and fancy Q-Workshop and Dwarven Metal/Stone type things) always helps to get people interested. The same people who mocked and made really bad jokes when I brought RP up the first time, were suddenly enthralled the next time it came up in conversation, when I was headed to a game straight after work so I had my dice with me, which I promptly poured onto the table for people to play with whilst I taught them some very simple mechanics for an impromptu game ;).
That's classic! I can imagine the people around my office doing the same thing. Ok, roll a d20 + Diplomacy modifier for this month's sales figures!
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I used to be a closet gamer, now I don't care who knows.
I wear gaming humor t-shirts.
I have fuzzy d20s hanging from my car's rear-view mirror.
I have also have a d20 magnet on the back.
My license plate says "ROLL D20".
My wife even put a d20 magnet on her minivan for my sake.
Oh yeah, I'm out. I'm sooo out.
I'm no closet gamer - neither at work nor private is it possible to hide my hobby. Our house is FULL of games, twice or thrice a week new games arrive at work (better at work than getting them from the post office at weekends), our gaming day(s) are well known for the whole agency (the day "he" has to go "acurate on schedule" to "play these games").
The first days in my job were a bit tricky, years ago. My bosses thought, role players would "run over cemetaries and kill chickens and cats", because they have read it somewhere aeons ago ... but they believed my stories about our games *evil laughter*
ah - and I'm a mac user AND gamer - consoles work fine, even if you work with an apple. *throws powerbook to pc-heretics* :)
edit: Oh, reading the posts above mine: a nice cthulhu-fish is on my beetle ...
How many people are seriously embarrassed to be gamers? I mean, I guess I never really felt the need to hide it except to avoid talking about gaming while out on a date.
I'm not embarrassed about being a gamer -- but I don't go out of my way to let people know, either.
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Similarly to many people who’ve posted to this thread, I make no secret of being a gamer, and don’t attempt to hide it, but I tend not to make a big deal of it either (unless someone seems interested). Most (probably all) of my family, friends and co-workers know that I play D&D.
When I meet new people it usually comes up soon enough in the “what are you doing this weekend?” or “what was that on your computer screen at lunch?” or “what are you reading?” type conversations. My answer is usually met with blank stares or confusions, followed by more confusion or glazed looks as I go onto explain. I’ve met a few people over the years who have been somewhat interested in the concept, but (outside of people I’ve actually met through gaming) no one I’ve explained my hobby to over the past 15 years or so has really been interested enough to want to try it.
I’ve met a few people over the years who have been somewhat interested in the concept, but (outside of people I’ve actually met through gaming) no one I’ve explained my hobby to over the past 15 years or so has really been interested enough to want to try it.
EXPLAININ RPGS
U R DOIN IT WRONG.Anyone wanna make up a good lolcat?
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When I mention that I play roleplaying games, the most common response I get is, "Is that played on the computer?" I guess WoW and EverCrack have become more iconic than D&D.
I describe RPGs as being like a free-form play where you make up your own lines as you go along, and describe your actions rather than acting them out. This is good, because really jumping a flaming chasm can hurt!
I also tell them that roleplaying games have helped me with my characterization when I write.
That explanation seems to work well.
I had a pretty intense situation, where my new friend saw my DnD things, and was asking if I really played "that game". I responded with an affirmative and told him he had three options:
1-He could tell everyone that I played DnD, and try to make a fool out of me. (which wouldn't work, because that is not a class I am willing to take levels in)
2-We could cancel our friendship, and go our seperate ways.
or
3- he could just accept that I play DnD.
After an awkward silence, he asked me how the game worked, and now he is a level 2 orc barbarian named Unk :)
After an awkward silence, he asked me how the game worked, and now he is a level 2 orc barbarian named Unk :)
Awesome story.
What? No gay gamers?
Ha! I'm very out being gay, with pictures of my husband and our kid in my cubical, but I find I do slightly hide playing D&D.
I don't want them to think I'm weird. (grin!)"I play role playing games....(pause)...the DICE kind!"
What? No gay gamers?Ha! I'm very out being gay, with pictures of my husband and our kid in my cubical, but I find I do slightly hide playing D&D.
I don't want them to think I'm weird. (grin!)
"I play role playing games....(pause)...the DICE kind!"
So... D&D, since it's more shunned than being gay, is the new gay? ;) Good thing I live in Massachusetts.
Now if you want to really shock them, tell them you square dance and watch them recoil in horror.
Now if you want to really shock them, tell them you square dance and watch them recoil in horror.Gads!! The gingham covered horror!!
I'll leave that to New Hampshire to allow squaredancers to get married. WHAT??? THEY ALREADY CAN???
Me: Not the bedroom kind, the kind like boardgames
I made this exact same mistake trying to explain roleplaying...on the evening news! When the reporter asked me what that was all about I was standing in a crowd of my friends. By the time I finished my sentence everyone had fled in embarassment. Never going to do that again. Now I just say I play games. Gaming is something people can understand, and videogames are somewhat popular these days.
Mind you, I do a bit of that other kind of roleplaying with the wife now too, so it hasn't been a complete loss. ;)