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Doesn't look flattering. A entire book dedicated to making fun of D&D gamers. :\
__________________ "What Simkin does, he does for his own amusement." Legacy of the Darksword by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
"Some of us think that Gygaxian fantasy, a rich and meaty stew of great fantasy authors spiced with classical mythology and medieval legend, just tastes better than WOTC's homogeneous corporate gruel." Clavis
__________________ "The Soul of D&D?It's rolling a natural 20 when you're down to 3 hit points and the cleric's on the floor and you're staring that sunnavabitch bugbear right in his bloodshot eye and holding the line just long enough to let the wizard unleash a fireball at the guards who are on their way, because they're all that stands between you, the Foozle and Glory." - WizarDru
"For many boys who grew up in the 70s and 80s, our peer group and education constituted a sort of wanker factory. This is the story of the operation of its most efficient department." Mark Barrowcliffe has a shameful secret. He spent his entire youth hiding from the grungy tedium of Coventry, in an imaginary world of elfs, dwarfs and magicians: he was a "Dungeons and Dragons" fanatic. In this very sharp, very funny memoir, Mark recounts these troubled years, when he knew more about how to kill a dragon than talk to a girl. With a cast of comically awful fellow obsessives, this is a story that enters the daft, twilight world of male adolescent imagination, and with great wit, self-deprication - and not a little poignancy - rips the piss out of it. 'Sharp and funny' - "Loaded". 'Hilarious ...[Barrowcliffe] is an assured stylist with a lively wit' - "Independent". 'A Natural chronicler of the love lorn male' - "The Times".
HOw is this an attack on gamers when it's written about how a gamer had problems growing up as a gamer? Like none of us ever hid our hobby? Like none of us ever felt kinda weirded out when people asked us what we did on a Saturday afternoon? Looks an awful lot like the Forty Year Old Virgin to me.
__________________ Why try making D&D look more ludicrous? That's like shooting fish in a barrel.
It's funny to be the constant target of abuse labeled as humor?
There is a huge difference between the hobby being attacked from someone who has never played and doesn't know what they are are talking about, and a gamer (or former gamer) writing about actual experiences and poking a little fun at himself or herself. The former can be ignored as ignorant drivel while the latter may actually be a fun read ( depending on the talent of the writer).
Wow, I don't think I've been a constant target of anything in a long time. Except for maybe my wifes annoyance at all of my hobbies.
Seriously though, the book appears to a coming of age story with the backdrop of humor that would appeal to folks such as other gamers. Sounds fine to me.
I mean we are a pretty funny group by and large. Where else can you have a serious discussion with somebody that wants to create an 8th level spell that unleashes a swarm of flying firebreathing psionic zombie squirrels? Comedy gold I tell you.
(yes, one of the folks in a campaign I'm playing in right now is getting me to critique this very spell for him. I think he's trying to make the DM's head spin, but what are you gonna do? )
-Ashrum
__________________ ENWorld forums are the points of light amidst darkness.
-blarg
I fail to see how this is any different to books poking fun at men, women, blondes, stamp collectors, cricket fans or hairdressers
Cricket has fans? Like, actual living ones?
Anyway... like others have said, the write up makes it look more like a memoir than a thinly veiled attack, so it could be good fun... if anything, I expect the attacks on the UK education system to be the scathing part.
Doesn't look flattering. A entire book dedicated to making fun of D&D gamers. :\
I dunno, it looks good to me. It is about the Authors childhood, in which he was awkward and played DnD. Sounds like a lot of guys I know. Don't see how this makes fun of anyone....
I think you may be just a bit sensitive...... Maybe reading the book would be cathartic for you?
I dunno what's up with his experience... I mean I remember my childhood when they found out I gamed, all the other children lifted me up on their shoulders and said three cheers to the greatest chap in the land! And then all the girls wanted to date me!
It happened just like that I swear.. Except replace the first part with "called me a dork" and the second part with "thought I was a dork."
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