Benefits of playing D&D

[pdzoch]

One of the players in my game group ( a senior citizen who came into the hobby about 5 years ago) was surprised to find himself defending his enjoyment of the game to his peers. He does recall vaguely the stigma that was once applied to the game, but know little about it as he was not involved in the hobby until recently. Nevertheless, he started listing the benefits of playing the game. I thought it would be a worthwhile thread to compile as I am sure everyone's game and play style is different and would have different benefits to add to the list. Needless to say, some benefits to playing D&D may be campaign or group specific -- so feel free to explain in your post.

Before anyone asks, the benefits will mostly be player specific as being a DM provided a different set of benefits. But the game requires both, so if you think a benefit is DM specific, go ahead a say so.

I'll start the list:

• It’s a cooperative game; it teaches people to work together to achieve a goal
• The goal is to defeat evil (game group/campaign specific)
• The goal is to protect the good and innocent (game group/campaign specific)
• Any character can be a hero; any player can be a hero
• Any player can be a leader
• Victory is not determined by who has the most wealth or treasure; victory (and fame) is to those who do good in the world (game group/campaign specific)
• A character’s value is not determined by how strong, smart, pretty, or rich he or she is. His value is in how he contributes to the team.
• As a family game, it brings the family together (game group specific)

 

[ArchfiendBobbie]

I've found it can seriously encourage creativity. Give a group a decanter of endless water, fifty feet of rope, a bag of holding, and a portable hole to work with and you'll be surprised what they can come up with using only those materials. Everything from storage and endless fresh water to surprise pit traps, temporary swimming pools, portable aquariums, and even weapons of mass destruction.

 

[was]

..Forcing one to be creative exercises your 'mental muscles' which, in turn, helps memory/information retention.

 

[MechaPilot]

It encourages artistic expression through the drawing of maps, the creation of adventure plots, and worldbuilding.

It stimulates interest in fantasy literature and film.

It allows for the development of early leadership skills in whoever is playing the party face.

Dungeon puzzles can can stimulate the use of logic and problem-solving.

Putting yourself mentally in someone else's shoes (your character) helps you develop the foundational aspect of empathy and compassion.

 

[Gilladian]

You cannot underestimate the impact of having a strong social network on mental health and reducing the effects of age on the brain. This would apply to any game group that meets regularly and forms strong social bonds, but rpgs in particular bring that out.

 

[RedSiegfried]

It's one of the most social activities out there. Think about it. You basically sit around a table having a conversation with other people for hours on end, so even the "antisocial" learn to be social to some extent. Along the way you meet new people, learn new things about others, learn to work together cooperatively, reach consensus when you don't agree, create different forms of art (stories, drawings, etc.) and all sorts of other things.

As far as exercising your brain goes, I totally agree with that. I get lots of practice crunching numbers at the table to the point where it's actually paid off in other parts of my life, like my job - I'm much, much faster at basic arithmetic since I started playing multiple times per week a few years ago. And reading and writing a lot is always good for your noggin, no matter what you read and write.

 

[Taliesyn]

Creativity, teamplay, Initiative, Fantasy all goes up

 

[pdzoch]

• Improved reading skills - tons of materials to support the game (essentially short stories and technical reading)
• Increased vocabulary - new terms not only related to gaming, but also cultures, history, politics, trades and crafts, occupation, etc.
• Improve speaking skills - game is base on ability to community what you want the character to do.
• Improved public speaking skills -- game is dependent on the ability of the DM to present information to the group in an enjoyable and engaging manner (DM specific)

 

[Taliesyn]

Starting or beginning again as an adult you rediscover or start rediscovering your inner child. This feels really wonderful. I don't know if this happens to all the folks out there playing D&D or another RPG but it happened to me.

 

[Dioltach]

You get to hang out on message boards such as this one.