Mainstreaming
D&D is becoming more mainstream. obviously. And that's probably thanks to the marketing people down at WotC who've managed to put up ads of D&D in magazines such as Maxim. I, personnally, think that Maxim is awful, and always thought roleplayers were above this kind of trash. Although, I DO admit that the covers usually catch my attention. Anywho, the ads are certainly not aimed at roleplayers, but at those who shun the hobby as if it was plague. D&D has a bad reputation because of the satanist crap and nerd stuff. By the way, I started D&D in 1999 and until then, I thought and was sure that all roleplayers were the stereotypical loser/geek/nerd/dork/whatevermachacallits. The fact that I joined the ranks of roleplayers shows that the game is slowly spreading and becoming more and more mainstream.
"So what if it's getting mainstream? WotC is just trying to make more money." is what many would say. And they're probably right. But pop culture has shown us that people will bite into whatever is thrown at them like hungry dogs. N'Sync, Britney Spears, Nelly, Vin Diesel flicks are all garbage, but people are willing to go see the movies, buy the records and watch MTV for hours. I mean reality game shows are a complete waste of air-time but they garner a lot of viewers. Yes, it's cynical, but North Americans are passive sponge-zombies who pick up anything lying around, be it coal or gold. If MTV decides today that D&D is cool, every 13 year-old american princess cheerleader would be at their neighborhood hobby shop.
If I assume that that D&D isn't garbage, which most of you agree with, the mainstreaming of the hobby can't be a bad thing. Of course, mainstreaming means that other money hungry bastards will try to make money off it like they do with everything. And no one would possibly want this. There's also the pride of being marginal, being part of the elite group that most can't join. This is the impression I get from the guys who are anti-Vin-playing-Dungeons-&-Dungeons-and-having-a-secret-project. Ok, learning that Vin Diesel played D&D was as surprising as learning that Santa didn't exist when you're 5. He's the last person on earth I'd imagine playing this dorky game. But going so far as to say that he would pander us really shows at what point you have self-image issues. Saying that, since Vin Diesel fans are all "jock-idiots", he must not be a true D&Der and must be attempting to pander us is ludicrous. As I've said, it's not because one enjoys movies that have dialogue written by and for toddlers, that one is not worthy to play D&D. Movies are made to be appeal to most people, even Aristotle has a theory or a set rules on how to make a perfect play. I've read a book by Umberto Eco, I don't quite recall the title, but he mentions the classical american film, such Casablanca and Gone with the Wind or even T2, follow a certain recipie. I don't know the exact recipie but there usually is 2 "stories", the main one and a love story. For example, in Casablanca, we've got WWII (main story) and the thing between Rick and Elsa. Another characteristic is that they always make you feel good, no matter how sad or tragic the end is. Very few films leave the audience perplexed and freaked out. Usually, when you walk out of the theater after seeing a wierd movie, the first thing you ask yourself is "WTF?!" I know I'm blabbing off topic right now so I'll swerve back to the my point.
The point is...I forgot what it was...ah crap. That's what happens when I write posts without really thinking about what I want to say. Anways, If Vin Diesel, big bad action hero, plays D&D, and just happened to be buying 800$ worth of D&D just before an interview with GQ doesn't mean he's doing to appeal to the small population of geeks who read GQ. Or something along those lines. Arggghh, screw it. Most won't even read the whole post. I'm sure you'll be sick of my post after the second paragraph.
