D&D: Public Opinion and Accessibility

[RPG_Tweaker]

I'm curious... are there any publicly available homevideos of a group of friends playing a really good session of Dungeons and Dragons?

It seems the only D&D-related stuff availble at storehouses like YouTube, is full of ridicule towards the game and its players. Now don't get me wrong, I think the Dead Alewives' Summoner Geeks is pure brilliance, but there doesn't seem to be any positive stuff available.

Despite a much better acceptance than when I was a kid, D&D still suffers bad PR.

I've been fortunate to have never encountered a savagely ignorant Jack Chick type... thank the gods... but I do occasionally meet people that assume the game is for Trenchcoat Mafia types.

I'm thinking that if someone had the video gear, and a really dynamic group of players, uploading a session could show people what the game is really about. Something to trash the stereotypes of players as little more than violence-crazed psychos, bed-wetting virgins or uber-geeks with Comic Book Guy's attitude.

[BTW: please don't turn this into a Chick-burning religious tirade thread... thanks.]

 

[delericho]

There are two problems I see with this:

1) A number of groups actually take a certain pride in being the outcasts, the geeks, and the freaks. It sets them apart from the norm, gives them an identity, and as such is something that they actually like. Of course, this doesn't apply to all groups - in fact, I expect it applies only to a very small minority.

2) A video showing a group that doesn't fall into the stereotype probably won't be that interesting. It's just a bunch of people sitting around a table talking, and occasionally rolling dice. It would probably be like watching poker on TV, but without any of the analysis or tension that makes actually watching poker so compelling.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

2) A video showing a group that doesn't fall into the stereotype probably won't be that interesting. It's just a bunch of people sitting around a table talking, and occasionally rolling dice. It would probably be like watching poker on TV, but without any of the analysis or tension that makes actually watching poker so compelling.

Can you imagine D&D broadcast on ESPN, with commentary & analysis like they do poker?

Commentator: The paladin's in a tight spot. Low on hit points, cornered by a hobgoblin. The cautious player might take a 5' step and lay on hands ... What? He's going to Smite Evil! There's the roll ... NATURAL 20!

The movie The Gamers is probably OK ... but let's face it, even if you're not a bunch of geeks, watching a D&D game and not participating is still like watching a bunch of geeks sitting around a table.

 

[Turanil]

<...> a session could show people what the game is really about. Something to trash the stereotypes <...>

Prejudices and misconceptions: most people who adhere to them are not interested in learning otherwise and changing their ideas about it. Just try to tell the Klu-Klux-Klan that brown-skin people aren't inferior to other men, and that they aren't the scapegoat of everything wrong in society... People who believe that D&D is devil worship actually want to believe it. My opinion is that their neurosis requires it, as it requires other people to consume drugs, waste all money at the casino, etc. (or even... play D&d all day long ).

 

[Faraer]

But the majority (I think) with no clear idea one way or the other would have something accurate to discover or be referred to if they became interested.

A video showing a group that doesn't fall into the stereotype probably won't be that interesting. It's just a bunch of people sitting around a table talking, and occasionally rolling dice.

Yet people listen to audiobooks and radio plays. Combine that with the heat of improvisation, and the novelty of the form, and there's no reason that RPG highlights shouldn't be interesting to watch. Although in practice there's time between those highlights, same is true of many sports.

 

[Hussar]

Well, RPGMP3.com has The World's Largest Dungeon as both audio downloads and as a podcast. I suppose that's something.

 

[RFisher]

I'm curious... are there any publicly available homevideos of a group of friends playing a really good session of Dungeons and Dragons?

I suspect that if I saw a video of one of my group's sessions, it'd make me not want to play. (^_^) I suspect our hobby is very much better experienced as a participant than as a spectator.

Despite a much better acceptance than when I was a kid, D&D still suffers bad PR.

Does it really? I've heard that a lot from other gamers, but I've almost never encountered a negative attitude towards the game from non-gamers. In fact, when people find out I play D&D, they're often curious & want to know more.

Most of the denegrating humor you'll find about us were obviously written by us since the're in-jokes.

 

[Glyfair]

I'm curious... are there any publicly available homevideos of a group of friends playing a really good session of Dungeons and Dragons?

Really good? I dunno.

Dungeon Majesty has been around for while. It's a cable show (IIRC) and not a home video. It's definitely amateur in feel, though.

2) A video showing a group that doesn't fall into the stereotype probably won't be that interesting. It's just a bunch of people sitting around a table talking, and occasionally rolling dice. It would probably be like watching poker on TV, but without any of the analysis or tension that makes actually watching poker so compelling.

The best advertisement I remember seeing for D&D was the brief scene in E.T.. Yes, the were playing D&D, but it wasn't focused on, it was just a matter of fact. Compare that to mentions on The X-Files where D&D appears to have been added as part of the character's "geek" identity. In E.T. they were normal kids playing D&D.

 

[Dykstrav]

Does it really? I've heard that a lot from other gamers, but I've almost never encountered a negative attitude towards the game from non-gamers. In fact, when people find out I play D&D, they're often curious & want to know more.

Yes, there are still D&D-phobic people out there. I don't mean "don't like D&D", but those that literally believe that playing D&D will make you worship the devil, eat your own feces, become a homosexual, smoke pot, vote liberal, become a vegetarian, and otherwise passionately work towards the destruction of western society. My father is one of those people, and he becomes visibly nervous whenever he visits my house on holidays to see two entire bookcases filled with gaming materials. This Christmas he was literally squirming under the gaze of the Colossal Red Dragon on the top shelf.

 

[Torment]

Here's a few thoughts:

1. People that think that RPG players = Devil worshippers, well obviously they have a pretty closed mindset. Therefore I wouldn't associate with them, so it really doesn't matter what they think. Same way I wouldn't associate with a racist.

2. I think some people might take themselves and PR a bit too seriously. Loosen up, learn to laugh at yourself. A bunch of dudes sitting around a table rolling dice and arguing whether or not the abjurant champion can use it's special ability with mage armor is pretty funny in itself. Heck, it's funny to me and I play the game. Imagine how funny and ridiculous the whole deal sounds to my girlfriend.

3. It's a hobby. Keep that in mind. It's not the be all and end all of who you are. If it is... well then you might have a problem.

Those are my opinions. I think the game is alive and well, and anyone I mention that I play D&D laugh a little sometimes. But come on, if someone came out to me and said that they collect hockey cards, I'd laugh a little too. After all, hockey cards are pictures of grown men.