Did your parents get you into gaming?

[JediSoth]

My parents never supported my gaming, though they never forbade me from doing it. My sister went through a phase where she bought into all the demon-worshiping hype. Now they never speak of it, though they're aware I still game (my sister moreso than my parents). My parents still think of it as something only weird children should play.

JediSoth

 

[questing gm]

First generation gamer here in the remote end of the RPG market and am proud of it.

My brother brought me into gaming as well as into other hobbies (it started with M:tG and wargaming) but RPGs was my first love. It's been an interesting as well as frustrating experience as a P&P gamer since the people around me that share a passion for RPGs are actually referring to CRPGs. They never even seen these 'weird shaped' dices before and i just love it when they give me this curious look when i'm discussing these 'weird rules' from some kind of 'devlisih tome' with my group.

I won't force my kids (if i wanted any) into the hobby. A second generation gamer here would just make things more difficult and confusing for them.

 

[Jeysie]

Another first-gen gamer here. I didn't discover D&D until after I'd already moved out.

My dad was very much a geek, and probably would have gotten a kick out of D&D, but he died when I was still a kid, long before either of us had heard about it.

My mom, on the other hand, is very much *not* a geek, and if I tried explaining the game to her she'd likely be lost and just say she's glad I have friends to hang out with.

Peace & Luv, Liz

 

[DragonLancer]

My parents aren't gamers, but if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have developed an interest in roleplaying.

Back in about 1983 my folks bought me a book called "What is Dungeons & Dragons?" I was only 9 at the time but I devoured that book and was hooked on the concept of roleplaying. They then started buying me the solo play Fighting Fantasy gamebooks by Steve Jackson & Ian Livingston. It wasn't until I was 14 that I met another roleplayer and actually got to play an RPG (Warhammer Fantasy RP). So, in a roundabout sort of way, they have influced my getting into gaming.

 

[Seeker95]

Wrong Age Group

For the ENWorld crowd, I suspect a more relevant (and informative) question would be to ask who has introduced their children to gaming. ENWorld has a significantly older gaming crowd, and is more likely to consist of folks who have kids just getting old enough for gaming, rather than being of an age where their parents are young enough to have known gaming in their youth.

 

[theredrobedwizard]

Third generation gamer reporting in. My dad and grandfather both played a lot of fantasy miniatures games in the mid-late seventies. In 1980, after my dad came back from college, he introduced grandpa dearest to D&D. They played together, along with a couple of wargamer buddies, for three years; until I came along.

After an 8 year hiatus, they had another game, this time letting me play along.

I feel special.

-TRRW

(fake ninja edit: I'm 24 years old, so I'm not *that* young, though I suspect I'm probably one of the oldest 3rdGen gamers; if there even are any others on this lovely board.)

 

[Friadoc]

So, I'm curious how many here are second generation gamers and were exposed to gaming because of their parents gaming.

Now I said 'No', since neither of my parents were a gamer, BUT I did get into role-playing games because of my mother.

To keep a long story short, my mother was advised by a school counselor, when I was six years-old, to get me involved in an hobby that would foster creativity and challenge me intellectually.

My mother ignored a lot of other options, as well as various misinformation of the day, and found some neighbor kids, who were a couple grades older, that let me join their D&D group.

So, I'm a first generation gamer, but I owe it all, a lifetime hobby, to my mother.

 

[Gilladian]

Way back in the mid-seventies, my brother and I got into gaming, and my parents were a little worried about "what it was all about". They learned to play, and have played off and on ever since. Until recently I ran a game with both of my parents.

Unfortunately, I don't have any kids, or I'm sure they'd be third generation gamers. Maybe not p&p, but I'd live with CRPG gaming kids if I had to. The only candidates I have to recruit into the next generation are the nieces and nephew, and since my in-laws are of the "devil's work" frame of mind, I don't think that'll happen.

 

[sckeener]

Nope, but my mother did encourage me to be a gamer. She thought it would help me pass the time with other kids during swimming.

My dad hates all fantasy and science fiction, so he never liked that I played D&D. He considers me a spend thrift because I play the game at all.

 

[francisca]

No, but my father certainly encouraged it. He bought me my 1980 Moldvay Basic set on his way home from work one day. I had been playing at school in 7th grade and even crocked up my own game. I guess he decided it would be worthwhile. Shortly afterward, he got me the 1st edition Gamma World boxed set.