Do you play in public?

[jaerdaph]

...except for those that have this kind of envy/anger at the inherent absurdity of a $2,000 suit, let alone sitting in a park with one.

what's wrong with you freaks....

...

I freely admit the $2,000 suit belongs to my buddy at Goldman Sachs. I think my most expensive suit only tops out at $1,200.

Tax write-off, baby, tax write-off.

 

[sydbar]

I have and will, play almost anywhere, at any time, and i don't have a problem with people watching, and i don't care about what they think about me, i play for fun. Playing in public is also a good way to get people interested in gaming, and in some cases reinterested in gaming.

 

[Asmor]

I have and will, play almost anywhere, at any time, and i don't have a problem with people watching, and i don't care about what they think about me, i play for fun. Playing in public is also a good way to get people interested in gaming, and in some cases reinterested in gaming.

That post is really, really funny if you change the references to gaming to another popular activity which is frequently done behind closed doors...

 

[I'm A Banana]

I freely admit the $2,000 suit belongs to my buddy at Goldman Sachs. I think my most expensive suit only tops out at $1,200.

Tax write-off, baby, tax write-off.

Spoken like a true Wall Street cruiser!

-- KM, who is right now sitting in his windowless no AC bedroom in mid-Brooklyn, beating off creditors with a stick, wondering how he'll swing rent this month....

Oh, but D&D in the park sounds like a stellar idea...a bit limiting on the books, I guess, but pfffft.You're in the PARK!

 

[Phlebas]

I've played munchkin a few times in my local with great interest from the staff.

we have joked about moving the game there but munchkin works much better than D&D with regular pints of beer.....

 

[Roadkill101]

I've never played in public. I feel uncomfortable to varying degree's when I think people I don't know are taking interest in my actions (pretty much regardless of what my actions might be at the moment).

I've never been to con or game-day either. I can easily imagine, I'd feel uncomfortable in such places as well, surrounded by others all doing the same thing I was. Eventually I'll get to a local game-day and put that feeling to the test, so far everytime I plan on attending one, I end up having to work.

 

[diaglo]

when we took a break from our normal gaming routine (3-4hrs/day; 5days/week; 50weeks/year; 10+ years) back in the early and mid 80's we used to reserve one of the conference rooms in the local library to play games.

wargames
roleplaying games
board games

we moved on to computer games and it got hard to drag that to the library.

that was like once a month or so.

 

[LostSoul]

Do you ever play RPGs in public?

Yes. I usually play at a university in a public area, but sometimes at a pub.

If so, do you consciously try to avoid living up to the stereotype of "only dorks/nerds/geeks play D&D"?

No. I don't really care.

Do you "control" yourself more in a public venue than if you were playing at someone's home?

No. I get into the game.

 

[jdrakeh]

I've occassionally played at the FLGS here, in recent years. Back in the day, I occasionally played in Gage Park (in Topeka, KS) and Denny's (also in Topeka, KS), as well as in the student union building at KU (Lawrence, KS).

 

[Afrodyte]

I've played RPGs in public. This being New York City, most people around are completely disinterested and leave you be, although you do get a few curious onlookers. Their reactions are generally positive, even if the "that's cool" responses far outweigh the "how can I learn more" ones. Most people seem to get it that continuous questions would be distracting to the game and keep them to a minimum. Haven't had anyone ask to join in yet though.

I'd say we are more restrained with the volumes of our voices in public than in a private home, mainly because we don't want to disturb others enjoying the space.

Most of my friends that I play with (myself included I hope) don't fit the "typical geek/nerd" stereotype, so I don't worry too much about that. Then again, when you work on Wall Street and you're playing a casual lunch time game in Battery Park in a $2,000 suit, it's kind of hard to look like a loser.

[offtopic]
I know I should post this on Gamers Seeking Gamers (eventually), but do you know of any groups doing 4e in NYC? I'm moving there the week of July 7, even if I have to live on the subway. It'd be cool to get started with gaming again.
[/offtopic]

Anyway, I often play at my FLGS. I don't mind playing in a neutral public place where we can speak in normal voices without disturbing people. I know I hate listening to people being loud in supposedly quiet places, so I don't want to do that to other people.

I do try to limit profanity in public unless I'm talking to people I'm very comfortable and familiar with. I really could care less about other people's stereotypes about my hobbies. I'm not hurting anyone, and it's cheaper than getting drunk every weekend.