Do you read D&D books on public transport?

[johnsemlak]

Living in Moscow, Russia, I generally get around the city by Moscow's effecient metro/underground/subway system, sometimes using a bus or something as well. And the nature of my job requires me to travel a lot daily.

Generally, more often than not, I'm reading somehting D&D related. Particularly now, as I bought a bunch of stuff in my last month's visit to the US and am still trying to read all the stuff I bought. Sometimes a Dungeon or Dragon magazine, sometimes an official rulebook, sometime Necromancer Games or Sword and Sorcery stuff, or whatever, really. Sometimes even and old 1e module. In Russia, virtually no one knows what D&D, or fantasy roleplaying, is; ususally people think it's some sort of magazine, probably related to computer games or something.

Now, I've been living outside the US for some time and in a few ways I've lost touch with US life. But last time I was in the states I was carrying several D&D books when I was at the airport for reading. I spent a lot of time reading Midnight in the airport. It drew a few odd looks from other people, and a comment. Nothing really impolite or anything, but definitely they drew some attention.

So what about you? Do you proudly display your RPG stuff in public places (at work, of course, might be a different matter), or are you more discreet?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi john!

Not so long ago I remember getting some funny looks from people on the London Underground while I was reading Dragon magazine...although that could have been something to do with that issue having the sexy Succubus on the front cover (#306).

 

[Buttercup]

In my small midwest US city, there isn't any public transportation worth the name. But I do take RPG material to read when I take my car for an oil change, or when I go to the doctor or dentist--anytime I know I'll have to sit in a waiting room. No one has ever said anything, but that might be because it isn't common to interact with other people in waiting rooms, unless you came in with them, of course. I've also taken stuff to work with me to read at lunchtime. Again, no comments. But I'm the boss, so that could be why.

 

[Psion]

I almost never ride public transit, but when I went of a class field trip with my daughter, I took the chance to devour the Draconomicon.

Man, those bus seats are NOT made for adults.

 

[diaglo]

i do it all the time. at lunch at work. on the rail to the airport. in the car while driving to work and drinking my coffee while talking to my wife on the cell phone.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I bring Dragon and Dungeon to work to read at lunch, but not much else. The hardcovers weigh to much to add to the already considerable amount of stuff I drag back and forth to work with me.

I don't ride public transportation here in C'ville, but when I'm travelling elsewhere by bus, train, or plane I usually bring a RPG book or 2 along. I've never had anyone say anything to me, other than one guy who started telling me about the wonderful game he had designed in the mid-80s but failed to publish. It would have changed the gaming world. Seriously. Thats what he told me before I had to find another seat.

 

[Vaxalon]

I do it all the time. Once in a while I get that, "Hey, Dungeons and Dragons, right? I used to play that in high school/college/junior high"

 

[Henry]

I don't often take my D&D material to read, because of its bulk compared to a paperback novel or such. But I occasionally do read such in public places, and don't get comments, though I can't say I've never gotten a stare (I live in the bible belt of the country, and old habits die hard for some).

In general, strangers rarely interact in a social capacity in my neck of the woods. Or maybe it's just me.

 

[Desdichado]

Sure, I read D&D in public. I read most of the Monsternomicon while waiting in the waiting room of a Goodyear after being run of the road by some moron, for instance.

I hardly ever take public transportation, though. And paperbacks are much more convenient for airports and flights.

 

[wocky]

I'm very often seen reading D&D books in Argentine buses and subways. I sometimes get curious people looking, but I think it's mostly because of the gorgeous designs and covers... only once, at the food court of a mall, I got approached by a fellow D&D player while reading the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting.