Hey, people in prison need D&D too!

[Shadowslayer]

So, reminding someone of the rules is the same as impersonating a mod?

 

[Mighty Halfling]

An earlier thread about D&D in prisons. Talk on that subject begins at Post No. 9

 

[Rel]

So, reminding someone of the rules is the same as impersonating a mod?

The moderators frequently use colored text to highlight that we're posting as a mod and not just as a regular poster. Frank's original post was in bright orange and thus looked very moderatorial.

Generally speaking your best bet if you see somebody crossing or skirting the poltics line is to just use the "Report Post" button. Then DON'T respond to them. This makes things much more clear cut for the mods and removes any implication that you are part of an escalating problem.

 

[RigaMortus2]

D&D is actually pretty popular in prisons. I found this out after joining a game with another new guy who just got out of prison for theft. He never knew about D&D until he learned to play while in prison for 3 years. I was pretty surprised and he said lots of people in prison play D&D...they don't have much else to do

And then he stole your books, minis and dice...

 

[Contrarian]

There was a discussion about this at The Miniatures Page a few weeks ago. TMP has a surprising number of current or former prison employees as members. The gist of that discussion was:

It depends on what jurisdiction the prison is in. Some prisons will ban roleplaying and wargames because of violent themes, some won't. Some will ban it just because they don't let prisoners have hobbies. Some prisons even ban dice to discourage gambling. (Frank Mentzer says the version of Basic D&D with chits was popular in those prisons.) Some prisons just suck more than others.

I therefore recommend all ENworld members research their local prison rules before choosing a life of crime.

 

[Glyfair]

No magazines? I'm surprised.

From the Paizo editorials, it seems to vary from institution to institution. Some don't allow magazines, some do but don't allow Dungeon and Dragon, some do allow them. That's one of Paizo's headaches, they have to do research before they start sending the subscription.

 

[Numion]

Somewhere there's a gamer so desperate for gaming (and free upkeep) that he's right now, after reading this, stealing something

Parents basement, monkeyhouse, what's the difference?

 

[Chiaroscuro23]

I think that D&D should be allowed, even encouraged in prisons - it's educative and it helps developing social and problem-solving skills.

I generally think it's okay for people of all stripes to play D&D, but I can see authority figures being bothered by the intragroup authority the DM weilds. I mean, out in the world it's not a big deal that Jim is in charge of the game. But if you were in the military, a prison, or other environment with a lot of importance to pecking order, then that tiny little difference might seriously matter.

 

[Shadowslayer]

I generally think it's okay for people of all stripes to play D&D, but I can see authority figures being bothered by the intragroup authority the DM weilds. I mean, out in the world it's not a big deal that Jim is in charge of the game. But if you were in the military, a prison, or other environment with a lot of importance to pecking order, then that tiny little difference might seriously matter.

That's an interesting thought.

On the idea of magazines being banned: I could see how, if you rolled or folded one up in such a way, that it could be used as a weapon. I'd bet that has more to do with it than anything. Those guys ahve a lot of time to sit there and figure out how to improvise a weapon out of one.

 

[mara]

Somewhere there's a gamer so desperate for gaming (and free upkeep) that he's right now, after reading this, stealing something

Parents basement, monkeyhouse, what's the difference?

This issue led to the dissolution of a prior gaming group.