Historical Importance...D&D

[Barak]

I had a dream last night. In that dream, two gamers were discussing.

-Richard, an actor and roleplayer. He played D&D for 15 years, considers himself a "true" roleplayer.

-Bob, a construction worker and gamer. He played for a measly 5 years. He likes bashing stuff.

R :Well you know, Robert, we really should go back to town and warn the king of these developments! He needs to be informed of this goblin camp!

B: For Gawd's sake Dick, we're 15th level. We can wipe 'em out and just go on.

R: I've told you before, my name is Richard, Robert. And that would be hack and slash. As a real gamer, I would much prefer to roleplay the interaction in court. Anything else is beneath me, and is only good for 12 years old.

B: Well my name's Bob. And it's weird, I was talking with Gary, and he said hack and slash was an integral part of the game, just as valid as long, boring discussion, if not more.

R: And who is that Gary, and why should I care about his unwashed opinion? I've been gaming for 15 years, don't you know.

B: You know, Gary Gygax. The guy who, like, invented the freaking game?

R: Bah! To call it a game is a sin! It is a way of life and I..

At that point, Richard gets clubbed. Then I woke up. :\

 

[tarchon]

That's absolutely hilarious.

Hmm.. wonder if Herb had a wife named Rosemary, perchance.

 

[ledded]

Indeed...

The RPG is one where one element might well arise and cause memorable moments. The number of storues about lucky dice rolls, figuring out a puzzle, besting some fell opponent in combat, or gaining incredible wealth are manifold...and I usually hear many of them whenever O am at a convention :\

Yes, I'm sure you have heard countless 'war stories'. But that's the price you pay for helping to inspire so many people, right?

Rest assured that I have nothing against roleplay, and I do it myself now and then, as I did back in 1973. What I strongly object to is the assertion by some that it is the only, or even the main, theme to follow in the RPG. Pure hack & slash is scarcely as boring as endless hours of pointless yakking about things make-believe. In all, though, the best way of playing is that which pleases the group. To presume that it is universally superior, and to belittle others who do not agree, is odious. The same applies to game preferences

Cheers,
Gary

Oh, I most assuredly agree with you there. Actually, a game wholly comprised of either element would bore me to tears... when I said some of the best times in our current game are roleplaying, most of the rest of them are memorable moments of thwacking and smiting and bashing of all things Bad and Detestable.

Though we did lean more towards the thwacking back when we were young 'uns first learning the game in the late 70's.

Roll-play or Roleplay; like pretty much all things, I find that *balance* is the key to enjoyment. I love to have lighthearted or serious in-character moments with my peers, but sometimes you just have to go hit something bad over the head.

And anyone who does judge one far superior to the other and belittle their opposites, IMO, needs to be hit over the head with a clue-by-four. With a nail in it.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

I had a dream last night. In that dream, two gamers were discussing.

...

R: Bah! To call it a game is a sin! It is a way of life and I..

At that point, Richard gets clubbed. Then I woke up. :\

LOL!

While I get very bored with nothing but seek & destroy missions similar to playing a so-called RPG on a computer, endless jawboning on mundane matters of make-believe sort is more tedious than having to suffer boring sorts of conversation in reality. At least role-playing in reality might result in something real happening to one in life...

There are people who regard the RPG as something more than an amusing game, more than a most entertaining hobby. They really do need to get a life

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Hmm.. wonder if Herb had a wife named Rosemary, perchance.

Nope! Heeb used to date a chick named Pepper, but Basil stole her away, so Herb sagely decided he was having trouble cutting the mustard with spicy chicks, and he didn't have thyme for serious relationships.

On this same subject:

King Henry beheaded Catherine of Aragon
For her excessive use of tarragon.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Bregh]

Nope! Heeb used to date a chick named Pepper, but Basil stole her away, so Herb sagely decided he was having trouble cutting the mustard with spicy chicks, and he didn't have thyme for serious relationships.

On this same subject:

King Henry beheaded Catherine of Aragon
For her excessive use of tarragon.

Cheers,
Gary

No wonder Herb's advice never got Robilar to the moon!

Rob should have taken his findings with a grain of salt, given what a dill-y of a situation that Herb was in!

 

[MerakSpielman]

Tread gingerly where puns are afoot, for they cayanne ruin an otherwise good thyme.

edit: Hey, Gary, when you're at a con, how long does it take to get seriously sick of the fanboys?

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Yes, I'm sure you have heard countless 'war stories'. But that's the price you pay for helping to inspire so many people, right?

True, and generally I don't mind hearing them, but after the third or fourth one in the same day it becomes tedious, especially those recounted by relative newbies that sound the same as all of the tales I've heard from like gamers over a couple of decades or so..

Oh, I most assuredly agree with you there. Actually, a game wholly comprised of either element would bore me to tears... when I said some of the best times in our current game are roleplaying, most of the rest of them are memorable moments of thwacking and smiting and bashing of all things Bad and Detestable.

Understood and agreed. Sadly most of my role-play comes as the DM managing various NPCs. One of my favorites in that regard is when as a "guide" I convinced Robiler to rush into the lair of a dragon. When he did so, the "guide" shouted a loud warning, as he was employed by the dragon as a sentinal. When Robilar managed to slay the beast anyway, I managed to talk that NPC's way out of death at the enraged fighter's hands too Regardless of the role being played though, I fear I too often fall into a lighter mode, tend towards making jokes and punning.

Though we did lean more towards the thwacking back when we were young 'uns first learning the game in the late 70's.

Young people not only have little social experience, but they are still trying to find out who they are in reality. Thus they typically do not enjoy much roleplay, fearing the others present will think them silly or different, or worse, that older persons hearing them will think them odd.

Roll-play or Roleplay; like pretty much all things, I find that *balance* is the key to enjoyment. I love to have lighthearted or serious in-character moments with my peers, but sometimes you just have to go hit something bad over the head.

Agreed. What is to be shunned at all costs is rule-play!

And anyone who does judge one far superior to the other and belittle their opposites, IMO, needs to be hit over the head with a clue-by-four. With a nail in it.

Heh, and you'd be bashing a fair number of "industry pros" in that exercise, not to mention the mahority on another RPG website or three I shall refrain fron naming.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

No wonder Herb's advice never got Robilar to the moon!

Rob should have taken his findings with a grain of salt, given what a dill-y of a situation that Herb was in!

Well...

I guess it does demonstrate that as a DM playing an NPC I can roleplay pretty convincingly, for Herb never got the pinishment cumin to him

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Tread gingerly where puns are afoot, for they cayanne ruin an otherwise good thyme.

edit: Hey, Gary, when you're at a con, how long does it take to get seriously sick of the fanboys?

Ciao!

Actually, recalling my days as a fanboy hanging around The Avalon Hill Company exhibit at the Hobby Industry of America Trade Show, my other like enthusiastic interests, I can not find dislike with for fanboy, the obnoxious ones excepted, of course. However, at the end of a long day it is most refreshing to kick back with a group who thinks I am nothing more than one of them, so I can belch and fart, tell off-color stories and say stupid things without raising an eyebrow or lowering an opinion

Heh,
Gary