How do you describe D&D/RPGs to the great unwashed?

[DungeonKeeperUK]

So how do you explain what you do whenever your Auntie/Next Door Neighbour/Vet/Friend/Mother asks you what you do and invariably say..

"So do you run around waving swords at each other in the woods"
or
"Ohhh isn't all that to do with devil worship?"
or
something else just as inane...

I've found the best way over the years is to explain it as if they were reading a book but had the power to decide what the character did within the book whilst I narrated what went on around them, I've found most people seem to understand this better than... Well we sit round a table and become the personea of an elf or a warrior and rescue maidens and stuff from dragons and cast spells and get magic rubbish.. blah ... blah .. blah.. by this point thier eyes have either glazed over and they start just to nod at anything or they show an interest, somthing that can also come from the Book description above..

So, what do you say?

Mr T

 

[Frosty]

Lately I just say "Hm. I can't explain..." and leave it at that. I used to explain the whole shebang everytime someone asked but I stopped as it bores the life out of me. The point is; you've got to try it to get it.

 

[Henrix]

A friend of mine once came up with "improvised radio theater", which I've found to be a rather good starting point.

 

[MEG Hal]

Now try giving your mother a book you did as a publisher and say "see mom, all that time I was pretending to do math in 8th grade...it paid off" They take one smile and walk away, just like when I wrote down a list of D&D books I wanted for my B-day all those years ago.

I usually describe it as a ever-changing play where you are the actors...what also helps is video games, now you can name a few...Baldurs Gate, Diablo II etc...and people understand that better. Just had to do that to a new friend the other day.

 

[DungeonKeeperUK]

Now try giving your mother a book you did as a publisher and say "see mom, all that time I was pretending to do math in 8th grade...it paid off" They take one smile and walk away, just like when I wrote down a list of D&D books I wanted for my B-day all those years ago.

I usually describe it as a ever-changing play where you are the actors...what also helps is video games, now you can name a few...Baldurs Gate, Diablo II etc...and people understand that better. Just had to do that to a new friend the other day.

hehehe yeah..
"Mother we're just going upstairs to do a bit of group revision....
"Ok, so the orc lord has brought down his wrath upon.....""

Yeah even though my mother was most impressed that had written something for "that thing I do" she tried to look interested as she flicked through Bluffside, but bless her, a salesman she'll never make..

But yeah computer game shelp and on a level the resurgance of Fantasy type films too is nice...

 

[Bragg Battleaxe]

I usually don't even bother with the roleplaying aspect as it tends to creep people out. I essentially tell them that the game is complicated version of chess or stratego. Of course, this only scrapes the iceberg, but what can you do?

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Salutations,

I explain it as group storytelling- with one person narrating the story and the action, while the others control the protagonists. To avoid confusion, there are rules like in any other game, but there is no winning or losing like in most games.

If interested, then they tend to ask more questions. If not, then they just nod and smile.

FD

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

A great online DM once explained it to his wife this way: Interactive fairy tales for adults.

 

[ladyofdragons]

I equate it with the TV show "Who's Line is it Anyway". You're given a situation, and you have set parameters (character) to play, and you just go with it. except sitting down, with dice.

 

[Buttercup]

I call it guided, collaborative storytelling.