How Do You Explain D&D To Non-Gamers?

[VoidDragon]

I just graduated from High School this June, and I have never had a problem with telling anyone I play RPGs. Mind you, everyone already knows I'm a huge nerd. I've never really had a negative reaction to telling anyone I play D&D. I've never gotten the "Ohmigod Satanic!" response. I mean, sure, some people aren't interested in hearing about, some are.

"Hey <Void>, wanna come to my party on Saturday?"
"Sorry, I'm playing D&D"

And, the best part, a couple people want to know more.

"You'll have to bring me along one of these days"

 

[Fat Daddy]

I agree with Serenity.

The best (read simplest) way I've found is to describe it as a story where the players control the actions of the heroes in the story. You can use favorite books or movies as examples.

Originally posted by TalonComics [As for the "In the Closet" gamers... I use to care that people were ashamed of their hobby but then I realized it's not my problem. If that's how they feel then that's how they feel.]

I couldn't agree more. If you are ashamed of what you do, then maybe you shouldn't be doing it. But then again, I've never really cared about social trends or stigmas. Be yourself. If someone has a problem with that... well do you really want to be friends with someone who doesn't accept your for who you are? I know that I don't (wouldn't).

 

[Zander]

I rarely run into people who don't understand what RPGs are but when I do I explain it a couple of different ways depending on the person.

1. Video Game Player Or someone who understands what video games consist of are the easiest. "RPGs are essentially video games without the electricity. I provide the 'system/console' as the GM and the players respond to my dialog."

2. Theatre/Movies - Also an easy explanation. "It's like improvisational theatre. I'm the director/playwrite and the players are the actors."

I do it exactly the same for both groups. For group 2, I'll sometimes call it a cross between improv theatre and a boardgame just so they know it's not a play or LARP.

 

[Buttercup]

I always say that it's collaborative storytelling, usually set in a pseudo-medieval world, with some rules that help structure the story.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

I just tell them that it's just another excuse for guys to get together and BS, just like poker and watching football.

 

[Ghendar]

If they seem interested (or I'm interested in having them play in a game), then I pull out the big guns: "When you watch a movie you're passively entertained, right? You don't have to do much, don't even have to visualize the pictures like in a book. Well, a role-playing game is active entertainment - you make your fun as you make the story. There is no script. Imagine a good chess match, improv acting workshop, and karaoke contest rolled into one, except the only competition is who can be more entertaining."

Hmm, I really like that description. I think I'll use something similar the next time a non gamer looks at me like I have six heads. Or I'll just tell him I'm a Hydra.

 

[megamania]

Interactive story telling using dice to create or settle random chance and events.

 

[Pbartender]

I just tell them that it's just another excuse for guys to get together and BS, just like poker and watching football.

That's pretty much how I put it.

"It's a game we play with a bunch of friends, and a good excuse to get together with people and hang out on Sunday evenings... To us, it's just like the weekly poker night, or football party, or golf game, or bowling league."

 

[dougmander]

I just had this conversation with our upstairs neighbor this week. I described D&D as improv theater with rules that put limits on what your character can do, and a director (DM) who sets the scene and plays everybody from "central casting."

 

[el-remmen]

I find that emphasizing the playacting and co-operative storytelling aspect of it is what makes people think its loopier than it really is.

That is funny to me b/c usually if I am talking to someone I think might be interested in giving it a try that is exactly what I emphasize. I find people are much more put off by miniatures, grids, dice, math and hundreds of pages of rules.