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

[jmucchiello]

I usually dont give them an explaination. I look at them as if they are the ones out of the loop by not knowing what it is, not as if im participating in some Niche hobby for geeks and nerds.

That's an interesting attitude. As long as it doesn't devolve into "You don't know? Go google it!"

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Yeah, I've often gotten (lighthearted) ribbing from girlfriends in the past, to which my reply is: "who's worse, the nerd, or the girl who picks up nerds?"


Getting back to the topic, I've often found something like the following to be helpful:
You know in movies/tv, where the characters will often do something stupid and you find yourself thinking (or yelling): "don't go that way!" or "lookout, he's behind you!", but no matter what you think/say, the character will do it anyway because that's what the writer/director decided would happen. Well it's kind of like being one of those characters from the movie, except that *you* get to decide whether you go that way or try to look for the guy behind you, rather than the writer/director.

If they push more, I'd go on to describe how you "be a character", how you figure out whether or not you actually notice the guy behind you or not (i.e.: rolling dice). It also takes care of the "so who wins?" question, because this way people can appreciate that it's just like a TV series where the same characters do something different every week.

I dunno, I've found it a useful analogy, it might help you too.

I think that the TV series is a good analogy. That explains why there is no winner as such. Each adventure is just like a new episode that the characters in the series go on. I think that I might use that one next time.

I also think that the actor/main character(PC)and director/minor characters or adversaries(GM) analogy is a good one too.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Campbell]

I say "It's like WoW, only less socially retarded..." Then my co-worker punches me.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

Well, it is sort of like improv theatre. At least the way we play. I'd describe it as a cooperative storytelling game. With dice. And rules. But rules are a last resort thing.

That's pretty much my explanation, more or less.

As for being a "closet gamer," I'm very much not. While I don't go around screaming "I'm a gamer! I'm a gamer! WOOHOOO," I don't attempt to hide it. If people ask, I explain to them honestly and openly and am willing to answer any questions they might have. I find this does a lot to dispel all the myths and stereotypes.

If they still have a problem with it at that point, well, that's not my issue, it's theirs.

 

[Warbringer]

Wow ,without a computer

 

[Hellefire]

story idea

I do the story/book analogy, with everyone playing a character. Yeah, Lord of the Rings is usually my best example too, for many years but especially since Peter Jackson's trilogy, which almsot everyone can relate to.

Aaron