If someone at work sees your copy of [x-RPG product]...

[jaerdaph]

Since most non-RPGers have only heard of D&D, I usually say "it's for Dungeons & Dragons", even if it's for something else like GURPS.

 

[IndySteve]

I will usually look up at them, state "you shouldn't have come here!", roll my eyes back in my head, begin chanting in Latin and gesturing wildly................ then chuckle to myself as they run out of the office....

 

[dagger]

My wife is the same way......................

She would read the PHB on the bus and leave it on her desk at work without a second thought. She tells me I'm being foolish when I get self-conscious about gaming.

 

[Darth Shoju]

Since I work in a call centre taking inbound tech support calls, I don't usually have to do too much explaining about my PHB or whatever gaming material I have on my desk. Usually it's one of three scenarios:

1)
co-worker: Hey! Is that [insert RPG product]? Cool! Can I see it?

2)
co-worker: What's that?
me: a D&D book.
co-worker: Ah, ok. (wanders off)

3)
co-worker: What's that?
me: a Dungeons and Dragons book.
co-worker: (laughs out loud) Ha!. Nerd!

The third option is pretty rare around here, but still happens from time to time. Actually, a running joke between me and a buddy who also games is to refer to any gaming material as "nerd stuff" ("You reading your nerd book again, nerd?")

 

[just__al]

It wasn't long until I found the other gamer here at work. It came during a discussion about why we didn't want to reconfigure our cubes on a saturday. Seems he and I were both in saturday games. We often talk about gaming until somebody else shows up.

Of course his game folded right around the time we kicked the Rifts GM out of the big chair and I finally got to DM. He and his wife joined my game.

But generally, I don't bring gaming materials to work. Most of the places I've worked they would probably get borrowed and not returned by another geek.

 

[rowport]

I am a bit surprised at the several responses ranging from hiding books, acting embarrassed, or just not really answering the questions. I read game books and magazines frequently over lunch, and leave my game stuff sitting on my desk more often than not. Most people just do not comment, but those that ask I answer directly. The most explanation required (for the few that seem interested) is just the core of role-playing, generally related to D&D. A guy at work asked me about my PHB a few weeks ago, and we got into a nice conversation about his playing AD&D in the Army several years ago- he is now planning to join our 3E gaming group. So, speak up, folks! Look at your movie screens- it is hip to be geek!

 

[ejja_1]

Books at work

95% of my coworkers are gamers of some sort, whether they are into everquest or D&D. I had a harder time explaining to my boss about my fencing group, and why theres a picture of me on my desk top smashing a padded Shinai across a friends back.

 

[LGodamus]

Oddly enough the only 2 times this has ever happened to me I was reading Relics and rituals the first time...with the huge pentagram on the cover

and Book of vile darness the other time.....

Oddly enough I just got strange looks,..no one actually said anything to me.

 

[Trainz@work]

I say:"It's a role playing game"

To which they say:"Wazzat ?"

To which I reply:"It's a social table game. It's like reading a novel, but you get to decide how the story develops."

This usually intrigues/hook the listener.

 

[Saber]

To which I reply:"It's a social table game. It's like reading a novel, but you get to decide how the story develops."

WOW. That is a damn good one liner. It pretty much covers the basis of gaming while not getting too long winded or technical.

I'm stealing that one...