"It's just a game."

[The_Magician]

It's a... TRAP! Run! Run! Run like the wind!!!

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

It seems that I know way too many people that treat the game - nay, their characters - as huge parts of their life. As such, they've refused to accept death as a viable option or become so enraged because of in character actions that they become upset with the other players out of character.

I voted 3, but really I probably fall at like 3.5. Though there was a time when I definately fell into the category of a "5", I've matured quite a bit since then, but it did take me quite a while to get to that point... think it had a lot to do with the people I was playing with at the time, but *thats* a topic for a whole 'nother thread and I don't want to go there right now.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

As much money and time as I I've dumped into RPG's over the years it better be more than a casual hobby!

Seriously though in theend it's really just a game. Most of the fun I've had wasnt because the system was perfectly balanced or becasue a suppliment was written by a certain author it was becasue of the people I played with and the DM's that I 've had.

Take those away and yeah, as I'm starrting to find out, it's just a game. DO I like reading the books, yeah, but I'd much rather be playing the game with cool people. I come here to ENworld to get ideas and to find out about new product and occasionally get amused by fanboy whining . But if ENWorld disappeared and every LGS went belly up, I'd still have my games and my freinds and that's a point where I'd say alot of "gamers" overlook. A solid ruleset is great, and I'm not saying it's not important but the ruleset dont count anywhere as much as the people.

 

[National Acrobat]

Social Hour

It's more than a game, but for me and my friends, it's mainly a chance for us to get together once a week, and discuss life, politics, etc. We all met in college, and have played (the core of the group) together for almost 17 years now. Now that we're all married, and most of us have families, it's more of a way to ensure that we can all hang out once a week.

We play about 4 hours once a week, but probably 2 hours is just hanging out and talking.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

I'm a 4, slipping toward 3 but trying to pull up...

I've matured quite a bit since then

Matured? Or found that real life is supressing what you would rather be doing? I know that for me it is the latter - I don't think that I have matured as much as I have more on my plate than I did before...

 

[Quickbeam]

Dedicated hobby and regular social event. Along with coaching little league for my kids and playing football in the autumn, D&D is one of the few constant activities to which I devote free time.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Matured? Or found that real life is supressing what you would rather be doing? I know that for me it is the latter - I don't think that I have matured as much as I have more on my plate than I did before...

No. I was taking the game *way too seriously* and allowing it to have a real impact on what was happening in real life. I was being irrationally immature. So - I have matured and learned to understand that it *is* only a game and that I cannot allow what is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby to create in me anything other than content and happiness. I was becoming physically enraged over what was happening in the game/what the players were doing and saying in character.

That's not healthy... the game became more than a game... something that no longer caused happiness, but anger and rage. However - like I said in my initial post - the people that enraged me have left the game about 3 months after I had my revelation. Our group now is a lot more laid-back and low-stress when it comes to gaming which makes it something much more enjoyable.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

No. I was taking the game *way too seriously* and allowing it to have a real impact on what was happening in real life. I was being irrationally immature. So - I have matured and learned to understand that it *is* only a game and that I cannot allow what is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby to create in me anything other than content and happiness. I was becoming physically enraged over what was happening in the game/what the players were doing and saying in character.

That's not healthy... the game became more than a game... something that no longer caused happiness, but anger and rage. However - like I said in my initial post - the people that enraged me have left the game about 3 months after I had my revelation. Our group now is a lot more laid-back and low-stress when it comes to gaming which makes it something much more enjoyable.

I have known people who have also had those issues to deal with (even some people who would only rate a 2 on here). So, I do see your point about the unhealthy attachment to the game (regardless of how much a part of your life the game is). I am glad to hear that you have a better group now and that you do not allow the game to have such an emotional effect on you.

With me, it has never been an unhealthy attachment, but has always consumed a good portion of my free time. Now, with work and going back to school, my free time is shrinking. So, I actually miss the amount of time that I had to spend on the hobby and am trying to find ways to get it back.

 

[UniversalMonster]

It seems that I know way too many people that treat the game - nay, their characters - as huge parts of their life. As such, they've refused to accept death as a viable option or become so enraged because of in character actions that they become upset with the other players out of character.

I voted 3, but really I probably fall at like 3.5. Though there was a time when I definately fell into the category of a "5", I've matured quite a bit since then, but it did take me quite a while to get to that point... think it had a lot to do with the people I was playing with at the time, but *thats* a topic for a whole 'nother thread and I don't want to go there right now.

Yikes, your Majesty!

You ought to hear this:
http://wowseriousbusiness.ytmnd.com/ "you stole my Cloudsong" - not exactly a roleplaying game thing but very close. (I guess I should warn that this is a very harsh soundclip of a DAOC player going psycho over something that happened in-game).

Actually I never quite reached this point (I'm a 3, always have been), but I had a girlfriend who did, and it was quite awful. Right when Amber came out I had gotten us invited to an Amber Diceless game that was going on with some people I only knew slightly. So we showed up, and the game commenced. But at one point there was some kind of in-character confrontation, and apparently girlfriend (who had kind of a borderline personality to begin with) started getting really angry and nasty.. and it ended with her yelling and screaming at the hosts, and me trying to apologize my way out of the situaion. And us leaving.

That was the absolute worst situaion I have ever been in involving gaming. My reputation around the gaming store where I met these people was kinda ruined, and the story of the really out of control person who was a guest and acted like a total psycho became a kind of legend.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

With me, it has never been an unhealthy attachment, but has always consumed a good portion of my free time. Now, with work and going back to school, my free time is shrinking. So, I actually miss the amount of time that I had to spend on the hobby and am trying to find ways to get it back.

Tell me about it! I'd say that - if it weren't for my thesis - I'd definitely rank a 4... but, alas, it's not due until April and I feel like I'm drowning already! Preliminary bibliography due October 13th! (After that - I'm going to play a marathon session and not think about researching and writing for like 3 days!) "