[semi-ot] The end of innocence...and the beginning of the real world

[Jackcarter]

It's May and while it may not have much significance for many, it's the definining moment for others. I'm in unenviable position of stop playing rpgs, sad to say. Next Monday will be the final rpg session for me and my group, at least for a foreseeable future. Of course, this makes me sad for the most part, but angry as well. About what I should do with my now-precious, soon-to-be-junk rpg books.

Truly sad thing is, I bought Spycraft only a month ago, even though I knew I wasn't going to put it to much use. On top of that I have about thirty different rpg books, many of them barely used. Looking at them, I feel nostalgic, for the fun I've had playing, as well as for the last carefree period in my life.

Henceforth, I must contend with debt, debt, and debt, and also other such mundane things as mortage, financial security, long work hours, exploitation, ad nauseum. While it's true that I can continue rpging on if I want to, it would make me a pariah if my co-workers found out, and definitely not the best way to spend my free time, when time will be in short supply from here on.

I wonder how many of you are in same predicament. What will you be doing now? How about this summer, because if you're like me, this will be the last summer of free time we'll have in a while. For many, many years, no less.

Some of my friends want to go on asian tour, but I think I'll pass. I've been to Korea and Japan already, and Japan especially, wasn't really worth going. Besides, I have a sneaking suspicion that one of them wants to go to Asia, so that he can visit Bangkok. I think Bangkok has had enough of us dumb Americans, and I don't think it'll be pretty when his thingie falls off.

Others want to go to Europe and I'm down with that. The only problem is, I think it'll be fairly expensive for an European tour. Not the air fare, which we can get cheap cuz one of my friend's dad works for the British Airways as a senior counsel. No matter how I look at it, clubbing in Paris or Rome will be expensive. Not to mention getting good booze and food.

Of course, this doesn't mean I'll stop visiting here. It'll just mean that I'll be all theoretical when it comes to things pertaining to playing. Oh well.

What will all of you be doing this summer? Hopefully something fun. For those already working, I betcha you miss school, eh?

p.s. Visit the house rules forum to check out my tentative rules revisions for d20 modern, using spycraft. I haven't finished reading the book so I need some suggestions.

 

[byxbee]

DON'T STOP GAMING

It may be counter-intuitive, but when you have lots of stresses in your life, and things seem to be piling up and you don't think you have time to roll the dice, RPGs are exactly what you need.

I am in a similar situation. Debt. Job Stress. Responsibility. and most of all No Time. Girlfriend. Dog. Novel Writing,etc. and No Time for any of it.

But I find time to play DnD on friday nights. Every Friday Night.

It gives me a chance to socialize (i'm very social when i have time/energy) and most importantly to forget all the crap that is piling up around me.

If i didn't game, i'd probably go out to bars and drink too much. I find gaming more constructive and positive and relaxing.

If you give up on gaming and concentrate on bills, money, work, etc, then you are missing the point of life: having fun while you can.

And RPGs are really really fun. Do it now before you pop out a half dozen kids and have 3 cars and a second mortgage!!!

 

[Droogie]

Don't be so down.

Life after graduation is not all toil toil toil, you know. It's good to stop gaming for a bit while you get the important things in life in gear. Exactly what kind of career are you headed into? If you get the kind of job where you don't bring your work home with you, a job that when you leave work, you LEAVE WORK, you are going to find you will have plenty of free time once things get settled. If you are going to be a 9-5 mon -fri type of guy, you are going to be twiddling your thumbs on weekends. Every weekend is like a mini-vacation, and I love it. No more late sunday nite struggles, killing yourself to get that paper done. If anything, I felt my busiest time in my life were those college years: looking back, I can't see how in the HELL i could have found time to game.

Once you find work and you settle into your job, you will find that things will start to jive. If you wanna go clubbing in Paris, You might wanna wait a year or two and save up some money- that way your money woes won't be hanging over your head every second of the trip. If you feel you MUST travel right away, maybe you could get away with a shorter, cheaper trip? Just a suggestion. Anyway, a European tour is not impossible. You might find a good package tour for a good price if you look around. And remember, you will get vacation time from work.

If you feel you really won't be using most of your RPG stuff, theres always Ebay. Get rid of it and be done with it. Or if you're the pack-rat type who likes to hold onto stuff "just in case", then hang onto it.

And don't worry about the co-workers; if you really wanna stay in the closet about your gaming, it can be done. I started gaming again last August, and nobody at work knows a damn thing. May not always stay that way, but so far, so good.

And if you really are going to miss free summers...then become a teacher.





edit: one more thing. I never bought into the whole "care-free time of my life" thing. IMO, there is stress and crap and worries to deal with our ENTIRE lives. But at any age, there's always fun to be had, too.

 

[Nightfall]

Do what most everyone else do, get some girl pregnant, then live off her welfare checks! *is kidding and is also for welfare*

 

[Mark]

It's May and while it may not have much significance for many, it's the definining moment for others. I'm in unenviable position of stop playing rpgs, sad to say. Next Monday will be the final rpg session for me and my group, at least for a foreseeable future. Of course, this makes me sad for the most part, but angry as well. About what I should do with my now-precious, soon-to-be-junk rpg books.

I'll never understand the "all or nothing" approach that some folks take to life. The idea that when something needs to be done, all other things must be completely abandoned doesn't make sense to me. It seems reactionary and only leads you to hating the things you must do because you allow yourself to associate them with artificial sacrifices that need not necessarily have been made.

Surely there is some middle ground that can be found? In truth, you'd proably be happier giving up posting to message boards and slotting a gaming session every two or three weeks. Get your priorities straight, Mister!

 

[Kichwas]

You can always find time to slot in a couple hours here and there for a game.

Like Mark says; life isn't binary. It isn't all or nothing.

Take a trip to Europe, come back; and join or form a new group of adults.

People who are working professionals (or were before the dot-bust) and thus know about budgeting their time.

It really isn't all that hard.

Between working, taking evening classes, doing art, reading, writing, being married, and hobby coding I still find plenty of time for gaming.

 

[Mark]

Take a trip to Europe...

Good idea! And before you go, get in contact with a couple of Euro-ENBers. I'm sure a few of them can find a seat at their table for you to sit in on a game.

 

[Ds Da Man]

Stop sniveling!!! My lord, life after college isn't that big of a deal. I have 2 children, a wife, and play D&D every other Saturday. I still work 50-70 hrs a week, and still make time to play. Just remember to make some time for things that are truly important, family, friends, and D&D!

 

[Heretic Apostate]

I have a feeling I may have to give up collecting RPG material soon. After an 18-month absence, someone who is very important to me has decided her life is no longer so messed up that she can afford to deal with someone as messed up as myself.

Unfortunately, she is a major bible-thumper. For instance, I went through my entire collection of VHS tapes. Of them, I think she'd approve of one, "Rudy" (which, by the way, is a GREAT movie...). I shudder to think what would be her reaction if she were to find out that I have about 20 boxes of "evil" RPG material.

As it is, I have a feeling I'm going to have to make it clear that I haven't been a Christian in about 18 years. While I'm amenable to giving up my apostacy (hence my "handle"... I started out as a heretic, but progressed into apostacy), it'll take some time and effort. I made my first appearance in a church in about two years, simply because she asked me to come. (Last time I was in a church was at my best friend's daughter's confirmation, in a Catholic church. Before that, I visited a synagogue about four or five years ago. Before that, I guess it was a small church I visited while in college, 10 years ago.)

I know how much I'd miss buying RPG stuff, but it's not like I've played in the last 10 years, or even sat in on a game in about three or four years. I know how much I like being around her, and I know how much I'd miss her if she were to walk away again. I've lost her twice, and I'm not sure if I could handle losing her a third time. (It's not love. I'm not sure if I can love--like I said, I'm one messed-up person.... She's just the one person I've met who can get through every defense I've set up during a difficult life, without even trying. She's one special lady, even if she's almost as messed up as I am.)

On the plus side, if it comes down to her or RPGs, I'll be having a MASSIVE sale of pen-and-paper and computer role-playing games.

Argh, enough mushy stuff. If this seems to saccharine, I may come back and edit this whole post out.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

On the plus side, if it comes down to her or RPGs, I'll be having a MASSIVE sale of pen-and-paper and computer role-playing games.

Or, I might just give it all away, to whomever is close enough to come drag it off.

That would definitely save me the trouble of doing all the packing and shipping. And it would quickly free up space in my room, which is rather crowded.

Heck, I'd probably even break into my paperback novel collection. That takes up almost as much room as my RPG collection (my VHS collection is currently just under 4 boxes). There is stuff I haven't read in years, but I keep it just because I'm a complete-ist. If I start a series, I have to own all of it, even if I don't complete the series. (And, of course, since the stuff isn't all grouped together, I end up buying multiples...)