So, did you win?

[Felix]

I was out in Woodbridge, VA last night playing in one of my campaigns. Had a good time. Chewed the fat afterwards over a pint with my DM.

So far today, my father, my brother, and a bud I row crew with have asked: "So hey, did you win DnD last night?"



There is, of course, no way to answer this question. You can fumble through an explanation (for the n'th time) about how you don't really "win" in DnD... You might also tell them the nearest to the truth and say "no, we didn't"... Or you could tell them "Yes" and leave it at that because they arn't really interested, they're just being courteous (or worse: condescending!).

But perhaps that's just me. Has anyone found a good answer to this remarkably uninformed question past what I said?

Any other equally remarkably uninformed questions that you all have had to contend with?

 

[nute]

Hey! We happen to be moving up to Woodbridge in the next few weeks (from Triangle, no big trek).

The questions I hate tend to come in-game from folks who either are new to a system, or have had a very "numbers-based" gaming experience. Such as: "So, what level is everyone?" (said in-character during a session)

As for "winning" at D&D, I usually respond with "We came out ahead/behind when we broke off, but we're continuing where we left off next weekend."

~M.

 

[Pielorinho]

It's not whether you win or lose. It's how you play the game.
(said in the most patronizing voice possible)

Daniel

 

[nsruf]

If it concerns my own campaign, I can always answer "Of course I won, I was the GM!"

But if I played in somebody else's game, I am usually stumped for an answer

 

[nsruf]

It's not whether you win or lose. It's how you play the game.
(said in the most patronizing voice possible)

[even more patronizing voice]That's what the losers always say![/even more patronizing voice]

 

[Pielorinho]

(bursts into tears)
Daniel

 

[Bleys]

I've found that sports analogies work quite well as an answer

"It's kind of like football [or insert your favorite sport], you might win or lose from week to week, or even come out on top for the season... but there's always another season."

As for other strange questions I've been asked by people:

* "Do you guys play in the sewers like those other people did?"
* "Where do you find enough goats to burn each week?"

 

[haiiro]

I generally go with something along the lines of, "You can't really win or lose, it's more like an interactive story."

If they're just being polite, they usually nod and drop it. If that sparks some genuine interest, then I can fill them in a bit more.

 

[Rune]

I've found that sports analogies work quite well as an answer

"It's kind of like football [or insert your favorite sport], you might win or lose from week to week, or even come out on top for the season... but there's always another season."

As for other strange questions I've been asked by people:

* "Do you guys play in the sewers like those other people did?"
* "Where do you find enough goats to burn each week?"

I think hacky-sack works better as an analogy. You have a group of people, all (ideally) working together. You have a goal of getting a "hack" (that is, having everyone kick the thing before it gets dropped), but nobody loses if a hack doesn't happen. They just keep playing. Likewise, nobody wins if a hack does happen. They just keep playing.

Personally, I'd just say, "It's not a competitive game" and leave it at that.

 

[MarauderX]

My sig other has now learned to just ask whether I lived or not.

I tried to define it like reading a good book; the idea isn't to win, it's to enjoy the ride to the final conclusions - and hope you don't die in the process.