Success of a Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress

[Shroomy]

Based on the author's Dragon columns, I picked this book up as a Christmas gift for my decidedly non-gamer girlfriend. She's never expressed more than a polite, cursory interest in my hobby, and I really didn't think she would really even read the book. Lo and behold, on her way back from her parents, she began reading the book.

She's a couple of chapters in, so I asked her if she would ever want to play D&D, thinking she would again give me her standard response, but this time she said that she was interested in seeing what it was like to create a character (which happens to be the chapter she's now reading). Now, I understand that nobody here knows my significant other, but this desire represents a huge change. Has this book had a similar effect on anyone you know?

 

[RodneyThompson]

When the book first came out, I gave a copy to my girlfriend. She read it, and when we'd be sitting on the couch together, each reading our own books, I caught her giggling from time to time. I didn't think much of it (she's not into my geeky hobbies by any stretch), but then one day I came home from work and caught her reading my PHB. She didn't hear me come in, and when I walked into the room she slammed the book closed with a guilty look on her face.

A few weeks later, we were going to play a board game and we were going to determine who went first with a die roll. She say, "OK, now we'll roll for intiiative" and I gave her this look that said "See, you are a D&D player, you just don't know it yet." She's fighting it, but I think Shelly's book went a long way to getting her interested.

 

[krissbeth]

I bought it when it first came out and... didn't like it much.

Found it condescending.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

How many people have read any of her columns?

 

[Crothian]

I gave it as a Christmas gift t o a few friends and they all love it. While none of them were non gamers exactly, it has caused them all to want to give D&D a try.

 

[Inferno!]

I bought it when it first came out and... didn't like it much.

Found it condescending.

I bought it when it first came out too, mostly for my wife. I tried to read it, but couldn't force myself to get very far. While I wouldn't describe it as condescending, I spent most of my time thinking, I already know that. Then again, I don't think it was targeted at people who already play. My wife on the other hand loved it.

 

[krissbeth]

I bought it when it first came out too, mostly for my wife. I tried to read it, but couldn't force myself to get very far. While I wouldn't describe it as condescending, I spent most of my time thinking, I already know that. Then again, I don't think it was targeted at people who already play. My wife on the other hand loved it.

That may be it.

I was kind of looking forward to funny insights into the game from the female point of view. Rather, I found it a Cosmo-Guide-to-the-PHB. :\

 

[Whimsical]

I bought it, read it, and enjoyed it.

I loaned it to a friend. He enjoyed it also.

 

[delericho]

She's a couple of chapters in, so I asked her if she would ever want to play D&D, thinking she would again give me her standard response, but this time she said that she was interested in seeing what it was like to create a character (which happens to be the chapter she's now reading). Now, I understand that nobody here knows my significant other, but this desire represents a huge change.

Good. This book isn't for me, but it is absolutely something that WotC should be doing - trying to reach out to a wider player base. I'm glad that it appears to be (at least somewhat) successful.

I wonder if they're going to do a revised version for 4e?

How many people have read any of her columns?

I've read all of them. I'm on the fence about them - the first was Meh, the second I hated, but the third I liked.

Like several of the items currently in e-Dragon, though, it absolutely should not be locked away in a login-only area. And, when the time comes, it almost certainly shouldn't be pay-for material. Those steps almost guarantee that it will only ever be seen by people at whom it is not aimed.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

How many people have read any of her columns?

Liked 'em all so far. Very refreshing change from yet another article on how to maxi-munchkinize your PC.

May recommend the book to a couple female friends who don't play D&D.