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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="boxstop7" data-source="post: 1047228" data-attributes="member: 8804">Well, I don't really feel like getting all psychological right now, but...I'd say that your feelings could be the result of any one or a combination of things.  First, I'd say that it revolves around some insecurity.  I'd venture a guess (GUESS, mind you.  I'm NOT a professional here), that you've got issues with public embarrassment in general.  This could be a symptom of a larger issue for you; one called social anxiety disorder.  But as I said before, I am NOT a professional.I also take from your post that you've never acted, or really performed in front of others in any capacity.  To me (and to my group), getting together and playing a role-playing game is a social thing.  I know some groups and individuals really enjoy total immersion, but role-playing need not require a performance that would make Shakespeare himself weep.  My primary group is really low-key.  They have characters, I run the game, and there's a lot of social chatter in between combats.  Others make it a full performance.  This certainly isn't a requisite for enjoying the experience.I'd also venture a guess that you're "hiding a secret" by only running games online.  Let's face it: the world at large doesn't have the greatest opinion of RPGs.  If it did, we wouldn't see posts titled "here we go again" (or something of the like) every time D&D gets mentioned in the same sentence as a crime.  Perhaps you fear that by actually gaming in person, your "secret" could leak and others outside your group would be able to put a face to your name and reputation as a "gamer".  Gaming online provides you with the security of total anonymity in this respect.Again, I reiterate:  I am NOT a professional psychologist.  But it seems to me that you're a generally shy kind of person, and just aren't comfortable with stepping outside your own personality in front of others.  Remember that with RPGs, everyone else is pretending too.  You're not the only one in the room playing make-believe.  Is it silly?  Perhaps.  Is it fun?  Absolutely!  Why worry about what others think?  Your friends already game, and are interested in a tabletop game, so why worry about stigma?  What can friends do together, if not cut loose and have fun?  Some friends go drinking.  Some friends watch movies.  And some friends play role-playing games.  I don't really care what others think about me.  So for me, making an arse out of myself isn't that big of a deal.  Some people are very conscious of how others view them.  Perhaps this better describes you?  I can't answer that.  You asked "how can you possibly keep a straight face?"  You don't!  That's absolutely what makes it fun!!!  It's FANTASY, man.  Suspend your disbelief.  Can you cast spells that launch fireballs from your fingertips?  Do you see dragons, demons and trolls out and about every day?  Or armor-clad heroes dashing across the countryside saving the day?  Of course not.  Suspension of disbelief, man.  It's all make-believe.  It's not supposed to be real.  The fact that it's sometimes "far-fetched" is what makes it fantasy in the first place.  So you probably don't want to dive right in to a module or adventure that relies heavily on role-playing and verbal finesse.  Baraendur's suggestion of a hack-n-slash might be just what the doctor ordered.  Light on the real hardcore role-playing, heavy on the 'seek and destroy' mentality.  I hope this has helped in some capacity.  You seem almost uptight that you have difficulty just "letting go".  Relax.  It's certainly nothing to stress over.  If you find that you're simply not comfortable playing RPGs in the presence of others, follow the advice offered by hellbender and Emiricol: play in whatever capacity you're comfortable with, and don't stress over what you may or may not be "missing".  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> ~Box</blockquote>

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