What about Parents?
- Thread starter Eeralai
- Start date
Allura
First Post
I didn't start playing until college, but my parents have always been fine with it. I'm the weirdo in the family, so I guess they're used to it. 
They did watch us play a bit of a Shadowrun game early on, and my mother was amazed that we were doing that with "just your imaginations". They're not going to go out & buy me anything any time soon, but that's simply because they don't know what to look for.
Although, my mother does wonder why I don't work for "normal" book publishers...<g>
They did watch us play a bit of a Shadowrun game early on, and my mother was amazed that we were doing that with "just your imaginations". They're not going to go out & buy me anything any time soon, but that's simply because they don't know what to look for. Although, my mother does wonder why I don't work for "normal" book publishers...<g>
arwink
Clockwork Golem
I was introduced to DnD by the children of my parent's friends when I was about six, so it's been a part of my life for the last twenty-odd years. While they've never really wanted to play and my dad still doesn't understand the concepts terribly well, my mother did a study of my gaming group as a research project for her Masters in Education when I was fourteen so she's got a fairly solid idea of what goes in a gaming session.
They've only occasionally shown dissapproval of my gaming, usually when it impacted on school work because I was spending to much time writing dungeons and not enough time doing homework. Most of the time they were supportive, happy to host a gaggle of teenage boys every afternoon after school and at least half the weekend, and defended gaming when the parents of some of my friends expressed concern about what we were doing. With all but two exceptions, the parents of my school friends eventually had a fairly positive view of gaming as a result.
These days they still ask about how my games are going on occasion, express a stronger interest in what's going on with my game writing, and intentionally go out of their way to irritate me by asking whose winning if they ring in the middle of a session.
They've only occasionally shown dissapproval of my gaming, usually when it impacted on school work because I was spending to much time writing dungeons and not enough time doing homework. Most of the time they were supportive, happy to host a gaggle of teenage boys every afternoon after school and at least half the weekend, and defended gaming when the parents of some of my friends expressed concern about what we were doing. With all but two exceptions, the parents of my school friends eventually had a fairly positive view of gaming as a result.
These days they still ask about how my games are going on occasion, express a stronger interest in what's going on with my game writing, and intentionally go out of their way to irritate me by asking whose winning if they ring in the middle of a session.
Wombat
First Post
My dad never fully understood my love of rpgs, any more than I understood his fascination with steam locomotives. OTOH, each of us understood that the other have a hobby he loved. As such, each of us supported the other in their specific obsession.
My mom was fine on the topic. She felt it was a directe outgrowth of my love of mythology and history.
I had pretty darn great parents that way. I miss 'em.
My mom was fine on the topic. She felt it was a directe outgrowth of my love of mythology and history.
I had pretty darn great parents that way. I miss 'em.
Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
When I was a teenager I had plenty of problems. A friend of mine itroduced to ADnD 1st Edition at the time second edition was out. Well, I got into it big time. I used to live and breathe DnD. It actually interferd with my shool work. I'd forgo doing my homework and occasionally skip classes to work on my DnD world. Of course that was back in '91.
Now, I am an adult and my parents can't exactly stop me from doing much. I am incredibly smart when it comes to thinking around obstacles. I finally stopped living and breathing the game and even got my parents to understand it - in its simplest form. From there, they relaxed and actually decided that being a gamer was a good thing for me. For the first time since I've been a gamer they are actually taking a big leap - my dad is actually taking me to GenCon this year! That is their holiday gift to me for the previous and current year - an all expenses paid trip to GenCon. Ain't that the icing on the cake!
Now, I am an adult and my parents can't exactly stop me from doing much. I am incredibly smart when it comes to thinking around obstacles. I finally stopped living and breathing the game and even got my parents to understand it - in its simplest form. From there, they relaxed and actually decided that being a gamer was a good thing for me. For the first time since I've been a gamer they are actually taking a big leap - my dad is actually taking me to GenCon this year! That is their holiday gift to me for the previous and current year - an all expenses paid trip to GenCon. Ain't that the icing on the cake!
Wormwood
Adventurer
True story.
1984. I'm 14, and I LOOOVE D&D. So much so that I'm pathetic enough to occasionally run solo games for myself at night in my bedroom (thank you 1e Random Dungeon Tables)---instead of doing homework.
Anyway, because of a number of issues (mainly, I'm not doing my homework), I drop a full GPA point in one semester.
Needless to say, my dad freaks out and starts screaming at me, "What the **** do you do in your ****king room every night? Play with yourself?"
So, thinking he's talking about D&D, I answer, "Well...yeah."
I'll spare you the rest of the conversation, but suffice it to say that my grades improved (and it turns out that putting a steak on a black eye really does keep the swelling down).
/Wormwood's second favorite D&D story.
1984. I'm 14, and I LOOOVE D&D. So much so that I'm pathetic enough to occasionally run solo games for myself at night in my bedroom (thank you 1e Random Dungeon Tables)---instead of doing homework.
Anyway, because of a number of issues (mainly, I'm not doing my homework), I drop a full GPA point in one semester.
Needless to say, my dad freaks out and starts screaming at me, "What the **** do you do in your ****king room every night? Play with yourself?"
So, thinking he's talking about D&D, I answer, "Well...yeah."
I'll spare you the rest of the conversation, but suffice it to say that my grades improved (and it turns out that putting a steak on a black eye really does keep the swelling down).
/Wormwood's second favorite D&D story.
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Viktyr Gehrig
First Post
My mother's always been cool about it, though she wouldn't buy me a Dragonlance novel when I was a kid because I was "too young for that stuff". Her second husband's the one that got me into gaming, and she never had an ill word to say about it.
My father occasionally says that I should deal more with the real world, and that I'm wasting time and should be focusing on my career and "looking after number one"-- but he said the same thing when I got involved in politics.
My aunt and uncle never saw a problem with it, though my uncle would get irritated when I'd try to discuss it with him-- wasn't something he was interested in, and I do tend to ramble on and on about a topic...
Noone else in the family has said anything about it, but I haven't really discussed it with them, either.
My father occasionally says that I should deal more with the real world, and that I'm wasting time and should be focusing on my career and "looking after number one"-- but he said the same thing when I got involved in politics.
My aunt and uncle never saw a problem with it, though my uncle would get irritated when I'd try to discuss it with him-- wasn't something he was interested in, and I do tend to ramble on and on about a topic...
Noone else in the family has said anything about it, but I haven't really discussed it with them, either.
Look_a_Unicorn
First Post
My parents are happy that some of we siblings get together semi-regularly and sit around together *shrug*
They don't want to play themselves, but have said they wouldn't mind watching us play at some point that's convenient.
Of course we are all over 20
They don't want to play themselves, but have said they wouldn't mind watching us play at some point that's convenient.
Of course we are all over 20
Arrgh! Mark!
First Post
Never had trouble.
My mum understands basically what the game is about, having heard us yahoo and carry on. Never had an issue in the world apart from when we bothered the neighbours
.
My dad on the other hand hasn't a clue. He always calls it "Dragons and Drakes", vaguely understands it's about dice and thinks it's a form of gambling. Both parents ask "Who won?" but neither tried to interfere.
As such though, they did have a conversation about it when I first started playing. Mainly to attempt to explain what it was to my dad.
Funnily enough, back in the day we played at a friends house. His mother was actually glad we played D+D as opposed to going out and smoking pot or smashing things!
It was a bit strange.
My mum understands basically what the game is about, having heard us yahoo and carry on. Never had an issue in the world apart from when we bothered the neighbours
.My dad on the other hand hasn't a clue. He always calls it "Dragons and Drakes", vaguely understands it's about dice and thinks it's a form of gambling. Both parents ask "Who won?" but neither tried to interfere.
As such though, they did have a conversation about it when I first started playing. Mainly to attempt to explain what it was to my dad.
Funnily enough, back in the day we played at a friends house. His mother was actually glad we played D+D as opposed to going out and smoking pot or smashing things!
It was a bit strange.
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