What do your parents (currently) think of D&D?

[malkav666]

My mother bought me my first set of D&D and found me my first gaming group and even interviewed them with motherly scrutiny. She still to this day (and I am 30 with wife,kids and house as well) brings me any thing D&D related she may find in her thrift store outings. I got a pristine copy of the 2nd edition Players Handbook for the holidays this year from her. Even though we don't play 2nd edition very much at this point in time (but who knows my group is weird it may make a comeback sometime), its nice that after all these years she still looks out for things I may be into.

My mom is pretty friggen awesome.

love,

malkav

 

[Deepfire]

42, female living partner, no kids, gamer since 84
My parents liked the idea of me playing when I was young, wondered a bit when I never stopped, but - after I found "my way in life" - got used to the fact that I still play once a week. They like the fact that I get to know many nice friends with the hobby, they think it is great that the hobby finances itself (I layout cthulhu books) and they respect that gaming will always be a part of my life, no matter how adult I have become. They even changed their own attitude toward gaming in general from a "something for younger people and kids" to a "if our son does it it can't be this bad, so let's play something".
My girl/partner/wife joins and enjoys two of my gaming rounds - she accepted my devotion to gaming completely, she even respects the fact, that our house has it's own library for my gaming books.

The whole "D&D is evil" lunacy never came to germany, so I never had a problem with it - as an atheist it would rather make me lough (evilly ... well, maybe not) when I would be opposed (word?) to it in earnest.

 

[Nebulous]

yeah, i suffered through the "D&D is Satanic!" thing in my household. My Mom got hold of some of the 1e stuff and did not approve of the bare breast here and there. I think some family friends also put in a bad word, but i came rfom a very religious household. When i was in college a majority of my D&D stuff was thrown away, whether intentionally or maliciously i was never sure. I didn't play for a long time, but when i started up again i wasn't living at home so it didn't matter anyway. But they know i still play now and they don't care at all, they don't see at as the evil thing they did when we were all younger. And more paranoid. Now they know it's just a hobby i like to share with friends.

 

[Garthanos]

My folks always seem to respond similar to yours (original poster) and this was back when D&D started out.. nope they were never affected by fear mongering in the media of the classic days. My dad taught us to roleplay he told bed time stories (circa 65 - 72) with heros who he had named after us and had us make decisions for them no there wasnt any dice or rules... ethics tools... my dear ethics tools.

 

[Engilbrand]

I'm a 27 year old teacher. I started playing in college. I had been reading D&D books for years. They saw it as a good way for me to make friends, and they still do. They thinks it's silly, but they don't really care.
I've talked to about gaming with some of my students. Some kids have played, even with parents. There's another kid who wants to play, but his parents won't let him because his uncle plays it and has a lot of problems. I hope to eventually be able to get him the stuff to play so that he can really explore his own imagination.

 

[jcayer]

36 year old male, married, with 2 little kids(6 and 3).
I started playing, probably around age 7. My cousin and later my brother also played. My parents were relatively supportive of it, since they had to buy all the stuff for me.
Played a bit in high school, needed a driver, so once again, no objection from them. Although one of the kids moms wasn't comfortable with it.

Then 4E came out and I got a group together. The first people I called...my brother and cousin. Now every other week, they, along with some new friends spend hours at my house.
I think since my brother is involved, my parents just laugh and are happy we're having a good time.
My wife would LOVE the RPing aspect, but won't stay up late enough for the session to finish, so won't join us. But it's ok, I'm grooming the 6 year old who loves it.

 

[Kat_Dawg33]

I started playing when I was 12/13 with older teens and twenty somethings. My parents were good with it, besides it was my dad that got me interested in fantasy to begin with, by buying me comics and fantasy books. He had a little interest there, but mostly he saw my interest, through what I liked to watch on TV, and was just trying to inspire me to read (it worked). I eventually got some of my friends involved and they were fine with us playing at my house. I recently found out from my mother that she thought D&D was a savior for me, keeping me hanging with good kids and allowing my creativity out in non-distructive ways.

Now I'm 45, married, and have 4 children. Last winter my wife and our three oldest let me teach them how to play. Although my wife likes it, it is not her favorite. But she loves that the children are enjoying it and that we have good family time when we play. My youngest doesn't play yet, but he loves the minis!

 

[Herschel]

My Grandmother bought the red box for me as a kid for Christmas one year. I tried to make a game for mys sister, cousin and I, but they aren't as creative as I am and that lasted about a night. My dad never thought about it and my mom wished I had the chance to play as a kid as rural upbringing didn't give me any real options for regular gaming companions. Then came college in the later 80's and my sophmore year my RA invited me to join his group and I've played fairly regularly since.

My parents are happy with it these days from the standpoint it's something I do in one group with my soon-to-be 21-year-old son, but that's as far as they think of it I'm sure.

I will run a game for grandchildren at some point even. "Mom, grandpa killed my Warlock!" "That's okay honey, you wanted to switch to a Swordmage anyway."

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

My parents were curious when I stsrted playing almost 30 years ago. They tried it out - mostly I'm sure to feel comfortable that I really didn't have to sacrifice animals or anything to play.

Currently, they have no problems with it, and enjoyed it when my wife and I were both playing D&D since we sometimes asked them to watch the kids for the afternoon. They enjoy getting to spoil their grandchildren.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Mum still asks about it from time to time. 'How's your roleplaying going?'. . . 'Great! Started this new campaign just recently (etc., blah, blah.)' That's fairly typical, anyway. Quite a while back, she asked what the hobby was all about. Since then, I'd say her perspective has been more positive than negative. Must be that 'salesman DM' mode kicking in. . .

Dad, well he doesn't care either way. I think that one time, he asked, 'Isn't that a bit nerdy?' (or words to that effect.) Sometimes, it seems to me he has absolutely no idea the depths of nerdiness I have reached. Oh well.