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

[weem]

I posed a question a while back asking "Were you predisposed to enjoy RPG's?", and was thinking of it yesterday.

A friend and I were talking about it, specifically what our parents thought of D&D, so I thought I would ask... what do your parents think of D&D (as best you know)?

My mother and I talk once every few months and she lives far away so as far as I know, she doesn't know I currently play. When I was a kid (12-13 or so) she asked me about it. I told her I was a rogue and I killed people and took their stuff. She basically said, "okay, that's nice, now run along back to your game then".

My father (as I mention in the linked thread) read Lord of the Rings to my brother and I as kids (before bed). He loves fantasy to this day, as does his wife, my step mother, who has written a (fantasy) book (and is looking for a publisher atm). They both know I play and my step mother in particular asks me about my current campaigns... the stories involved, characters, etc. Both of them are in their 60's now, but if I asked them if they wanted to try D&D again (they did way back when I was first playing) they would give it a whirl.

So yea, how about your parents?

 

[Moon_Goddess]

My mother now knows I play DND, and just quietly ignores that fact.

She's seen my books and doesn't mention them, when she calls me on a Sunday she'll hear everyone over and she'll be like "Oh you've got your thing, I'll let you go."

So honestly I don't know what she things at this point, don't even know if she knows what she thinks anymore.

When I was younger, I hide DND from my family becuase it was supposedly "Satanic" or whatever.

 

[Abciximab]

My parents were "politely interested" when I started gaming about 30 years ago. My dad actually tried the game when I first got it and I (as a novice who had only played at a friends once and never DMed before) ran him and my sister and her boyfriend through the first part of Isle of Dread (the expert set being my first D&D purchase). They all tolerated it well, but never played again.

After that, they listened to my stories and explanations about rules as I learned them and always supported me and my hobby (Emotionally and Financially).

 

[diaglo]

just saw my parents for the xmas/new year's week.

they asked me if i was still playing "that game" from my youth.

 

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[Fifth Element]

My parents are farily indifferent to it. When I was younger and just getting into it they did buy me BECMI boxed sets for Christmas or birthdays when I asked for them, so they certainly weren't disapproving.

 

[Mark Chance]

So yea, how about your parents?

I'm married, in my 40s, two children, mortgage, et cetera. What my parents think about D&D doesn't even register on my radar, and it hasn't for more than 20 years.

 

[Wombat]

My reply, for various reasons, is in the past tense.

Both of my parents, sadly, are dead, but when I started playing D&D back in 1975 they saw it as a natural outgrowth of my life of mythology & history coupled with my frustration with miniatures wargames. It was my mom who actively encouraged me to take out a subscription to The Dragon rather than simply picking up individual issues and my dad was ecstatic that I was hanging around with other intelligent kids (...and not trying to do impossible car repairs like my brother...).

Right to their final days, each of my parents were happy that I had a hobby that gave me that much pleasure and allowed me to make so many good friends.

Yeah, I had very cool parents

 

[Rykion]

My father reads as much fantasy as I do, at least 3 novels a month. He has never expressed an opinion one way or the other on RPGs/D&D. He certainly never discouraged me or my brothers from playing.

My mother isn't into fantasy, but she actually encouraged us to play. She knew there were far worse things for us to get into. I really don't talk about gaming with her, but she knows I still play.

Ironically, my oldest brother is the person in my family most likely to hassle me for being into nerdy things like gaming. Of course, he was my first DM and while he has since given up RPGs, he still reads comic books.

 

[diaglo]

I'm married, in my 40s, ...., mortgage, et cetera...

ditto.

but you know what. my parents used to host my group at their house all the time when we were young. they know all my old D&D group. and my group knows them.

mom would bake and bring in drinks.

dad would car pool us for trips to the hobby store for new supplies and such.

so what my parents think about D&D doesn't matter to me gaming. but it is still nice to know they are keeping in touch with my hobbies and friends.

edit: 30+ years of gaming doesn't change that your parents are still your parents.