What has gaming done for you?

[adwyn]

Sure gaming is where I met my wife and many of my friends, and helped me develop social skills I probably wouldn't have otherwise, but I have found gaming was also a better prep for me professionaly than any college course I took.

DM'ing taught me how to handle people in a way that allowed everyone to have input and yet still achieve a goal. This has been invaluable in running professional meetings where most people have no idea how or what to do.

Mastering rules systems taught me exactly that, and what are govt.codes, tax codes, zoning laws, and the like but rules sytems? I charge large amounts of money for being able to find rules loop holes, and the same logic that finds my half orc a +2 can get a building built when everyone thought it was impossible.

 

[The_Universe]

Indirectly, gaming got me married - and it is for that that I am most thankful. Gaming caused the end of a bad relationship, and the start of a nearly-perfect one. You can all thank my wife for sharing this wonderful hobby with me - she started this thread.

Directly....it inspires me to pursue some of my more esoteric interests (like writing), that would otherwise be obliterated by a generally practical mindset. It also helped cultivate an interest in History, which turned out to be reasonably more practical, since that is, in fact, what I recieved one of my college degrees in.

Gaming has honed my analytical mind, and emphasized a pre-disposition toward fairness. Being able to look at a situation dispassionately to find the true "best course" is an invaluable tool. Just ask anyone who works in the field of Arbitration.

I don't think I can attribute vocabulary to games, directly - I think that's just a side effect of doing a lot of reading. No matter what you're reading, your vocabulary will grow. Its really just the simple act of being exposed to more words. But, since I do read game books, I guess I can't totally discount them.

Then, of course, there are the friendships - invaluable, each and every one. I moved to where I currently lived knowing only my wife. Gaming has helped us find friendships that could and should last a lifetime: the kind of people that you're always glad to be around. All of my favorite people are gamers - and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Oh yeah - it's also really fun.

 

[Psion]

It taught me courage and allowed me to help a rogue FBI agent defeat evil.

No, wait, that was something I saw on TV.

Um, I learned how to write (both in college and workaday, I am seen as a good writer), and I learned how to use spreadsheets.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

- Helped me out in the "learn useless stuff" department - meant in the best possible way, I just feel I have a more in-depth knowledge of certain topics then I did pre-gaming. Particularly where history and mythology is concerned.

- Strengthened friendships, as there were acquaintances I had I discovered played DnD and as a result we started hanging out more and such.

- Made me realize just how many other people share the same hobby as me. This place makes me cry, man! I love you guys!

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I have made many friends, some long lasting, some fleeting. Has opened my heart to be more tolerant of other peoples culture and their customs. It has given me an outlet for my creativity. I have written more since I was introduced to it than before. I don't ever see myself ever getting out of gaming.

 

[Brandigan]

D&D has made me a better devil worshipper.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

It vastly improved my English - to the point that I'm now writing an English-language book despite the fact that English isn't my native language.

It also made me vastly more curious about other countries, cultures, history, politics, and the world in general.

 

[MonsterMash]

Its given me a chance to think about things that I'd normally never have considered. Given me another outlet for creativity and a chance to mix with more people including these online communities and most importantly a chance to have fun.

 

[Southern Oracle]

It strengthened all my academics, helped me forge a lot of friendships over the years, provided a springboard for high school and college drama productions, introduced me to my brother-in-law, my wife, and the godfathers of our four kids, got me a job, and launched my RPG freelance writing career.

Oh, and it's given me a wonderful medium through which my kids and I can connect, and a pasttime our entire family can enjoy every week.

 

[Henry]

Now she doesn't like to sit through all the drybrushing and ink-wash. Plus there's the flocking.

Plus, I can imagine her reaction when you are epoxying on the little lead swords and spears and shields.


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For me, RPG's did the ubiqitous "improving my vocabulary" ("milieu" was actually on an SAT / PSAT test I once took!) as well as helping me get to know the body of friends I have now. Prior to connecting with various RPG players, I had approximately two friends in my childhood. I have a body of some 15 old and pretty close friends that I gamed with "in the old days," as well as about 6 to 8 friends and acquaintences that I game with now. Counting the acquaintences I've struck up with people I know online, I've gotten to know some very good people over the years.