Who ruined D&D's Rep?

[jaerdaph]

It was all E.T.'s fault.

This. For years, I thought betting on D&D in smoke-filled rooms was actually part of the game.

 

[jaerdaph]

Pardon me, I can't really seem to get the feel of whether the OP was humorous, satirical, or straight up.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rangaguKQUo"]Paula Abdul will set you right[/ame].

 

[diaglo]

It was all E.T.'s fault.

This. For years, I thought betting on D&D in smoke-filled rooms was actually part of the game.

and i took a job at CDC thinking i would be hunting down aliens and quarantining them inside some kid's house.

 

[Atlatl Jones]

Dude, we sit on our arses for hours on end pretending to be elves, getting excited about imaginary magic swords, and fighting imaginary flying beachballs that shoot laserbeams from their eyestalks. We didn't need any outside help ruining our reputation.

 

[jaerdaph]

Dude, we sit on our arses for hours on end pretending to be elves, getting excited about imaginary magic swords, and fighting imaginary floating beachballs that shoot laserbeams from their eyestalks. We didn't need any outside help ruining our reputation.

Every first date should always start off by telling your date all about your character.

 

[Ambrus]

Every first date should always start off by telling your date all about your character.

But then you'll have to sit through her telling you all about her elven princess character and unicorn mount. Meh.

 

[Dragonbait]

Well, anything hat does not involve a ball is uncool. A d20 just does not cut it.

To add to that: it also lacks any form of official gambling. Give people a way to lose and make money on a regular basis and you have something popular there.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

The target demographic - myself included - couldn't be popular with a bag of +10 social conformity.

What made D&D look bad? The fact that people get the joke I just made

 

[Mark Chance]

This. For years, I thought betting on D&D in smoke-filled rooms was actually part of the game.

One game I regularly played in while stationed in NC did take place in a smoke-filled room. We had to limit the smokers to one ashtray a piece. When it was full, that was it.

 

[Mallus]

Dude, we sit on our arses for hours on end pretending to be elves, getting excited about imaginary magic swords, and fighting imaginary flying beachballs that shoot laserbeams from their eyestalks.

This is why I periodically spring for a good haircut and stylish eyewear and have cultivated a love of classic cocktails. It's all about salvaging appearances.

(ok, I may have cultivated a love for classic cocktails because I'm a sucker for the booze in them...).

We didn't need any outside help ruining our reputation.

Most people/groups don't.