Why do you play D&D?

[Shadowdancer]

I play because the game is fun -- I've been playing since 1980, and still have a lot of fun.

It provides me with an active creative outlet I don't get from my job, nor from other aspects of my life.

It stimulates my imagination in an active way. Watching movies and TV provides passive stimulation of the imagination. Playing D&D and reading novels provides active stimulation.

It also gives me a chance to catch up with my friends. Even if it's only been a week since I saw them and/or talked to them, it's still a good opportunity to find out what's going on in their lives, and let them know what's going on in mine.

 

[fba827]

a) it is my creative outlet.

b) it let's me focus my mind on something other than school, work, and responsibility

c) Lastly, but not to diminish its importance, I find the game fun!

 

[Maldur]

Just dnD or RPGs in general?

-Fun
-Control fetish (as a DM)
- As an excuse to drink ludricous amounts of coffee, and eat mountains of chips(crisps for you brits), cookies and sweets.
- Hanging out with friends.

Good luck with the paper.

 

[Imhotepthewise]

Because it's the only place we can legally crush enemies, see dem driven before you, and hear da lamentations of der vimmin!

Honestly, it's a whole lot of fun, and great cerebral exercise!

 

[The Kender]

To escape from the real world.

 

[Gospog]

Well, for the sake of your paper, you may find it interesting that my reasons for playing have changed.

When I started playing (20 years ago), it was pure escapism (I didn't care for my life much back then).

In the past ten years, my life has become great, and I find that my focus in playing has become telling my stories and conveying my ideas. (I'm almost always the GM)

Strangely enough, lately my focus has shifted again, from telling my stories, to telling group-created stories. The strange part is, that this has had a positive effect on my writing individually.

Also, it has been consistently fun, the whole time.

Good luck with your paper.

 

[Pigeon]

I considered doing a paper on this while i was at university, but decided there was too much of a risk of me going into some sort of geek rant which the lecturer would not comprehend. Be warned, I know people who did essays on stuff they were into as a hobby (i.e. punk) and they lost a lot of their objectivity.

However, good luck!

I game to socialise with my friends in a way that is both cheap and enjoyable. I also have a sneaky suspision that i game in order to have some content so I have an excuse for a website!

I don't know of any published serious academic work on gamers, but there was a lot of academic stuff done about X-philes about 6 or 7 years ago. Some of that may be of use if you can dig it out (Cultural studies journals would probably be your best bet)

 

[der_kluge]

I enjoy D&D because of the social interaction. I only get to see my friends once every two weeks, so we have to spend time just socializing, as well as gaming. So, for me at least, it's as much a social gathering as it is a game. Technically, I could have just as much fun playing something like Robo-Rally, BattleTech, or Chez Geek, but those don't have the longevity that D&D tends to have. Because unlike those others, D&D is far more versatile. With most games, it's the same basic premise every time. Every game of Chez Geek involves getting slack. Every game of Battletech involves fighting robots or tanks, and every game of Robo-Ralley involves not dying over and over again. D&D has more variety to it. I can play a man, or woman, I can be good or evil, I can solve puzzles or kill orcs. It's that endless variety of role-playing games that brings me back time and time again.

The other reason I enjoy playing D&D is I enjoy listening to the stories other people have to tell. It lets me be creative, and be a part of someone else's creativity. If I'm DMing, I get to tell a story. If I'm playing, I get to play a part in someone else's story.

 

[Torx]

Thank you all so much for your replies - I'll post my grade in a week =)

 

[tleilaxu]

I recommend changing your research topic to something that you are not involved in.

You run the risk of writing a paper about DnD that is tangently related to sociology. Your professor wants you to write a paper about Sociology.

Pick a topic that you find interesting, but one which you are an outsider to. By researching DnD you are giving up whatever objectivity you have. You are just going to write about your PERSONAL opinion about DnD. All our opinions will serve merely as reflections of your own position.

Trust me on this one