Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dannyalcatraz" data-source="post: 3563428" data-attributes="member: 19675">That depends upon where you are and how you handle yourself, as well as the people you ask.  Remember, you are asking about a game whose players have been repeatedly mocked villified in the media- sometimes deservedly, but usually not.Personally, I don't think I'd have a problem with an observer.  In my mind, an observer is one step away from being, if not a player or ally, a potential non-enemy.I used to play a lot of computer games and video games, but I've sort of lost time for them.  I still buy them, but I have a stack of about 20 unopened computer games sitting next to my machine.  I haven't bought a console set since the Atari 2600.OTOH, when my buddies set up a LAN for some rootin' tootin' shootin', I'm there.On occasion, I play boardgames- both "gamer" games like Starship Troopers or Acquire, or family games like Monopoly, Checkers or Trivial Pursuit.While I'm no chess master, I've beaten most computer matches I've played, and the only human I've played and never beaten is my Dad (who taught me the game and reads ALL of the books).  In the interests of full disclosure, I used to be in my HS Chess club.  Once, because I was not paying attention to my opponent (whom I knew to be a poor player)- I was reading a sci-fi novel at the time- I did lose a game to Fool's Mate.  Most people in that club I got to tell them "Mate in 5 moves."I've also joined in the occasional game of Poker or Bridge.Online is a difficult way to pick this up.  Even a great MMORPG is but a pale imitation of the real thing.These games evolved from a bunch of guys sitting around a table with rulebooks, paper, dice, pencils & snacks.  You're better served by sitting around such a table for getting a real taste of the game.For one thing, you'll see things about the game that you simply won't see online.  "Table talk," for one thing, will include a bunch of references to that group's shared gaming or pop culture experiences- movies like MP's "Holy Grail," "Conan," or even "Clerks" may be extensively quoted.If you're lucky enough to sit at a good table, you'll be able to see people really get into character (like a good method actor), and/or how they distinguish between the actions of their characters and themselves.Look around- you should be able to find someone willing to open up their game or run an intro game in which people unfamiliar with the game are actually taught to play.I'll go with that 20% number as well...and that is mostly on the strength of recent growth in the hobby due to certain genres of RPGs.Its been my experience that you'll find more women playing RPGs that emphasize roleplay over action as a rules mechanic.  Games like Vampire: The Masquerade and the rest of the World of Darkness games brought a lot of women into the hobby all at once.  One reason for this is that those games were among the first to evolve into LARPS- Live Action Role Playing Games, in which people actually dress up as their characters and perform their actions (or actions that function as an analog to those actions- nobody actually swings a real sword at someone with intent to harm, for example).  Essentially amateur theater with a strong improvisational streak, LARPS also drew a lot of women into the hobby.  I wouldn't doubt that some started off by making costumes for their sewing-impaired sons, brothers or boyfriends.</blockquote>

Verification