h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

<<One of the things that the whole 'D&D is evil' thing has spawned is that most RPGs now have to have disclaimers somewhere in the credits or introduction which clearly state that the game is make believe.>>

Shakes head.

Unbelievable that the makers of the games are pandering to these idiots who think it is real...or possibly real...or users guide to devil worship, divination...maybe that hairy ugly guy I walked past last night on my way home from the pub WAS an Orc...my God it is all real. It would be interesting to know why the makers do this. Is it due to the litigious nature these days and someone could sue them if their little Billy suddenly turned into a Satanist after playing the games?

<<D&D is simply paganism and folklore repackaged >>

But surely, some kinds of folklore and paganism are just *other* kinds of folklore and paganism repackaged or reinvented.

<>

You mean like Christmas.


But how do you know that what we see was the original folklore isn't just a repackaged version of previous folklore?

But surely, some kinds of folklore and paganism are just *other* kinds of folklore and paganism repackaged or reinvented.

Where did I say they werent

...and dont call me Shirley.

"It seems there are many groups who are worried about paganism."
"Paganism? What is it?"
"It's a belief structure which revolves around the idea of a pantheon of several gods each with their own function and abilities, but that's not important right now."

(Sorry, I couldn't resist... don't really want this thread turning into a load of Airplane! quotes.)

>> Seriously, getting addicted to something like a game shows that there must be some deeper-rooted problem. <<

There is some truth in that, especially where I was concerned. Roll playing helped to identify the problem, a bit of cognitive therapy if you like. However, I can only speak for myself. I can't believe that all those people, and there were lots of them, that ended up with huge telephone bills all had some kind of problem. Two of my compatriots at the time are now running very successful businesses.

I have also been drinking alcohol, but never became addicted to that. Just because you do something on a regular basis doesn't mean you are addicted to it. Addiction is when it begins to have an adverse effect on normal living. Or when for some reason, you are deprived of what ever it is you do. Having BT cut your telephone line through non-payment brought on attacks of "cold turkey", but it cured the addiction.

Donald

PS Mine, along with many other telephone bills never did get paid.

Mr. Sutherland, am I to take it that you became involved with the tele-RPGs like Steve Jackson's F.I.S.T. I've heard that they were, if not addictive, then certainly very 'more-ish.'

My name is Kelli and I'm a hootooaholic.

Funny, that is the second time I've posted that today.

No Mr Dreadful. Never heard of F.I.S.T. There were three games I was invloved in at one time or another, Shades, which is still in existance, The Zone which is defunct, and The Void which is also still in existance.

http://games.world.co.uk/shades/

http://www.mudmagic.com/listings/game/524/

Donald

Ahhh... you meant MUDs.

MUD, MUG, Mush, Muck never could define the difference.

I thought you were talking about the RPGs that were done over the phone (very popular in the late-80s/early-90s). They ran un enormous phone bills... mosty due to the crappy voice recognition system which meant that after half an hour you'd just about manage to walk across the courtyard and say 'hello' to the guard.

I have never used the voice recognition MUDs. The ones I used connected via a basic text terminal through a modem. In fact Shades was originally hosted by BT on their PRESTEL network. Because of so many huge un-paid phone bills it is debatable as to whether they actually made any money out of it.

Donald

I thinks it's interesting that fancy graphics aren't essential to get comletely wrapped up in a game - like reading a book, you use your imagination to paint the pictures.

<<One of the things that the whole 'D&D is evil' thing has spawned is that most RPGs now have to have disclaimers somewhere in the credits or introduction which clearly state that the game is make believe.>>

As a game best described as "interactive story-telling," I find that anyone who actually needs to be told that RPGs are make believe needs to be locked away in a special school until they're ready to be a functioning human being, for their own safety as well as (and more importantly) everyone else's.

Exactly Teasswill. When you have another person stimulating your imagination in real time, and you are doing the same to them, it can paint more graphic pictures than any artist can hope to achieve.

Donald

>At least roleplaying is a pastime that keeps the mind working; makes you deal with new and strange situations and hence can help your ability to cope with RL situations; it allows yuou to play out different moral concepts depending on what characters you play;

I'm not sure I'd ascribe any positive benefits to D&D. The idea of using an adventuring party to experiment with morality is pretty frightening. In our last gaming session, we committed numerous felonies, including burglary, false imprisonment, thefts, etc. There was also a little bit of public indecency and obstruction of the town guard. And, we were the good guys.

Heck, rule one of RPGs is take everything that isn't nailed down until you can find a crowbar. If the DM bothers to mention it, you'll probably need it later.

I quite like a well thought out moral dilemna myself.

But, benefits to role-playing games? Depending on how you play could be maths/logic skills or could be acting. Seeing as its done in a group with lots of conversation it probably improves socializing skills slightly (controversial I know). How about teamwork?

I should so be writing for university prospectuses. You know, the bits that say "Why come to Slough?" or "Why read Thingite Studies?" etc.

So where is our instigator and have they gotten the info they wanted?
LOL to Orcs in real life passage.
People just seem to get too uptight about alot of things; and don't try hard enough to offer solutions either. I mean, if I don't want my kids playing D&D because my husband is totally addicted and I see what harm it can do I am not going to bash it(thereby making it MORE desireable) but offer other activities; go play basketball with them, take them swimming, get them interested in photography, whatever......
Worried about their soul, I'll take them to church or read an inspiring novel..........
What are CCG? is that the card playing games like Star Trek? Quest, and any number of others........Those are addictive too.........
anything can be addictive of course, but there is something about games in general; I can't quite put my finger on it; I really think it is the escapism factor though; the "retreat"; people do it to relax, but it's some weird brain-nerve hookup I bet that actually releases some chemical and these addictive type people are probably drugged........
Sure, athletes release chemicals(endorphins)when they run/whatever and have a natural high too; and for some reason, it is acceptable that an athlete looses a marriage because it is to win the mararthon and have a victory......
The whole game fantasy world is different; like I say, I can't quite put my finger on it.
The whole Christian thing varies with person to person; one church near me gives out treats on Halowe'en and the other one sermonizes to parents about the unholy roots of this holiday and how it should be boycotted.........so there you go. At one point I was having marital difficulties and I talked to two members of different parishes; the same thing said; I was very careful about that; and one told me I should get an annulment immediately and the other said I was over-reacting and should change my attitude. So even the same faith churches, in the same neighbourhood are like night and day(or perhaps good and evil is more apt; though which is which I could not say)
It was a big issue here in the 70's thanks to that Tom Hanks movie where a D&D player murdered someone; my mom said it was a true story but who knows?
Since then there has been little if any attention to it here......alot of the stores are having a hard time staying in business though so who knows what that says? The card games are alot more popular as they start them at an early age; 7; with Pokemon, then YugiOH then onwards; I honestly like the D&D better because atleast there is more creativity and interaction. These kids card games are awful too; they have demonic spells, summoning whoever/whatever and I confiscated those cards and tell my guys they can play, but they should be the "good" cards. I don't like disease giving cards either; I mean, it's not a nice way to think or play...why not play nice things? What is the obsession with desctruction? Conquering evil,like alot of D&D campaigns(at least ones I played in my teen years)is understandable; you are on a quest and save the princess or get the jewel and fight evil along the way. Fine. But being the evil; that is just not a good way to be thinking.........