|
  |
|
|
Dungeons and Dragons - not what you might think
The world of fantasy gaming lost one of their founders yesterday. Gary Gygax passed away at the age of 69. He was one of the co-creators of the pen and paper role playing game Dungeons and Dragons. My first impressions of Dungeons and Dragons was not a good one. For years I was in the camp of thinking it was practically Satanic. However in the last two years my opinion has changed and in fact I have even developed ( or rolled) a character. Though I haven't had the time to play, she waits outside a little township across the way from a castle for my return. It all comes down to the players involved. They, the DM ( Dungeon Master) in particular, determine the way the game is played in respect to the good or evil nature of the campaign. Campaigns are the story lines the characters follow with rules and guidelines set down in myriads of books and resources for the players to reference. Thanks to two factors my thoughts on this game have changed tremendously. First of all, we came to know a very creative, imaginative family of long-time D&D aficionados. Books passed down from father to son, gaming initiated by the grandmother of the clan, there isn't much they don't know about the game. Secondly I read an article entitled "Confessions of a Dungeons and Dragons Addict", written by a fellow Christian and detailing the many avenues this game can take. You will find a link to the article below. I came to realize you could play this game to the hilt, enjoying the fantasy realm, developing your imaginative skills and open up a whole new world of creativity, teaching accountability and life lessons all the while. The choices you make in the campaigns affect you and your party. A bad choice, a greedy, impulsive decision can end your game play in a dice roll. You have to be on your toes constantly, keeping track of resources on paper, you are your character, you have to think,make choices, act and react in character. Most take on the dialect or mannerisms of said character as they play, thus the role playing nature of the game. No video controls, no television or computer screen to automatically follow through on a pre-programmed plan of action - you make the choices. I was amazed at how much mathematics have to do with playing, calculators come in quite handy! Perhaps at 52 I am just slow on the uptake, but I found it somewhat intimidating to keep up with all the details, the choices, the information I needed to have in my head to keep my character safe and on a good path. You can create back stories, a biography of sorts for your character and they react and respond according to the nature of that character. Sometimes this helps you predict the way a character would chose to go in a given situation, but don't count on that predictability of a player to make this a boring session. It isn't. Some games can go on for days, but the nice thing about it is when you begin a game you can stop at most any point and time. Your characters wait for your return where ever you leave them, no memory cards, no backing up files, no danger of losing information in a computer crash...its all there for you when you have time to launch out on an adventure again. It provides a rich fertile ground for active imagination, interaction; creativity and thinking on your toes is a must. I have seen first hand the storytelling skills it takes to be an effective DM, it isn't simply sit down with a book and direct the play. You have to have something inside that allows the story to be so real to you that you flesh it out, make it real to the other players. In the right hands this game is a safe, escape from the stresses and worries of the day. The fantasy elements can be as tame or evil as you wish to take it but knowing the players involved and how they think will set your mind at ease if you have any worries about your teen playing. Listen to the way they develop their character, the description of the campaign they plan to undertake, know the personal character of those involved and don't be afraid to join in, you might find your alter ego lurking in the shadows. |
Confessions of a Dungeons and Dragons Addict
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "Dungeons and Dragons - not what you might think" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
|
 |
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
