They actually think DND is dangerous?

[Gestahl]

Chick Tract time...

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0046/0046_01.asp?repeatfrom3yearsago

DND turns 30 this month, and as all good Christians know, DND is the way for Satan to enter into young minds... that's how *I* learned to cast magic missile and how to control my familiar...

//rolls D20
//roll was succesful against intelligence stat
//Dismisses Chick tract
//wonders how low someone's INT stat has to be to fail this throw... damn GM never tells me...

[The GM]

The only evil thing D&D might propogate is the tendency to overeat Funions and drink too much Mountain Dew.

"I magic missle the darkness!"

[Beleth]

Jack Chick's understanding of D&D is just as shallow and biased as his understanding of every other social phenomenon and issue.

[The GM]

OMG! I have read this tract before! It's the one staring Alex Trebeck! I love it!

[Hexxenhammer]

Chick is right. D&D turned me into a hardcore satanist. It even made me dedicate an entire thread to roleplaying here at the JREF (see my sig).

Hail satan.

[triadboy]

There's a tract on Chutes and Ladders too.

[Checkmite]

Candy Land is also nothing more than an allegorical trip to Hell, in which children are encouraged to indulge in earthly pleasures instead of the living Word of God.

[pgwenthold]

Originally posted by The GM
The only evil thing D&D might propogate is the tendency to overeat Funions and drink too much Mountain Dew.



AKA "the breakfast of champions"

[Upchurch]

I have a friend that is training to be a Lutheran minister, believes the bible is divinely inspired, and believes that homosexuality is a sin. He's also playing a rogue/ranger elf in our up coming game.

Not every fundy misses their Wisdom check.


edited to add:
I just think that the ones roll a critical miss tend to also be the loudest...

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Upchurch
I have a friend that is training to be a Lutheran minister, believes the bible is divinely inspired, and believes that homosexuality is a sin. He's also playing a rogue/ranger elf in our up coming game.

Not every fundy misses their Wisdom check.


edited to add:
I just think that the ones roll a critical miss tend to also be the loudest...

I'll one up you. One of my players is a very devout Jehovahs Witness (though admittedly, just about the least pushy one I have ever met). Her take on the issue of whether RPG's are evil is that it's just a game, not very different than if she were playing Scrabble, and as long as she never forgets that fact, playing D&D is perfectly fine.

[Scot C. Trypal]

Does a person like Chick really think witches can cast spells, spells that can actually alter reality?

I mean, a “bondage spell” that could result in fathers spending $200 on D&D “figures and manuals”; that’s some pretty powerful sorcery.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Scot C. Trypal
Does a person like Chick really think witches can cast spells, spells that can actually alter reality?

I mean, a “bondage spell” that could result in fathers spending $200 on D&D “figures and manuals”; that’s some pretty powerful sorcery.

You know, I have often though along similar lines. The world that Chick and his ilk inhabit is a scary one, where witches and demons lurk around every corner waiting to get you and some omnipotent being is watching your every move and will torture you for eternity of you don't do things just right.

This is a much more scary world thatn I hve ever been able to conjure up in any of my games.

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Scot C. Trypal
Does a person like Chick really think witches can cast spells, spells that can actually alter reality? Appears so. He also believes that angels and demons literally move around us unseen and whisper little things in our ears. He's the craziest of the crazies.

More Fundamentalist hilarity! (http://www.chick.com/catalog/tractlist.asp)

[Hexxenhammer]

As I've said before, the biggest problem with this tract is how many girls are playing D&D.

(Yes, I know Chani and a few others play, but they're still the exception to the rule.)

[uruk]

Oo! I especialy loved the last frame. That takes me back to the good ol' days of book burnings.

[Marc]

Originally posted by Scot C. Trypal
Does a person like Chick really think witches can cast spells, spells that can actually alter reality?


That is the reason he fears D&D, he thinks it is all real.

And people say fantasy game players have a hard time telling reality from fantasy. :rolleyes:

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by Upchurch
Appears so. He also believes that angels and demons literally move around us unseen and whisper little things in our ears. He's the craziest of the crazies.

More Fundamentalist hilarity! (http://www.chick.com/catalog/tractlist.asp) Don't have too much fun, we'll have to move this thread to humor.

And we always need more geeks in the gaming thread...

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
Don't have too much fun, we'll have to move this thread to humor.

And we always need more geeks in the gaming thread...

I know, it seems that you, Bluegill and I make 90% of the posts to that thread. I KNOW we have more gaming geeks that that.

[/derail]

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
Don't have too much fun, we'll have to move this thread to humor.No danger there. My sarcasm is rarely funny.

[Rosencrantz]

I'd seen this before, but I was utterly creeped out by the "D&D: It's More Than Just A Game. William Schnoebelen Explains Why. (http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp)" link at the bottom. This guy is insane! He maintains that he was a Satanist before he converted to Christianity, and claims he worked with TSR in that capacity to make the magic of D&D as "real" as possible. His arguments that D&D causes suicides and Satanism are unbelieveable. His article genuinely scared me to the center of my being, that someone could have this twisted a belief system. Even after having had thousands of people write to him to explain his misconceptions, he still believes D&D is evil and that these people are misguided or corrupt, as he writes in his followup article, Should Christians Play D&D? (http://www.chick.com/articles/frpg.asp). Gah! Save us!

[AtheistArchon]

- Yeahhhh, that's always been a strange thing to me, but if you think about it it tends to make sense.

- Fundies really, really, really do believe in white magic. God, angels, heaven, miracles, prayers answered, and so on. To some degree, every self-professed Christian must believe some of this, IMO. It only makes sense then that a fundy takes the heads with the tails... dark gods, evil magic, curses, demons, devils, imps, possession, and so on. After all, what use is good magic if there is no such thing as bad magic? They compliment each other.

- People who "use" prayer and miracles in everyday speaking have to have something to direct them at. After a while, god answering prayers by helping people find car keys or helping a sports team score gets kinda boring; the best stories are the spooky ones where someone spends the night at a strange house and is "spiritually threatened" by something (a wooden totem from Africa, a Chinese chess piece, a piece of modern art, you know, something like that), and they have to kneel down and pray for the evil spirits to leave. Put a copy of the bible on top of the offending item, and *whoosh* go the demons, and the relief they feel is very real. (That's actually a patchwork of a few different stories I've actually heard from fundies.)

- It makes sense that the more devout one is, the more hardcore your beliefs are, the easier it is to accept the kooky dark powers on the flipside of the coin.

- Aw dang, who is the wacko who preaches about Halloween being Satanic and all that? He's kinda bald... gah, I forget his name. Ken something?

[Chanileslie]

There are so many things wrong with that Chick Track, I don't even know where to begin!

Dagnabit!! My GM didn't initiate me or my Sorceress into the Coven when she reached 8th level. Is it higher for Sorceresses than for Clerics? I mean, my Sorceress is now 13th level, and still no invitation into the coven!! I feel so very cheated!! I think this is class discrimination!!

I just can't believe people fall for this crap! Even my sister, who is a pretty smart cookie thinks that D&D will lead us into evil. It just kills me.

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep


I'll one up you. One of my players is a very devout Jehovahs Witness (though admittedly, just about the least pushy one I have ever met). Her take on the issue of whether RPG's are evil is that it's just a game, not very different than if she were playing Scrabble, and as long as she never forgets that fact, playing D&D is perfectly fine.

And yet, a LARP *is* evil!! Imagine that. Of course, I think she just used that as an excuse because she had no desire to go LARPing.

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Scot C. Trypal
Does a person like Chick really think witches can cast spells, spells that can actually alter reality?

I mean, a “bondage spell” that could result in fathers spending $200 on D&D “figures and manuals”; that’s some pretty powerful sorcery.

Ah ha!! I have figured it out!! My children have cast an evil spell on me and that is why I play D&D!! I knew it was all my evil children's fault!!

:D

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Chanileslie


And yet, a LARP *is* evil!! Imagine that. Of course, I think she just used that as an excuse because she had no desire to go LARPing.

LARPs are evil;)

But I better cut out the humor now, I wouldn't want to get this thread moved.

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
As I've said before, the biggest problem with this tract is how many girls are playing D&D.

(Yes, I know Chani and a few others play, but they're still the exception to the rule.)

Oh, I definitely agree. Also, I got into D&D not because I sought it out for myself, but because my significant other played and I joined him. Of course, I did play a couple of time (2 times to be exact) when I was in High School with one of my sisters' boyfriends, and I would have continued playing (I loved it) had I known how to find a group or knew anyone else besides my sister's boyfriend (who couldn't stand me) who played.

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
As I've said before, the biggest problem with this tract is how many girls are playing D&D.

(Yes, I know Chani and a few others play, but they're still the exception to the rule.)

Of course now that you mention it, our gaming group has 4 guys and 4 girls. Of course at least two of the women there are there only because their significant other is there.

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Chanileslie


Of course now that you mention it, our gaming group has 4 guys and 4 girls. Of course at least two of the women there are there only because their significant other is there. Moreover, one of the women is the DM. I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't think of a single time I've played under a female DM. (Not that I'd mind, ya'understand, its just never happened in my experience.)

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Upchurch
Moreover, one of the women is the DM. I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't think of a single time I've played under a female DM. (Not that I'd mind, ya'understand, its just never happened in my experience.)

Nope, in our group I am the DM. She is married to the DM but, despite my urgings, has never tried her hand at DMing herself.

I have played under a female GM, but it was Vampire: The Marketing (yech) so I can't say anything positive about the expereince, though I don't balme it on the fact that it was a female GM

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep


Nope, in our group I am the DM. She is married to the DM but, despite my urgings, has never tried her hand at DMing herself.

I have played under a female GM, but it was Vampire: The Marketing (yech) so I can't say anything positive about the expereince, though I don't balme it on the fact that it was a female GM Vampire is the only game where I can even conceive of a female GM. Maybe Changleing.

[Fade]

Speaking of DND, and Pen and Paper games:

Anyone play Exalted? Little more complex than DND, but very very fun.

A friend of mine even drew a picture of the character I'm playing:

http://home.comcast.net/~eurikins/butterfly.jpg

[Hexxenhammer]

Fade, get over here (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36969&perpage=40&pagenumber=1) right now and tell us all about your character in Exalted. We're geeks and we love you.

[Quester_X]

Hah! This again. Gives me a chance to link to this:

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/90046

VERY funny, and so relevant.

[The GM]

>>Vampire is the only game where I can even conceive of a female GM. Maybe Changleing.<<

How about Hunter? Or Shadowrun? Or Earthdawn? Or Riddle of Steel? Or WW? All of which I have run long standing campaigns for, and the last one I've actually freelanced for. (Got paid money and everything for it!)
Tonight my pals and I will dance the forbidden Satanic rite and I will once again teach them how to cast real spells as we play a Hunter/Sorcerer hybrid. I'm also willowy and kewl looking like the GM in the Chick tracts. Got my witches habit and razor sharp black nails!

On a serious note, I have a relative who is a staunch Christian who was very concerned about my D&D ways. In order to quelch this fear, I invited her to watch a session or two. She proclaimed it boring, non satanic, and a tad geeky. Dispelling one misconception at a time, just another service I provide...

[Hexxenhammer]

The GM is a chick! We need more female input on the ultimate RPG thread!

|
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V

[RandFan]

For a short period of time when I was the most active in my church I saw evil every where. Movies, books, music, etc. I even went to a church meeting that was devoted to exposing the evil in rock music. Fortunately I got a grip on life. The more "spiritual" a person becomes the more evil that the individual will identify in others and other things.

I liked the scene in footloose where the towns people decide to burn books that they think are evil and the pastor tells them that any evil is in their hearts and not the books. I saw the movie when I was still a believer. It had an impact on me and I stoped trying to agresively find "evil" in the world. Yeah, there are some pretty bad people in this world but they are the exception and not the rule.

[The GM]

Rand Fan's story reminds me of a Muslim man I had the chance to sit down and talk to. He was a great host while I was in his home and offered me a bite to eat (pork sausage he'd made) and something to drink (whiskey, three fingers high.) I have another Muslim friend who would touch neither and so I asked him about it. His reply to me became something I found so much truth in that I've adopted it into my own code for living. He said, "Sin is not what goes into your mouth, but what comes out of it." He then talked about tolerance and a whole lot of other issues relating to respecting each other as people. I didn't expect something like that to come from a Muslim as we more often see the fanatical side of that faith. I learned something important from him that day, and I've always been grateful that we had a chance to talk.

[c4ts]

My guess is that the whole thing really started when a few people decided to play D&D instead of go to church, which turned into a rumor that it was devil worship and it spread like wildfire among paranoid fundies.

[HarryKeogh]

as an aside; worst class ever...Illusionist

no please, don't attack me with your color spray!!!!! argghhhh!

[Chanileslie]

I actually think that churches villify games such as D&D not because the leaders really think they are evil or the spawn of Satan, but rather because they realize that D&D can teach one critical thinking and to question their small, narrow world. I think it is also what leads to book burnings and such because if people started to actually think and critically assess the religion, they might just decide it is a bunch of hooey and leave.

It is also a control mechanism - control who one has sex with, control what one reads, control how one views the world, and these people are easy to manipulate. Sadly there are way to many people who get off on this type of control, and since so many people make it so easy, it happens a lot.

Unfortunately there exists in this world a lot of stupid people who are willing to go to the extremes in the name of ignorance and fanaticism.

Also, every day religious people confuse fantasy with reality in the belief in a god, and so it doesn't surprise me in the least that they can easily have that confusion cross over into other things, such as confusing a simple game of being an invention of demons. It is all rather sad, IMO.

[RandFan]

Hey,

I watched a movie once where Tom Hanks gets lost in the fantasy of D&D and almost dies. This proves that D&D is dangerous.

Mazes and Monsters (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084314/)

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by RandFan
Hey,

I watched a movie once where Tom Hanks gets lost in the fantasy of D&D and almost dies. This proves that D&D is dangerous.

Mazes and Monsters (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084314/)

The sad thing is, I have heard that statment at least twice in real life and the person wan't being sarcastic.

[c4ts]

Originally posted by HarryKeogh
as an aside; worst class ever...Illusionist

no please, don't attack me with your color spray!!!!! argghhhh!

If you dare attack me with your fearsome color spray I shall use my lute and sing in your general direction! Bwahahahah!

[Jabberwock]

From Schnoebelen, linked earlier and here http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp

" In the late 1970's, a couple of the game writers actually came to my wife and I as prominent "sorcerers" in the community.
These two guys sat in our living room and took copious notes from us on how to make sure the rituals were truly right 'from the book,' (this meaning that they actually came from magic grimoires or workbooks). "

"Back in 1986, a fellow appeared on The 700 Club who was a former employee and game writer for TSR. He testified right on the show that he got into a wrangle with the management there because he saw that the rituals were too authentic and could be dangerous"

Granted, I haven't DnD'd for quite a few years, but as I remember it, our "magikal rituals" consisted mostly of:
"I cast a +5 fireball at the kobolds and dimension walk back to the glade." <sigh> "ok, roll" <dice sound> "*#@%$ it!!! You ALWAYS roll the dice into the pizza and you almost knocked my pop (soda for non-midwestern types) over!" <Yawn> "So did he hit or what?" "I don't know I'm looking for the chart, just a sec" <rapid page turning> "uhhhh, ummmm, nope, you just missed the kobolds and that rattled you so much you concentrate enough to dimension walk." "OH BS!!!! NO WAY I MISSED IT'S A #$@*!@ FIREBALL! HOW DID I MISS?" "I'm the DM and I say you missed!! "YOU SUCK! I'm NEVER playing any other game with you as a DM." <repeat ad infinitum for hours, every week> :D

Edited to add:
In six years of DnD'ing NONE of my games ever included women. Female DnDers were like Bigfoot, everyone knew someone who had played DnD with a woman, but you personally had never done it ;)

[RandFan]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
The sad thing is, I have heard that statment at least twice in real life and the person wan't being sarcastic. Yeah, me to. And the story isn't even true.

Mazes and Monsters (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/click/movie-1017854/reviews.php?critic=all&sortby=default&page=1&rid=16446)

Mazes and Monsters is based on a book which is based on a true story [which the author later admitted was made up to sell copies]...

It is true that the dialog and acting are very weak in Mazes and Monsters, but we must remember that the emphasis of the movie is on the warning. We cannot dismiss the message just because all the students contain more distilled preppiness than an army of stockbrokers. We cannot ignore the dangers of role-playing just because their dark god is depicted as speaking through a sewer pipe with a strobe light behind him.

I for one am grateful to the film makers for warning us of the terrible dangers that are lurking within role-playing games. I hope that no one I know will ever become afflicted with their terrible curse.
[/b]

[c4ts]

Originally posted by Jabberwock
From Schnoebelen, linked earlier and here http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp

" In the late 1970's, a couple of the game writers actually came to my wife and I as prominent "sorcerers" in the community.
These two guys sat in our living room and took copious notes from us on how to make sure the rituals were truly right 'from the book,' (this meaning that they actually came from magic grimoires or workbooks). "

"Back in 1986, a fellow appeared on The 700 Club who was a former employee and game writer for TSR. He testified right on the show that he got into a wrangle with the management there because he saw that the rituals were too authentic and could be dangerous"

Granted, I haven't D -n- D'd for quite a few years, but as I remember it, our "magikal rituals' consisted mostly of:
"I cast a +5 fireball at the kobolds and dimension walk back to the glade." <sigh> "ok, roll" <dice sound> "*#@%$ it!!! You ALWAYS roll the dice into the pizza and you almost knocked my pop (soda for non-midwestern types) over!" <Yawn> "So did he hit or what?" "I don't know I'm looking for the chart, just a sec" <rapid page turning> "uhhhh, ummmm, nope, you just missed the kobolds and that rattled you so much you concentrate enough to dimension walk." "OH BS!!!! NO WAY I MISSED IT'S A #$@*!@ FIREBALL! HOW DID I MISS?" "I'm the DM and I say you missed!! "YOU SUCK! I'm NEVER playing any other game with you as a DM." <repeat ad infinitum for hours, every week> :D

I cast... magic missile. At the darkness!

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Jabberwock
From Schnoebelen, linked earlier and here http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp

" In the late 1970's, a couple of the game writers actually came to my wife and I as prominent "sorcerers" in the community.
These two guys sat in our living room and took copious notes from us on how to make sure the rituals were truly right 'from the book,' (this meaning that they actually came from magic grimoires or workbooks). "

"Back in 1986, a fellow appeared on The 700 Club who was a former employee and game writer for TSR. He testified right on the show that he got into a wrangle with the management there because he saw that the rituals were too authentic and could be dangerous"

Granted, I haven't D -n- D'd for quite a few years, but as I remember it, our "magikal rituals' consisted mostly of:
"I cast a +5 fireball at the kobolds and dimension walk back to the glade." <sigh> "ok, roll" <dice sound> "*#@%$ it!!! You ALWAYS roll the dice into the pizza and you almost knocked my pop (soda for non-midwestern types) over!" <Yawn> "So did he hit or what?" "I don't know I'm looking for the chart, just a sec" <rapid page turning> "uhhhh, ummmm, nope, you just missed the kobolds and that rattled you so much you concentrate enough to dimension walk." "OH BS!!!! NO WAY I MISSED IT'S A #$@*!@ FIREBALL! HOW DID I MISS?" "I'm the DM and I say you missed!! "YOU SUCK! I'm NEVER playing any other game with you as a DM." <repeat ad infinitum for hours, every week> :D

Your memory is pretty accurate. There has never been anything more to the spells in D&D beyond "Okay, I throw a fireball at the orcs". I suppose an individual player might decide to get fancy and descriptive and say "I pull out the ball of sulphur and chant the mystic syllables while gesturing with my hands, casting a my fireball spell at the onrushing horde of orcs", but that is an individula player thing, in the books, all it tells you is what the spell does and what special materials (if any) you need to cast it. It nowhere mentions rituals, from real life grimoires or otherwise. This is the best evidence of all that Mr. Schoenbelen is full of it.

Besides, do satanists even have fireballs, polymorphs, etc? If so remind me never to piss them off, since I don't want them polymorphing my cat into a hydra.

[c4ts]

I dunno... going through all the steps of some made up ritual in order to cast a spell would make for interesting D&D, although it might become tedious in a party full of casters.

But then again that would be lending credibility to these absurd clams, wouldn't it?

[Jabberwock]

I agree with Nyarlathotep. This alone pretty much disqualifies much of what Mr. Schoenbelen says and proves he's never really seen a game. Unfortunately, he seems to have some cachet as an authority (at least to Mr. Chick) and there are more than enough people to believe him. I wonder what Mr. Schoenbelen would make of Katherine Kurtz's Deryni novels. One of the things that I liked about it was the "realism" of the magic (rituals to unlock powers with a heavy medieval Christian/Talmudic flavor instead of merely waving a twig around and unleashing swarms of fireballs).

I also seem to remember a room sized gelatinous creature that seemed to be invented solely to clean dungeons. My DM used them mainly to block us off of areas he didn't want to go. :p

Oh, c4ts, magic missile causes 2D4 HP damage to the Darkness which limps back to its lair to heal. You gain 10 Exp Pts! :D

[c4ts]

Yay! 9990 more and I can level up.

[scribble]

D&D is dangerous. The more rules you have memorized, the less likely you are to ever get laid. I have a marveouls poof of this, but it's too lengthy to fit in this post.

[c4ts]

I AM LIVING PROOF OF THAT FACT! But then I've gotten used to sleeping with the dice.

[Riddick]

Christians play Counter-Strike.

<-- Tournament Counter-Strike player since 1.0. First played in Russia.

[Nyarlathotep]

Oh my goodness look at the strawman.....

In fact, the Dungeon Master's Guide gives the celebrated Adolph Hitler as an example of a real historical person that exhibited D&D charisma! The values contained in the game are, at the very best, "might makes right."

(from the Chick article linked to earlier)

As I recall, the 1st edition DMG did indeed mention that Hitler would have had a high charisma, as an example to show that Charisma in game terms meant the ability to sway people and had nothing to do with being nice. From that point of view, Hitler would indeed have a high charisma.

The more I read of this, the more convinced I am that Mr. Schoenbelen isn't misunderstanding the game, he is willfully lying.

[Z]

D&D IS EVIL! It causes gamers to hate Palladium Books.

RIFTS FOR LIFE! HEROES, UNLIMITED! PFRPG!!!!

yay

Actually, I could never get into D&D - no matter which 'edition' I try, my stupid wizard always gets killed in the first melee. And memorizing spells? Puh-leeze - us REAL wizards KNOW our spells, thank you very much.

Besides, there's no mention of sacrificing homeopaths to get the magic rolling...

[c4ts]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
Oh my goodness look at the strawman.....



(from the Chick article linked to earlier)

As I recall, the 1st edition DMG did indeed mention that Hitler would have had a high charisma, as an example to show that Charisma in game terms meant the ability to sway people and had nothing to do with being nice. From that point of view, Hitler would indeed have a high charisma.

The more I read of this, the more convinced I am that Mr. Schoenbelen isn't misunderstanding the game, he is willfully lying.

Or maybe he just glanced at the manual because he didn't want to be tricked by the Devil or something.

[Electron #1]

Oh but D& D IS evil ! .... Good normal people gather together in angry mobs to burn books.......




Dm : " Ok , everybody finish making characters? Go ahead and tell me your stats.."
Guy in every group: " strength 18 , intelligence 18 , wisdom 18..,,,,"




My 25th lvl Wizard marches down the beach with ligthing bolt spell at the ready looking for muscle bound jerks kicking sand...

[jaderook01]

I received this D&D tract once. It disturbed me at the time. I didn't want to go back to church for a time.

[jaderook01]

Having received the D&D Chick Tract when I was nine, I can say that it disturbed me. I certainly didn't want to go back to Sunday School for a time there.

Oops! I hate double posts. I thought I'd lost the first one. Sorry!

[Yahweh]

So witches are real, D&D = Satan worshipping, D&D causes suicide...

Who says 2 1/2 inches of paper cant seperate you from reality...

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by RandFan
Yeah, me to. And the story isn't even true.



Well not only that, but if you watch the movie, it actually shows that the game isn't what was hurting the guy, in fact it kept him saner longer. He was just severly schizophrenic.

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by zaayrdragon
D&D IS EVIL! It causes gamers to hate Palladium Books.

RIFTS FOR LIFE! HEROES, UNLIMITED! PFRPG!!!!

yay

Actually, I could never get into D&D - no matter which 'edition' I try, my stupid wizard always gets killed in the first melee. And memorizing spells? Puh-leeze - us REAL wizards KNOW our spells, thank you very much.

Besides, there's no mention of sacrificing homeopaths to get the magic rolling... Come on dude, RIFTS sucks. Every party is juicers and Glitter-boys, glitter-boys and juicers. No one has ever EVER played another character class.:p

[RandFan]

Originally posted by scribble
D&D is dangerous. The more rules you have memorized, the less likely you are to ever get laid. I have a marveouls poof of this, but it's too lengthy to fit in this post. :D My teenage son is a moderator for an RPG forum. This won't give him allot of hope.

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by RandFan
:D My teenage son is a moderator for an RPG forum. This won't give him allot of hope. Don't worry. Some of us managed to get married and actually reproduce.

[Z]

Actually, I can tell you with certainty, the last party I GM'd in Rifts consisted of an elven bowman, a Rahu-Man gunslinger, a dragon hatchling, a temporal wizard, and a mutant Human. BUT - I'll still agree Rifts sucks - the mega-damage system bites.

That's why I'm running After the Bomb right now for an Elephant technician, a Swan wizard, and a Mouse - well, she hasn't decided what she's playing, but it's a mouse.

[AtheistArchon]

Come on dude, RIFTS sucks. Every party is juicers and Glitter-boys, glitter-boys and juicers. No one has ever EVER played another character class.

- You have a good point... but I played a Crazy. I loved the fact that as you leveled, you slowly got more insane! There was a random table you had to roll on for psychoses!

- My favorite was the Popeye syndrome: you cannot use any of your powers unless you first eat (something like) celery dipped in yogurt.

- And phobias were always cool. You are now terrified of... grass.

- The problem with Rifts was they got way too far away from the sourcebook. The original sourcebook was awesome, but they just kept adding crap... juicers never die now, etc etc.

[Z]

Amen to that... I mean, Rifts Quebec? Rifts New Jersey? Rifts Bombay? Where does the madness end? And each book is all about 'bigger, better, faster, more' - to the point that the uber-weapon of Rifts - the Glitter-Boy - is now an obsolete piece of junk. Ridiculous.

I definitely prefer PFRPG - it still maintains the nice game mechanics without going over the top every supplement. Or Heroes, Unlimited, where you can be whatever you like, powerful or not, and where rules are made to be broken and tweaked.

I just can't deal with D&D.

[The GM]

I’ve been doing this GM thing wrong all along. Good thing the Schnoebelen article teaches me how to do it right.

1. Fear generation-via spells and mental imaging about fear-filled, emotional scenes,


Check! I’ll go out and purchase some eye of newt as soon as possible to really ratchet up the impact of our fictional game set in a fictional world with fictional characters and fictional abilities. My players will be totally in awe and fright of me and my all encompassing influence.


2. Isolation-psychological removal from traditional support structures (family, church, etc.) into an imaginary world.


Oooh! I hadn’t thought of that. No more pregame talk about how everyone is doing, how their family is getting along and so forth. Also, no outside of game social interaction. The game is all that matters. My grip over the lives of my well adjusted pals just got stronger.


3. Physical torture and killings-images in the mind can be almost as real as the actual experiences.


Hmmm…this is going to take some work on my part. Maybe instead of rolling dice we can sacrifice the neighbor’s dog to simulate real killin’. The damn thing barks all night long anyway…


4. Erosion of family values-the Dungeon Master (DM) demands an all-encompassing and total loyalty, control and allegiance.

Yes! And well they should worship me. They should also do my laundry, wash my car and mow my lawn! I’m making up a honey do list for our next session!


5. Situational Ethics-any act can be justified in the mind of the player,


Well, we’ve always played good guys vs bad guys scenarios, but I can fix this, somehow, I guess. Suggestions from the other controlling masochistic GMs out there?


6. In addition, defilement is urged in many ways, such as excrement or urinating to "defile a font."


Hey, you piss on my floor in an attempt to LARP out a defilement, and you’re getting the boot from my house. End of discussion.


7. Loss of Self-control-authority over self is surrendered to the DM. Depending on the personality and ego-strength of the player, this loss can be near absolute.


Yes! Now how do I get my players to submit to my absolute authority? I know, I’ll pit them against a herd was grazing trasks! That’ll do it.


8. Degradation-pain and torture are heavily involved in sadistic, sexual situations that graphically appeal to visceral impulses.


Yeah, because rape is so f^@#ing titillating. Thanks Schnoebelen, the minds and souls of my players are soon to be mine.

[Filippo Lippi]

I once spent an hour of game time having my gnome illusionist/thief creep on a stick. If wasting time is a sin, then the game is evil.

[Filippo Lippi]

There have been a lot of evil things go on at our table (Background: I game with two friends, Jim and Steve)

- I had the pretty boy PCs attacked by a party of "same-sex oriented" pirates. Well, 'the party' were invited to join 'the party,' if you see what I mean.

- Or there was the time that Steve's character impregnated a mother and a daughter on the same night. Jim went round telling a lot of people that knew Steve that Steve had got a mother and a daughter pregnant. Steve is still living it down; the stories haven't reached his wife or kids yet, thankfully.

hmmm, perhaps Jack Chick has a point

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
Vampire is the only game where I can even conceive of a female GM. Maybe Changleing.

Why did you have to say that? Why? I really like you and I really don't want to have to berate you for sexist behavior. Tell me that I just misunderstood what you wrote because such an intelligent man with usually very good taste can't actually be so small and stupid and insecure as to think that a woman is unable or not as capable of GMing any game but Vampire as a man.

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Fillipo Lippi
I once spent an hour of game time having my gnome illusionist/thief creep on a stick. If wasting time is a sin, then the game is evil.

Yeah!! You could have been wasting your time hacking at that nasty Gazebo or Green Divan*!! :p




* A Nights Of the Dinner Table Reference - which if you are ever at GenCon and have a chance to go to a live reading, go!! It is a blast!! You will laugh so hard, you will pee your pants!

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by Chanileslie


Why did you have to say that? Why? I really like you and I really don't want to have to berate you for sexist behavior. Tell me that I just misunderstood what you wrote because such an intelligent man with usually very good taste can't actually be so small and stupid and insecure as to think that a woman is unable or not as capable of GMing any game but Vampire as a man. I'm not trying to be sexist Chani! I haven't been exposed to all you gaming-liberated womyn ;) . I just thought that if any game was going to appeal to a female crowd enough for them to GM it, it would be Vampire. I wasn't talking about ability, just interest. Now I'm going to take that back because I've remembered the last time I was at the gaming store there were some teenage girl anime fan types who were talking about running some Anime game. Big Eyes, Small Mouth I think.

[The GM]

Ah, so now females are pidgeon holed into either liking gothic romance or cute little cartoons?!? You're in trouble, Hex...
:D

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by The GM
Ah, so now females are pidgeon holed into either liking gothic romance or cute little cartoons?!? You're in trouble, Hex...
:D I'm used to it. It happens all the time with Mrs. Hex.
"Do you like my hair?"
"Yeah, sure."
"But I haven't done anything to it."
"..."
"So you're saying you like it better when I don't do my hair."
"No."
"So you don't like my hair."
"No...Yes...wait...I love you, baby. Want a foot rub?"

You girlzez are sssso tricksy, preciousssss...

[Psi Baba]

Originally posted by Jabberwock
From Schnoebelen, linked earlier and here http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp

" In the late 1970's, a couple of the game writers actually came to my wife and I as prominent "sorcerers" in the community.
These two guys sat in our living room and took copious notes from us on how to make sure the rituals were truly right 'from the book,' (this meaning that they actually came from magic grimoires or workbooks). "

"Back in 1986, a fellow appeared on The 700 Club who was a former employee and game writer for TSR. He testified right on the show that he got into a wrangle with the management there because he saw that the rituals were too authentic and could be dangerous"

Granted, I haven't DnD'd for quite a few years, but as I remember it, our "magikal rituals" consisted mostly of:
"I cast a +5 fireball at the kobolds and dimension walk back to the glade." <sigh> "ok, roll" <dice sound> "*#@%$ it!!! You ALWAYS roll the dice into the pizza and you almost knocked my pop (soda for non-midwestern types) over!" <Yawn> "So did he hit or what?" "I don't know I'm looking for the chart, just a sec" <rapid page turning> "uhhhh, ummmm, nope, you just missed the kobolds and that rattled you so much you concentrate enough to dimension walk." "OH BS!!!! NO WAY I MISSED IT'S A #$@*!@ FIREBALL! HOW DID I MISS?" "I'm the DM and I say you missed!! "YOU SUCK! I'm NEVER playing any other game with you as a DM." <repeat ad infinitum for hours, every week> :D

Good one, Jabberwock! That had me laughing out loud, because I've been there so many times myself. That Schnoebelen kook is definitely talking out of his ass. He's obviously never even seen the inside of D&D book, as there are no "rituals" of any sort printed in the books. The so-called "spells," as you pointed out are little more than descriptions of the spell's purpose and use. There are no incantations or anything like that. And even though there is a spell called "Demon-Summoning" (Fundies love to seize on that one!), it's so complicated, and the description runs on for several columns, and it's so fraught with risks to the user, that I have never seen it used in any game I've ever participated in.

Ironically, most of the people I have played D&D with have been born-again Christians, plus several catholics, and even priests and ministers. I still get a chuckle when I recall one game with a priest who was playing a cleric (!) and had occasion to use the Commune spell. His phrasing of his instruction to the DM was, in total character, "I'm going to commune with my God." He did not say, "With God," but "with my God," thereby suggesting that the god of his player-character was not necessarily the same god that he himself believed in. How remarkable that he was able to separate the ficticious religion of the game from the religion of his real life. He did not seem to have any problem with this at all. Oh, and this game was taking place at a seminary school where he taught (most likely theology). In fact, it was a school-sanctioned tournament.

BTW, that Chick Tract is one of my favorites. It's a classic.

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
I'm not trying to be sexist Chani! I haven't been exposed to all you gaming-liberated womyn ;) . I just thought that if any game was going to appeal to a female crowd enough for them to GM it, it would be Vampire. I wasn't talking about ability, just interest. Now I'm going to take that back because I've remembered the last time I was at the gaming store there were some teenage girl anime fan types who were talking about running some Anime game. Big Eyes, Small Mouth I think.

Well now you know you are wrong. We women have a huge variety of interests and not always does it include vampires or Anime, both of which I am not particularly fond.

Now say you're sorry and all will be forgiven*


*I of course reserve the right to recall this event and no matter how much time has passed since this event took place, I can recall it and use it against you - why? Because that is what so many men seem to think we women do. Might as well give you something.

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
I'm used to it. It happens all the time with Mrs. Hex.
"Do you like my hair?"
"Yeah, sure."
"But I haven't done anything to it."
"..."
"So you're saying you like it better when I don't do my hair."
"No."
"So you don't like my hair."
"No...Yes...wait...I love you, baby. Want a foot rub?"

You girlzez are sssso tricksy, preciousssss...

Mmmhmmm, I think we need to verify with Mrs. Hex if this is true!! We are skeptics, you know. :p

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by Chanileslie
Now say you're sorry and all will be forgiven*
Ok.

:p "You're sorry." :p

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
Ok.

:p "You're sorry." :p

Oh, someone is spoilin' for a fight!! Bring it on!! :D

[Checkmite]

That's great...pretending to cast a magic spell is evil, yet (supposedly) casting a real spell to "bind a demonic force" is okay, as long as it's done in Jesus' name. :confused:

Something caught my attention in that little tract, by the way.

http://www.geocities.com/jkorosi/tract.jpg

Acts 19:13-17 reads

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

So there's always a chance that when you try to cast out demons, the "possessed" subject can just say "F*** off" and beat the living crap out of you. I'm guessing that's happened to more than one fundamentalist before... :D

[odorousrex]

Thank Yog-Sothoth the fundies don't know about Call of Cthulhu.

If they think DND is bad...the body count in CoC is roughly 123231 times higher.

[seayakin]

I played DnD a long time and some other RPGs and then I moved on to the harder stuff like Evercrack, DAOC and SWG.

I had a DnD friend who played with this one group of kids from a Jehovah's witness kids until the parents took away the books and burned them (and they were first editions in good condition, I could have cried).

BTW, I have tried to cast fireball and lightning bolt in real life and have not yet succeeded. I have tried to commune with the devil and have not yet succeeded. So, if any fundies out there want to point him out, i'd like to have a little talk. ;)

[c4ts]

Has anyone ever seen this movie Gamers? I've always wanted to do a Dark Dungeons parody movie in a similar style, except in black and white.

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by c4ts
Has anyone ever seen this movie Gamers? I've always wanted to do a Dark Dungeons parody movie in a similar style, except in black and white. Oh, hell yeah. The Gamers is freakin' hilarious. I bought it at Gen-Con last year.
"Dude! You're still asleep!"
"Oh yeah." *character falls over*

[ehbowen]

Many moons ago, back in high school, I briefly participated in a DnD group. When rolling ability scores for my first character, I threw a natural 17 for wisdom. Instant cleric.

I got into the game okay and enjoyed it for the most part, until the DM told me I had to choose a deity. I felt uneasy about that, worshipping and calling on the name of some other god, even though I knew it was fictional and in fun. The DM told me that if I didn't pick out some god to worship I couldn't play with them anymore. So I stopped showing up for the game sessions and, in my absence, he killed off my character.

I think that, at that time, I made the right decision. While I can imagine the hoots and catcalls, I will say that I am convinced of the reality of demonic forces; even more convinced today, in fact, than I was twenty years ago. And I believe that those demons will grab at any straw they can find in order to get leverage against the life and witness of a believer. At the time, I wanted to wholeheartedly follow my God. And so I think that I made the right choice.

Today, with twenty-three years more experience under my belt, I would probably choose differently. I'm secure enough now in my beliefs and in my relationship with the true God that I would experience no qualms in role-playing allegiance to some other suitable deity. Actually, I picked up a set of 3.0 manuals a few years back to see what I had been missing. I haven't tried to find or join a game yet, but maybe in time.

In my own mind, I see the situation as being comparable to Paul's instruction regarding eating meat sacrificed to idols. If it troubles your conscience, you shouldn't do it. If you have no problem with it, but your action troubles someone else or induces them to go against their conscience, then you shouldn't do it. But if no one else is adversely affected, and you are mature enough to realize that an idol is nothing, then enjoy.

[Oleron]

Haven't played an RPG in years, except for computer RPG's (big fan of Baldurs Gate series - but Neverwinter was pants).

When I played I never actually did DnD, much to my regret now. I was a MERP fan, until my fundy church rained on my parade.

What the Xians forget is that, far from damaging kids, RPG's actually develop creative skills in players.
The guys (all male unfortunately) who I played with are still well-balanced people, not wand-toting psycho's.

They have families and responsibilities now, otherwise they would probably still be playing! The closest I get to an RPG now is reading fantasy novels.

BTW, when girls play DnD, do they always choose sorcerer-type characters or do some choose to be gnarly old dwarf fighters?

[Z]

Oleron, my wife has played since I dragged her into my obsession 11 years ago - For her, it's winged Elven characters all the way. Oddly, though, she leans more towards optional classes, like noble or scholar, or if we're playing something modern, some sort of gizmoteer or techie. I've managed to convince her to play a sorceror only once, and be darned if she didn't make that into a scholar, too.

Her longest running character, though, had to be the Courtesan (Elven, yes, but no wings) who turned out to be heir to the High Throne of Elvenkind... Oh, and she had a pretty successful Paladin for a while.

Our next game (in the works) looks like she's going for an anthropomorphic mouse scholar (After the Bomb, fyi) teamed up with an Elephant mechanic and a Swan sorceror. Ought to be worth a laugh or two...

[Oleron]

Zaayrdragon,
I'm a bit rusty on all the class variations. DnD must have just about every character imaginable - I remember MERP being a bit more limited than that.

My wife loves all the artwork and imagery of the fantasy genre but I couldn't talk her into a game. Pity.

After the Bomb sounds bizarre!

Nice dragon BTW.

[Ossai]

Seayakin
BTW, I have tried to cast fireball and lightning bolt in real life and have not yet succeeded. I have tried to commune with the devil and have not yet succeeded. So, if any fundies out there want to point him out, i'd like to have a little talk. ;)

Then you aren't doing it right. ;) The old 1st edition D&D books and the 1st edition AD&D that listed material components hid the spells. For example lightning bolt required a crystal rod and wool. Now if you actually manage to acquire said items and rub the wool vigorously against the rod you can ZAP someone (static charge) . Likewise fireball required for natural sources of sulfur and salt peter (I don't remember if a source of charcoal was included).

odorousrex
If they think DND is bad...the body count in CoC is roughly 123231 times higher.
I think you should include the characters that go insane as well.

Ossai

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by ehbowen
Many moons ago, back in high school, I briefly participated in a DnD group. When rolling ability scores for my first character, I threw a natural 17 for wisdom. Instant cleric.

I got into the game okay and enjoyed it for the most part, until the DM told me I had to choose a deity. I felt uneasy about that, worshipping and calling on the name of some other god, even though I knew it was fictional and in fun. The DM told me that if I didn't pick out some god to worship I couldn't play with them anymore. So I stopped showing up for the game sessions and, in my absence, he killed off my character.Sounds like the DM was an A-hole. Currently in DnD, if I was playing with someone with your concerns, I'd suggest playing a cleric of Pelor, god of light and sun. Yahweh comes from that tradition anyway.

Hey, actually, maybe you should check out Testament (http://www.greenronin.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?prodid=1019) by Green Ronin publishing. Old Testament roleplaying with DnD 3rd ed rules. Be a cleric of Yahweh, a Babylonian wizard, etc. This is a cool book whether you're a christian or atheist or jew or whatever since it focuses on the history and mythologies of all the culutures of the time with out any kind of religious agenda. But, of course, all cultures gods are real, monsters run around, etc, just like regular DnD.

[seayakin]

Originally posted by Ossai
[b]Seayakin


Then you aren't doing it right. ;) The old 1st edition D&D books and the 1st edition AD&D that listed material components hid the spells. For example lightning bolt required a crystal rod and wool. Now if you actually manage to acquire said items and rub the wool vigorously against the rod you can ZAP someone (static charge) . Likewise fireball required for natural sources of sulfur and salt peter (I don't remember if a source of charcoal was included).



I guess my intel isn't there yet because I forgot about components. Time to reroll.

Actually, the DMs I played with oftend didn't bother tracking spell components so the pretty much didn't exist in the games we played.

Anyone ever see the Dr. Who role playing game. I have a copy but I could never get any of my friends to try it. Another fun PnP one is Paranoia if you have a good GM.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by seayakin


Anyone ever see the Dr. Who role playing game. I have a copy but I could never get any of my friends to try it. Another fun PnP one is Paranoia if you have a good GM.

I used to own it, I even got my group to try it a few times but alas, no one really liked it.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by ehbowen
Many moons ago, back in high school, I briefly participated in a DnD group. When rolling ability scores for my first character, I threw a natural 17 for wisdom. Instant cleric.

I got into the game okay and enjoyed it for the most part, until the DM told me I had to choose a deity. I felt uneasy about that, worshipping and calling on the name of some other god, even though I knew it was fictional and in fun. The DM told me that if I didn't pick out some god to worship I couldn't play with them anymore. So I stopped showing up for the game sessions and, in my absence, he killed off my character.



Yeah, I have to agree with Hex, your GM was a jerk. I have had several players of various degrees of religious faith over the years, and I have found that the best way to deal with concerns like yours is to not make any player play out anything, including religious concerns, in more depth than they are comfortable with. Once, when I had a religious player and the group needed a cleric, I simply told him that his cleric could simply worship "good" and he could play that in as much or as little depth as he wanted. He seemed satisfied with that compromise.

One of my current players is Jehovah's Witness, I am pretty sure she would be uncomfortable having to play a cleric to some deity but oddly she has no compunctions about playing a sneak thief (in fact, it's her favorite type of character). I've always scratched my head over that one. Sometimes (and not just with religious types) I wish I were a psychologist because I would love to figure out why some people pick the types of characters they do

[Leif Roar]

Originally posted by Oleron
HWhat the Xians forget is that, far from damaging kids, RPG's actually develop creative skills in players.

Most Christians don't have any beef with roleplaying - not even the ones that know what it is. There is a small number of fundamentalistic Christians who does have issues with it, but they're the exception (even among fundamentalists) and not the rule. In fact, the only times I've ever heard about anyone considering roleplaying evil, is when discussions such as this one crops up in roleplaying forums.

To generalise with "What the Xians forget" is just as bad as saying something like "Roleplayers are all socially inept nerds." Sure, there's some of those out there, but they're not representative.

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by Leif Roar
To generalise with "What the Xians forget" is just as bad as saying something like "Roleplayers are all socially inept nerds." Sure, there's some of those out there, but they're not representative. I don't know, man. In high school "socially inept nerd" would have been a perfect description of me. And have you been to a gaming store lately? That stuff about gamers and showering wouldn't be a stereotype unless it was partly true. Phew!

[bignickel]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep

I used to own it, I even got my group to try it a few times but alas, no one really liked it.

Even better, has anyone played the Arkham Horror board game?

Used to play it back in college: CoC monsters are rampaging thru Arkham, and you've got to cooperate with the other players to close down all the gates. And if you don't: Arkham is doomed!

Lots of sanity roll checks.

It's been out of print for years, but I hear it's being re-released.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by bignickel


Even better, has anyone played the Arkham Horror board game?

Used to play it back in college: CoC monsters are rampaging thru Arkham, and you've got to cooperate with the other players to close down all the gates. And if you don't: Arkham is doomed!

Lots of sanity roll checks.

It's been out of print for years, but I hear it's being re-released.

Okay, now I am really beginning to feel like one of those old time grognards that haunt hobby shops but I've played that too. I rather enjoyed it.

My current favorite board game is "Kill Dr. Lucky". It's Clue in reverse as the players run around an old mansion trying to kill off Dr. Lucky without any witnesses. Of course since everyone wants to be the one bumping him off, they all have to thwart each other. It's a blast.

[dmarker]

Originally posted by Oleron
Haven't played an RPG in years, except for computer RPG's (big fan of Baldurs Gate series - but Neverwinter was pants).

When I played I never actually did DnD, much to my regret now. I was a MERP fan, until my fundy church rained on my parade.

What the Xians forget is that, far from damaging kids, RPG's actually develop creative skills in players.
The guys (all male unfortunately) who I played with are still well-balanced people, not wand-toting psycho's.

They have families and responsibilities now, otherwise they would probably still be playing! The closest I get to an RPG now is reading fantasy novels.

BTW, when girls play DnD, do they always choose sorcerer-type characters or do some choose to be gnarly old dwarf fighters?

I've played two thieves, a kick-a$$ cleric, bard/wizard, and a halfling fighter who could kick some major a$$. Imagine 3'1" tall Magnolia, the Giant Slayer. My cleric also waded into battle with her trusty mace to smite those that needed it.

I've planned another character, a female dwarf fighter named Buttercup. She'll have a full beard, neatly combed and braided.

Plus another woman in our party played Ergo, a half orc barbarian. Imagine a huge football (or rugby) player with gray skin, body hair, and boobs.

[Hagrok]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
My current favorite board game is "Kill Dr. Lucky". It's Clue in reverse as the players run around an old mansion trying to kill off Dr. Lucky without any witnesses. Of course since everyone wants to be the one bumping him off, they all have to thwart each other. It's a blast.
I used to play that game all the time.. ya know, I think I actually have a copy of it somewhere. A friend in my old gaming group gave it to me when I left DC.

Man, I havn't done any real Roleplaying in years... I was never very good at it, I pretty much just played myself every character.

--Dan

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Oleron

BTW, when girls play DnD, do they always choose sorcerer-type characters or do some choose to be gnarly old dwarf fighters?

Well, there are four women in my group. When we play regular D&D my wife plays a sorceress, one plays a halfling thief, one plays a former paladin who is now slowly slipping to evil and the fourth is brand new to our grou and hasn't played regular D&D with us yet.

In our Oriental Adventures campaign (players in the same order) my wife plays a monk, the next plays a Samurai, the next plays a ranger/rogue, and the last plays a ninja.

So from my experience, they are pretty varied.

[wollery]

Originally posted by seayakin
Another fun PnP one is Paranoia if you have a good GM. Couldn't agree more. In fact it's extremely fun being GM for paranoia. You get to really mess with the players heads!

[wollery]

Originally posted by seayakin
Another fun PnP one is Paranoia if you have a good GM. Couldn't agree more. In fact it's extremely fun being GM for paranoia. You get to really mess with the players heads!

[Bear]

Let's see...

I've been playing D&D and assorted other systems since 1976, when my best friends older brother brought it home from college.

For the record, my wife (who was then my girlfriend) started playing the game with us back in 1977. We've always had at least one - and sometimes several - female players in our games.

Finally, anyone remember Pat Pulling and BADD? If not, here's a very good source for some background.

http://www.rpg.net/sites/252/quellen/stackpole/pulling_report.html

Bear-

[ehbowen]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
Sounds like the DM was an A-hole. Currently in DnD, if I was playing with someone with your concerns, I'd suggest playing a cleric of Pelor, god of light and sun. Yahweh comes from that tradition anyway.

Pelor would be okay, but if I were to get back into it, I think I'd lean towards Heironeous. I've seen some material on the Living Greyhawk campaign, and it sounds interesting. In the campaign, my home state has been assigned to the Bandit Kingdoms, which are occupied by the Empire of Iuz.

I'm thinking about creating a character with the following backstory. He was an apprentice weaponsmith who was conscripted into the army to fight against a neighboring kingdom. In the battle, he was severely wounded and left for dead. An enemy paladin rescued him and took him to the nearest temple of Heironeous, where he was treated and healed. He returns to the Bandit Kingdoms as an undercover missionary: a village weaponsmith by day, a cleric/adventurer by night.

Seems like it should have some interesting possibilities. Just a few things holding me back. For one, I'd need to get some more DnD experience; these Living Greyhawk people sound serious. Secondly, I have an unusual work schedule; I work nights and weekends, which is when most of the gaming action takes place.

I will think about it, though. Could be fun to get back into it.

[Riddick]

One of my personal favorites, this is the absolute definition of dork. Nothing is dumber than these *uckers. It's *ucking hilarious.
Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt! (http://www.netflamewar.com/movies/DnDGeeks.mpeg)

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Riddick
Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt! (http://www.netflamewar.com/movies/DnDGeeks.mpeg) OMG, LARP's. The geek's geeks. :nope:

[ceo_esq]

Originally posted by Riddick
One of my personal favorites, this is the absolute definition of dork. Nothing is dumber than these *uckers. It's *ucking hilarious.
Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt! (http://www.netflamewar.com/movies/DnDGeeks.mpeg) Pretty funny.

[Scot C. Trypal]

That settles it. DND is dangerous.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Upchurch
OMG, LARP's. The geek's geeks. :nope:

Yeah, except the vampire LARPers are even geekier because they, unlike these people, for the most part do no realize just how geeky they are.