The news that Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, has died has made me think about things I haven’t in a long time.
A few years ago, when I was going through a massive bout of depression, living hour to hour was the most I could do and a group of crazy but wonderful people took me in to their lives and helped me out.
I was a mess. I trusted no one and nothing, including and especially myself. I did some things I wasn’t proud of and, well, let’s just say I didn’t like myself very much. I was hiding myself from the world so being introduced to lots of new people was hard… and easy at the same time. It was hard as I felt like I had to hide myself, and easy because I could hide myself and become a new person (Yes, we all know how well that goes - but I thought I’d give it a go!)
When I was told that this new group of people role-played I’ll admit a little apprehension… visions of… well, I had no idea… but certainly not books and dice and character sheets with hundreds of numbers on that indicated how good your character was at ‘bluffing’ and ‘hiding’ and ’swimming’ and everything else… And then MORE numbers on the front with armour ratings and weapons and things. Books filled with spells and more statistics. It just seemed like the complicated version of Top Trumps ever.
But then, watching these people become their characters was astounding. The quiet ones became confident assassins and the burly males became women. It was fascinating. My character - a psychotic sorcerer child - was introduced and I kind of just went with it. I had no idea what I was doing with the dice and tried to avoid using the numbers as much as possible. I was there for the story. It was like a mad Improv Drama class and I loved it while it lasted.
I have been writing the tales of my character (broken free of the bonds of the game) on and off for years but it may be time to really get down and write them. I think that was one of the reasons I enjoyed playing the game so much - not the battles and the ‘levelling’ but the loss of self in the character. That’s the thing I enjoy about writing fiction so much and one thing I must get back into doing.
No related posts - unique!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I learnt of Gygax’s death and thought about doing a post on it, thinking no one else would be doing it, and then read two in quick succession.
I enjoy gaming for the social experience and the laugh really. I’ve been playing with the same guys for more than 12 years now. We only get a game about once a month, but always have fun.
Dan’s last blog post..Don’t want to hurt no Kangaroo
March 5th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Never done the pen and paper role-playing myself. I heard the news of Mr. Gygax’s death from Diesel Sweeties of all places.
A psychotic sorcerer child? What happened there then?
March 6th, 2008 at 1:04 am
You must do it, get back into the fiction writing. It has saved me from many a dark place. It is a shame when someone who has meant so much to so many people, passes on. He will be sorely missed.
Selma’s last blog post..Must Be Funny In A Rich Man’s World
March 6th, 2008 at 2:35 am
You make me want to write.
And POSSIBLY check out Dungeons and Dragons.
Miss Britt’s last blog post..They’ll be lining up for my hospitality
March 6th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Dan - I debated about doing a post about it too. And then realised that so many people I know role play in various ways how could I not. It does always surprise me, though, when people say they do/have done - although I don’t know why! I enjoyed it for the social side too. It hearkened back to the days of amateur dramatics…
yorksdevil - She was a Drow/Gnome cross who’s father had been killed by her uncle. (Her mother died shortly after she was born and her father killed her grandmother in front of her when she was 5). Her uncle threw her out not knowing who she as and she lived with rebel/mercenaries honing her skills through th years. She entered the game looking for her uncle… for family or revenge? Something like that - did I mention I was a mess at the time?
Selma - I have set aside some time this weekend to do it. Let’s see what comes out!
Miss Britt - You would be great - a warrior cheerleader or something… Maybe that’s the next step for the blogosphere - we all run screaming for geek/nerd roots and play across the web? Hmmm… I wonder if that would work?
Bec’s last blog post..Which Dice Again?
March 9th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Man, I spent many a long night playing D&D as a teenager. There were 5 or 6 of us die-hard players. One of us had a mom who owned a local hotel, so we often got free rooms to play in all night. Lots of soda and chips and tons of dice-rolling.
Karl’s last blog post..Superdelegates My Ass
March 9th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Karl - Location for holding games was one of the main reasons that the game stopped with us. Well, that and, shall we say, ego issues… It was very much classic coke and pizza at half time!
Bec’s last blog post..Winners