D&D Opinions

[Question7]

I am looking for intelligent opinions on Dungeons & Dragons. This is not topic for debate. I am only asking you give your thoughts and reasons to back them up. Also state if you have played the game before, or if you are not comfortable with this, PM me about it. Thank you.

So what do you think of D&D?

 

[FadingWhispers3]

Some people have concerns with it for various reasons. One is the violence. Some npcs are sterotyped as being mostly evil and thus can be killed without a troubled conscience... even a paladin. Now, these are game characters and so nobody dies in real life. However, an argument can be made that the superficial nature (this does not apply to a game of mixed aligment such as Ebberon (sp?)) of the aligment system makes it possible promote racism. Kill every Mindflayer you meet, for instance. Of course, that all depends on the way the dm/gm makes it. With respect to violence, since non-lethal damage has been introduced, a lot of the concerns here can be alleviated. In any case, it does not seem that d&d is any more violent than, say Grand Theft Auto. Both are open systems where the possibility exists to be violent. It is wholly possible to play both games without any violence at all. That is what skill ranks in diplomacy are for.

Another concern, is the fear of occultic influences. You say "It's fantasy." That is exactly the point. What differentiates a game with guns and planes apart from magic missile and timestop? Only the mechanism and the flavor. Certainly, there is a pantheon introduced. Again, we could say that anyone stable to begin with will have no trouble differentiating reality and fantasy. There may be some concerns over the technicalities of it. Ie. That clerics pray to their gods so to gain access to spells. And yet if these gods are not believed, is this idolatry? But again, the depth to which games are played and which aspects are chosen to be described are variable. A homebrew game may be taylored such that no magic exists if someone is uncomfortable with such things.

 

[vajradhara]

Namaste,


my view?

Elves are way too powerful.. of course they were based on the LOTR stuff, but still.. they are way unbalanced in the game. the 3rd edition rules correct this to some degree, but they still, in my view, have a ways to go to balance all the races properly.

i'll grant that the inclusion of the "quick to master" rule for humans does level the playing field in the early levels.. but still... being 90% immune to mind effecting spells is outstanding, especially when everyone like to toss sleep spells and charm persons around.

i do enjoy the prestige classes, however, i'm a bit miffed that they did away with the Monk level titles.

 

[Lithium Hobo]

Eh, not totally my game. Played it a few times, didn't really find what I wanted there. However, I loved making game maps. I'd make them for D&D groups and they'd use them. ^.^ I loved making maps.

D&D is a fine game for making friends and stirring the imagination. Everyone should at least play it once. Many will be surprised how much they like it.

 

[Blackmarch]

I am looking for intelligent opinions on Dungeons & Dragons. This is not topic for debate. I am only asking you give your thoughts and reasons to back them up. Also state if you have played the game before, or if you are not comfortable with this, PM me about it. Thank you.

So what do you think of D&D?

It's like most things it's fine if you don't let it get to your head, or impede your life, or relationship with God.

 

[mepalmer3]

I am looking for intelligent opinions on Dungeons & Dragons. This is not topic for debate. I am only asking you give your thoughts and reasons to back them up. Also state if you have played the game before, or if you are not comfortable with this, PM me about it. Thank you.

So what do you think of D&D?

It's not clear to me whether you're asking what we think about D&D in the sense of is it right or wrong and why do we think that OR if you want to know what we think about D&D as oppossed to some other game.

I really love RPG games -- although I only have a desire to play them on the computer. I was a huge fan of the old Bard's tales, Ultimas, and others. Similarly, I'm a huge fan of reading fantasy adventure. The Lord of the Rings of course was written by a pretty devout christian as many here know. Tolkein is also credited for being one of the guys who helped influence CS Lewis to becomming a christian. And CS Lewis also wrote some fantasy adventure books in the Chronicles of Narnia. The books and the game sort of go in the same vein. So if one is wrong, the other I think would be wrong too.

There's nothing "anti-christian" about fantasy adventure itself, dreaming, or role-playing. Certainly like anything, people could get so wrapped up in it that they take themselves outside of all other life. but that doesn't have to do that with thing, it has to do with that person's refusal to have somewhat of a balanced life. Similarly a preacher could completely leave his family behind to "tend to his flock" and I would say he's also doing a similar bad thing.

But regardless -- at it's core (sometimes) the RPGs are a battle of good vs evil. They push forth the idea at times that there really is a right/wrong. And as such, there is a connotation that's consistent with christianity.

From another viewpoint I heard once... RPGs, Science fiction, fantasy adventure often cast people in more clear roles (ie, they're more black and white than real life). There's a lot of appeal to having more clear lines.

 

[mepalmer3]

I should have added that the "subject matter" is sometimes an issue for me. I tend to personally enjoy games that are much more in the realm of fantasy than ones that are set in modern times.

Also for any game, I think it's rather unhealthy to "play the role" of something that's inherently bad. If I practice lying, cheating people, and such in my games, then is more likely to make me less resistant to doing it in real life.

 

[Brimshack]

Look, it's very clear. Whenever you play D&D you expose yourself to attack from Demons and Devils seeking to possess your soul. A Will save (DC 15) is normally sufficient, but save is raised by 2 if you are playing the wrong music, and lowered by 2 if you have been Blessed by a Cleric within the last 3 Sundays.

Are we clear on this?

 

[nadroj1985]

I'd rather play Final Fantasy. I heard it has a much higher rate of mind corruption than D&D. I don't think I have to tell you that that's all I needed to hear.

 

[Eudaimonist]

I played D&D (technically, first version AD&D) when I was in high school and college, and I found that it had a many positive effects. It provided me with opportunities to socialize in a safe and fun way with others (no need for drugs or alcohol just for an escape!). It was a great boost to my imagination and creativity, leading to creative hobbies such painting, fiction writing, and game design. It sharpened my math skills, including the study of probability, from all that dice rolling.

If you have kids and you are worried that they will turn to drugs or alcohol in college, you will want them to play D&D!

 

[Kelly]

If you have kids and you are worried that they will turn to drugs or alcohol in college, you will want them to play D&D!

That's a good point. In High School, my dad always knew where I was every friday and saturday night, in the basement playing D&D with all my friends.

It's a hobby, it's a great way for people who would have otherwise never talked to each other to suddenly become friends as they realize they have something in common. When I was in the college dorm my first year, a guy on my floor saw my Players Handbook and say "you play?"...we entered a friendship that has lasted since.

 

[Dennis Moore]

I have played role-playing games since 1986, and specifically D&D since 1989. I can safely say that, in all that time, I have never tried to cast a real spell, nor sacrificed to Satan, nor been invited to join a cult, nor any of the other thousand things that D&D was slandered with in the early-to-mid-1980s.

For a fascinating expose of the Satanism myth as it is associated with D&D and other RPGs, read Michael Stackpole's brilliant research piece, Role-Playing Games and Satanism. It soundly and proudly lays waste to the Satanic Panic that surrounded D&D in the 1980s, and continues to tint the game's popular image to this day.

For some hilarious send-ups of the old Jack Chick Dark Dungeons tract (which was responsible for much misinformation in the 1980s), read this:

MST#King Dark Dungeons

 

[stonetoflesh]

I am looking for intelligent opinions on Dungeons & Dragons. This is not topic for debate. I am only asking you give your thoughts and reasons to back them up. Also state if you have played the game before, or if you are not comfortable with this, PM me about it. Thank you.

So what do you think of D&D?

Hi ?7,

I started playing D&D as an elementary school student in 1984, and have played it on and off since then. I can really only echo the sentiments of other posters here...
So many of the "arguments" against D&D are ridiculous-- I've never thought that D&D was "real", that I could cast spells, etc. I never entertained thoughts of joining a cult, killing people, sacrificing things to some imaginary game-world deity, committing suicide, etc. Funny that in HS/college I wasn't really interested in taking drugs when D&D (or any other RPG) was a regular part of my social life; interestingly, the periods of heavy drug use in my life have occurred only when I lacked that avenue of escapism!
There's a terrific article on D&D and Christianity by M.J. Young that explores some of the spiritual benefits and pitfalls of D&D and tabletop RPGs in general:
http://www.mjyoung.net/dungeon/confess.html
Just my 2 cp...

 

[stonetoflesh]

I have played role-playing games since 1986, and specifically D&D since 1989. I can safely say that, in all that time, I have never tried to cast a real spell, nor sacrificed to Satan, nor been invited to join a cult, nor any of the other thousand things that D&D was slandered with in the early-to-mid-1980s.

For a fascinating expose of the Satanism myth as it is associated with D&D and other RPGs, read Michael Stackpole's brilliant research piece, Role-Playing Games and Satanism. It soundly and proudly lays waste to the Satanic Panic that surrounded D&D in the 1980s, and continues to tint the game's popular image to this day.

For some hilarious send-ups of the old Jack Chick Dark Dungeons tract (which was responsible for much misinformation in the 1980s), read this:

MST#King Dark Dungeons

Ah yes, good old Dark Dungeons! I love it... I'm inspired to add to my signature in honor of Jack's timeless contribution to the roleplaying hobby!

Remember Mazes & Monsters? Re-live Tom Hanks' downward spiral from innocent gamer to paranoid schizophrenic here! http://www.spookylibrarians.com/mazes.html
Ah Tom, we hardly knew ye... What would Meg think if she knew about your dark past?

 

[seebs]

Heh. I think D&D is like most games, although I think it's better than many. No harm, I don't think.

 

[LondonsBurning]

http://www.cybermoonstudios.com/8bitDandD.html

 

[Question7]

In the sense of 'opinion, I want to know about views on the good-bad sort of axis. There has been a lot of negative stigma on the game, and I wanted to get some peoples views on it. These are great replies! Thank you soo much
It seems that most people who have played the game believe it to be a good influence.

Ooh! I read the M.J. Young article, and loved it. It actually spawned my interest in coming here

 

[LondonsBurning]

I have played role-playing games since 1986, and specifically D&D since 1989. I can safely say that, in all that time, I have never tried to cast a real spell, nor sacrificed to Satan, nor been invited to join a cult, nor any of the other thousand things that D&D was slandered with in the early-to-mid-1980s.

For a fascinating expose of the Satanism myth as it is associated with D&D and other RPGs, read Michael Stackpole's brilliant research piece, Role-Playing Games and Satanism. It soundly and proudly lays waste to the Satanic Panic that surrounded D&D in the 1980s, and continues to tint the game's popular image to this day.

For some hilarious send-ups of the old Jack Chick Dark Dungeons tract (which was responsible for much misinformation in the 1980s), read this:

MST#King Dark Dungeons

That was INCREDIBLE. My favorite parts:

1. When the pastor told the kids to burn their rock music, C.S. Lewis, and JRR Tolkien novels and come to Jesus.

2. When the pastor is casting the demons out, there is a pair of asterisks that say WARNING: Read Acts 19:13-17.

The text of the passage:

[font=Arial,Helvetica][font=Arial,Helvetica]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. [/font][/font] [font=Arial,Helvetica][font=Arial,Helvetica] 19:14 And there were seven sons of [one] Sceva, a Jew, [and] chief of the priests, which did so. [/font][/font]

[font=Arial,Helvetica][font=Arial,Helvetica]19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

19:16 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. [/font][/font] [font=Arial,Helvetica][font=Arial,Helvetica]19:17 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.
[/font][/font]

[font=Arial,Helvetica][font=Arial,Helvetica]WHOA! Don't you go and try to cast demons out of people, Demons will come out and rip your clothes off! Do as we say, not as this PASTOR does
[/font][/font]

 

[The Gregorian]

Look, it's very clear. Whenever you play D&D you expose yourself to attack from Demons and Devils seeking to possess your soul. A Will save (DC 15) is normally sufficient, but save is raised by 2 if you are playing the wrong music, and lowered by 2 if you have been Blessed by a Cleric within the last 3 Sundays.

Are we clear on this?

lol awesome.

I'm a big D&D nerd. I play D&D every chance I get (usually every weekend). And every year I go to radcon (for the delver's bash. I made it to the final 4 this year then they all ganged up on me). I think it's a fun game. But more than that... it's gigantically educational. example: when a level 11 character uses +1 returning human bane frost brilliant energy wounding shurikens of mercy against another level 11 NPC, what's the average damage for one attack? Answer: Assuming the attackee has an even CON, 82 damage for every odd attack, 71 for every even attack. (none of which is lethal damage).

how is this educational? every time you do anything you have to figure out what polyhedron to roll, add the numbers together, subtract damage reduced by damage reduction, multiply parts of the damage if it's a critical hit, but not elemental damage, multiply elemental damage if the target has any elemental weakness, etc.

i.e. D&D=math=knowledge=power. YAY.

it helps math, problem solving, memorization, statistical analysis, general imagination, all of the good stuff.

 

[Dennis Moore]

it helps math, problem solving, memorization, statistical analysis, general imagination, all of the good stuff.

Vocabulary. The vocabulary of the average D&D game is a grade level or two above the norm. Okay, so a lot of those words are the names of weapons and stuff, but still ...