As the history of this here geek blog shows, I’m not generally big on theories, or musings, or other existential nerditude when it comes to RPGs. I’m much more about the content. But lately I’ve found myself in something not dissimilar to a rut and I just thought I’d ask the folks out there a little question (yeah, I kinda gave that away with the title of this post)…
Why do you play RPGs?
What do you get out of this hobby that you don’t get from some other activity? What does it do for you that reading, writing, listening to (or making) music, painting, watching baseball, drinking a nice adult beverage and shooting the breeze with your friends, cooking, or spending good time with your spouse/partner/kids/other family members doesn’t?
What makes rolling dice and pretending to be someone else (or many someone elses, if you’re the GM) compelling? Why have you kept at it for all these years even when so many other folks walk away from it? What (if anything) would make you walk away from it now?
Are there even answers to these questions? Or are we few, we happy few, we band of brothers just effing wired to play pretend in this manner? I know I don’t have any answers right now. That’s why I’m asking 🙂
So sound off if you want to sound off. Be silent if you want to be silent. Shake your head solemnly at my confusion if you want to shake your head solemnly. Dowhutchalike.
And, just so you know, I’m not exactly pondering giving it all up and taking up knitting or anything. I don’t think I could if I wanted to. I’m just curious about why I keep doing this stuff.
hmm, most interesting. I think as a person who has always written – non-fiction for a living and fiction on the side- a lot of it for me is about telling a story.
I love a good yarn and seeing as i lack the talent to ever get a real book published roleplaying is the next best thing.
I really enjoy creating a real, rich character who has fears, loves, emotions and feelings and dropping him into a living, breathing world.
Or something….
I suspect you’re on to something that applies to me as well, Gobbo. Of course, in addition to the talent question, I also have to accept that my own laziness stands in the way of me ever even trying to write a real book 🙂
‘What do you get out of this hobby that you don’t get from some other activity? ‘
When tabletop role-playing works well, it is:
1- affordably priced;
2- encouraging to creative types such as writers and actors;
3- more entertaining than television or mass-marketed movies;
4- thought-provoking;
5- sociable.
Of course, tabletop doesn’t always work well. It can be hackneyed, tedious, and otherwise awful. Attempts to play with incompatible people are excruciating.
Welcome aboard, postgygaxian! It’s always nice to hear a new voice.
Quoted for truth. Extreme, painful truth learned over many years of suffering 🙂