End-of-Week Trampier (3/28/14)

So, I've been reading here and there on the blogosphere that famed old-school D&D artist Dave Trampier has passed away. If this is true, then it's very unfortunate and sad news.

 

It's a hard blow for those of us immersed in the hobby, as the originators pass away. It makes us wonder about what effort we're exerting to help ensure the continued existence of roleplaying, does it not? Well, at least I know it makes me feel that way.

 

Rest in peace, Tramp. May you work for a joyful eternity on heavenly commissions, illustrating the games of the gods!

 

End-of-Week Elmore (3/21/14)

Greetings, fellow roleplayers! I've gone quite silent again, I know. But I'm working on a dream, building a mystery...all that jazz!

 

I'm being purposefully cryptic. Just know that I'm on the path of another type of adventure. I've embarked on a real-life quest to move away from just dreaming about things I've always wanted to do and accomplish.

 

Now, finally, I'm trying to bring some long-time dreams to life. This involves me trying my best to help others find peace, fulfillment, and happiness in life.

 

And I'm definitely incorporating my love of roleplaying into my new endeavors. In a way, I suppose I'm doing my part to bring roleplaying even further into the pop culture spotlight, by show its meaning and value beyond mere escapism.

 

If you're interested in a taste of what I'm doing, visit www.theunboundself.com for more details. Actually, you might want to read this particular blog post first.

 

Until we meet again on the etheric roads of the web, may every day be an adventure!

End-of-Week Elmore (3/14/14)

"YEEEEEEHAAAAAAAW!"

D&D@40: In the News (3/10/14)

A Real Game Changer Turns 40

D&D@40 Blog Hop: Day 28

Day 28: What is the single most important lesson you've learned from playing Dungeons & Dragons?

 

If I have to narrow it down to one thing, the most important lesson I learned from D&D is that not only do we need heroes, we need to BE heroes.

 

D&D taps into our ancient need for communal storytelling. We've always come together to share stories in order to communally exorcise our fears and promote our dreams.

 

And in our stories, there are countless examples, both great and small, how someone rose up to be a hero.

 

But heroism is not as rare as we've been fooled into believing. Rather, every one of us, every day, encounters situations in which we can rise above the average and be a hero, either for ourselves or others.

 

If you wake up every day and must overcome clinical depression just to get out of bed, you're a hero. If you decide to not give in to road rage when someone cuts you off, you're a hero. If you choose to help the new guy at work rather than ignore his struggles because society tells you he's a threat to your job, you're a hero. If you're a shy kid who overcomes his fears of rejection to join a D&D game at a local game store, you're a hero. And the world needs you. No matter how "small" you think your contribution may be, the world needs you.

 

Why? Because today, most of us are told the exact opposite: you're not good enough, smart enough, talented enough, rich enough. It's time to reverse that trend, and to believe in your own powers to be a hero, in whatever way it manifests in your life. Because you need to feel that way. Because everyone needs to feel that they can make a difference.

 

We need to broaden our definition of what it means to be heroic. And that's not because we need to "cheapen" or "reduce" what it means to be a hero. Rather, we need to remember what heroic stories were meant to do for us: inspire us to emulate their virtuous behaviors. Heroic stories weren't meant to make us feel small or unworthy. They were, and still are, meant to make us look for those same virtues in ourselves.

 

I believe D&D will not die away, as some have predicted. Rather, as long as it continues to be a means to connect with our deepest desires for community, dreaming, creation, and heroism, the pastime will continue to thrive.

D&D@40 Blog Hop: Days 26 & 27

Well, this here challenge is almost over! I have to admit, I'm looking forward in particular to tomorrow's topic, because I have a lot to say about what D&D taught me. I'm also interested to read my fellow Blog Hoppers' posts on that subject. Now, on to today's topics (it's a two-fer!):

 

Day 26: Do you still game with the people who introduced you to the hobby?

 

Sadly, no. Ah, I do so miss those long-ago days when I gamed with the guys with which I grew up. We've tried now and then in recent years to get back to the roleplaying table, with only limited success. I have to stress that said limitation was on my part, really. How so? Well, I'm pretty sure I have ADD, and I'm not just talking about Gamer ADD. As a result, my attention span for RPGs has, at times over the last few years, been veeeery short.

 

Basically, my two old friends and I met so infrequently to roleplay back in 2010 (see the above link to a post from that year) that my ADD (whichever kind) drove me insane...rendering me unable to hack the slow progress of my campaign. And I called it quits.

 

I know. That's really lame, shitty, and no good excuse...especially in light of how, like many gamers my age or older, whine about wanting to get the old group back together. But there you have it, folks.

 

Well, actually, I may be too hard on myself. The two old friends didn't seem too devastated that we didn't keep that particular campaign going. Not sure what that says about the quality, but there you go.

 

Thought: I'm not sure if my regular ADD and Gamer ADD means I have a double dose of the condition when it comes to RPGs, but it sure feels like it sometimes.

 

Day 27: If you had to do it all over again, would you do anything different when you first started gaming?

 

Hmm. I would have done it more often. I would have been a player more often, rather than mostly DM. I would savor the insane amount of free time I had available to me for the hobby! I would reach out to more people beyond my group to find "fresh blood," and not suffer under the exploits of wackjob gamers.

 

Okay, I think I need to stop musing on that...otherwise, it might become a rather endless rabbit hole of nostalgia...

D&D@40 Blog Hop: Day 25

"We've been gaming together for so long, we're basically common-law polygamists."

Day 25: Longest running campaign/gaming group you've been in.

Hmmm, well...I played with a group of childhood friends from when I was around 13 until I was in my early 20s. So I have to say that that was my "longest running group" from my original gaming career.

 

These days, I've been gaming with some good people at my FLGS for a couple years. At the moment, I don't roleplay as much as I used to, but at least I have a group to go back to when I get a chance!