My RPG Page

        This is a small FAQ that I have taken the liberty to write up for those who are interested in Role-Playing Games. and want to learn more about them. It will give you an overview as to what you need to purchase, and what you need to know about RPGs before you go and spend your money on the books.

Very brief history

        Role-playing games first got popular during the late 70's when TSR put our the First set of Dungeons & Dragons rules. Almost immediately the new item was disappearing off the shelves of hobby stores and grocery stores across America (How exciting. For once the Japanese did not invent something this awesome.) However as soon as it disappeared from the shelves the sooner it showed up in front of churches, and was the target of almost black-bible scrutiny. Parents, and Preachers all over the country were afraid of this game due to its occult content. Let me address this small issue of "If you play RPGs you are going to hell" issue.

"If you Play RPGS, then your going to HELL"

        First off RPGS are not evil. It is true that some now have occult themes such as Whitewolf RPGS (Which I do not play). However many RPGs out their  have nothing but fun in mind. When Gary Gryax was questioned about the occult content in his books he said that they were maid up, and that he did not get occult idea's. This has been proven true for the most part. D&D is pure fiction and based on fiction alone. For this reason many RPGs shunned away from Fantasy Role-Playing and published Sci-fi role-playing games (Starwars, Robotect, Startrek, ect.). Bottom line is that you can play RPGs and not go to hell at the same time.

          A lot of the fear come from back in the 80's when one D&D gaming group committed murder, and the other committed mass suicide.  (They were also social outcasts and crack-heads, but what the heck they were Role-Players to). Yes, that was the stereotype (RPG = SATAN). For a short time people like me were placed on the same level as those psychos who steal your cats on Halloween, can you believe that. So for the record I play RPGs, and do not in any way contribute to the dark lord Satan, or his productivity. 

"If you play RPGs, then your a GEEK"

        Well what can I say. I am vastly smarter than the average person about many things such as history, and literature, and a little math. I guess this roomer is as False as many times as its True. I don't consider myself a geek by any measure, but it is a label I will ware proudly if I must to play my RPGs. I know many people however who play RPGs and are considerably "cooler" than me (yeah COOLER than ME!!!!). To be completely honest I don't remember ever getting any sort of weird looks from people because I play them. Then again their is that group of kids who I would write of as geeks mainly because they have not learned to carry themselves with coolness yet.

"Girls don't play RPGs"

        False, plain and simple. Women do play D&D and more women join all the time. I am good friends with some of the best female Role-players out their and they are some of the nicest, and most interesting women to talk to (In my opinion the only girl worth talking to is the one who can make up her own mind regardless of what everyone else says). The point is that women make much better role-players than men. I get into my characters rather well, but when a noob chick gets her footing she becomes a GREAT role-player. So good their were times I wish I could have given an Oscar to one girl.          

        The reason for this is that women seem to be naturally artistic and RPGs appeal to creative, artistic types. Women in general might here some of these rumors and think that she don't want to be associated with Geeks who do nothing but math. True most are geeks and few are so geeky that they can't carry themselves with any sort of dignity around a woman. However their are groups out their that will teach you and not drool over you at the same time. If anything you should aim for the geekiest bunch out their. If their is anything we have learned it is that geeky D&D geeks are very easy to control and manipulate. I was almost doped into buying a girl a car one time.

"Ok, how do I play"

        How you play varies from the RPG you play. The typical D&D game goes like this however. 4 or 5 people set around a table. One of them MUST be a DM (Dungeon Master). It is the DMs job to make an adventure, and narrate a story to the point the players can picture themselves standing on the Highlands of an Orc Valley, or whatever. You see while the DM sets things up the players get a copy of the Players Handbook and roll up characters using dice that will come off as strange and evil to you, but they are just plastic.

        After characters are made, the DM will describe a setting to the players, and they react to it as though their characters would. This takes some thought for good role-playing to come of the game, and role-playing is where all the fun is. For example, a strong, but culturally illiterate Barbarian is not going to spend his time reading spellbooks hoping to learn a spell. He is a simple man and would enjoy nothing more than a few cups at the local Tavern. So basically the story goes back and forth while the DM Throughs the players parts of a story, they through back what they do, and soon enough you have a very good thing going. How do you know its good, when you start calling your friend Falco, and everyone else by their characters names.

"Ok, Im sold. Do I need to buy a sword for this?"

        NO!!! all you need are the core rulebooks. For players I suggest the players handbook and leave it at that until you are ready to learn more. I suggest heading to the wizards of the coast website to learn more.