Dungeons & Dragons roleplay. Yes or no?

Fox · #1 Oct 9, '08, 10:47 am

Had a question about this. D&D has been around for ages (around 30 years). It seems to be popular still. As Catholics, can we or can't we indulge in this type of roleplay? Lets get a good discussion going.

Transformer · #2 Oct 9, '08, 11:24 am

I'm aware of no connection between any edition of Dungeons & Dragons and real occult practices.

Jack Chick's tract on D&D - Definitely a reason to think the game's just fine.

This famous story about a D&D player is largely a myth.

Dolphincrc · #3 Oct 9, '08, 12:37 pm

I used to play in my teens but not big time. There are better ways to use your imagination than a game in which your character (=you) can pretty much do anything- there is killing, stealing, lying, etc.).

But it is certainly not worst than some of the video games out there- which are much much worst.

Gene Church · #4 Oct 9, '08, 1:00 pm

I agree. D&D can be a waste of one of your better resources--time. Having unfortunately spent too much there myself, I would suggest avoidance.

iamscifimike · #5 Oct 9, '08, 3:13 pm

I've seen "playing dungeons and dragons or similar games" listed as a venial sin in a pamphlet entitled "An Examination of Conscience."

I remember thinking "is it that cut and dry?" Is this solidly reflected in church teaching? or does the author not understand the game, is he speaking from personal opinion?

What is meant by similar games, is it role playing games, not participating in reality? Is it a supposed link to the occult. Does that mae it sinful to read Tolkien or C.S. Lewis?

He mentions excessive video game playing but you can't play D&D once...

I think it is a recreational passtime, but I could be wrong. I've only played twice. It was an entertaining exercise of the imagimation. I didn't murder or steal.

**edwest2** · #6 Oct 9, '08, 5:55 pm

Hello Michael,

I observe you used the statement "I could be wrong." I just want to highlight how that statement provides no real guidance. I don't mean anything personal toward you. As Catholics, we need to be informed about our faith and understand it, sometimes through diligent searching on our part.

Dungeons and Dragons, which I've played, is a form of make-believe. None of the spells are real or meant to be taken that way. Much as kids used to shoot cap pistols at each other or play pretend soldiers with toy weapons, D&D is play acting. Like all things involving groups of people, it can be changed from its original intent. A few may decide to take it seriously in the sense that they believe it is more than a game. Or a few disturbed people may be affected by it or at least claim to be.

I have watched rather introverted people open up while playing both good and bad characters. The eternal struggle between good and evil is portrayed by the game with the addition of fantastic creatures and mythological beings. It is based on myth and may contain some historical elements but it is fantasy. It allows players to imagine how they would act and react in a strange world that is similar but otherwise unlike our own.

In the end, it is like a stage play where a member of the audience is asked to take a part as a character. However, I do encourage each person to examine their conscience and Church teaching regarding this.

God bless,
Ed

iamscifimike · #7 Oct 9, '08, 6:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwest2

I observe you used the statement "I could be wrong." I just want to highlight how that statement provides no real guidance. I don't mean anything personal toward you. As Catholics, we need to be informed about our faith and understand it, sometimes through diligent searching on our part.

Ed, Thank you. I completely agree with you. When I use that expression, I am opening up my statement to a form of opinion so that people may be comfortable addressing me without the worry of hostile confrontation.(Like you're getting now

) I do this in an attempt to understand our faith. It was meant as part of my search.

I could have just as easily said of the priest who wrote the pamphlet I referenced, 'he could be wrong'. As he is a priest, I hate to dismiss his assertions based on my view of the benign nature of the game. I'm sure he could make some statements to support why he listed this.

I think my question remains... does the church have an official position that supports what this priest wrote?

bluebutterfly · #8 Oct 12, '08, 6:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Transformer

I'm aware of no connection between any edition of Dungeons & Dragons and real occult practices.

Jack Chick's tract on D&D - Definitely a reason to think the game's just fine.

This famous story about a D&D player is largely a myth.

There isn't. It's parallel to it. That's how satan lures people into thinking it's harmless.

Dark Warrior · #9 Oct 9, '08, 7:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox

Had a question about this. D&D has been around for ages (around 30 years). It seems to be popular still. As Catholics, can we or can't we indulge in this type of roleplay? Lets get a good discussion going.

Just keep it as a game, a fantasy, realizing it's only for enjoyment for those of us who admire fantasy and adventure.

ralphinal · #10 Oct 9, '08, 7:58 pm

I've played it and I've seen two sides of it and other role-playing games. Most of the people that i have known who were involved used it as a diversion, like a Friday night poker game with the guys. I have met some who could not tell life from fantasy. They are the ones that have issues.

AmberDale · #11 Oct 9, '08, 8:00 pm

It's just a fun game. As long as it doesn't take time away from God then you should be fine.
I love playing tabletop and live action role playing games, to me it's just all impromptu acting.

Ghoti · #12 Oct 9, '08, 8:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmberDale

It's just a fun game. As long as it doesn't take time away from God then you should be fine.
I love playing tabletop and live action role playing games, to me it's just all impromptu acting.

I've played it. A lot. Got involved in it back in '81. Played it regularly until about 4.5 years ago.

I see it as a cross between interactive storytelling and improvisational theatre, sans audience. It's a game inasmuch as there are "rules", mechanics for quantifying the results of a given action, but one does not necessarily "win" or "lose" as in other games (by capturing a king, getting all four of your men home, arriving at "Millionaire Acres"). The actual goals of a game/campaign are set out by the game referee, and themselves can be changed or modified, and are often not achieved by any means after innumerable sessions of playing. I have often wished that my game referees had kept enough notes to novelize the sessions -- they would have made, IMO, a readable novel.

I have played D&D -- at least a dozen different characters (all good -- at least two paladins

). I have played a mutant in "Gamma World", a spy in "Top Secret", a caped crusader-type in "Marvel Superheroes", a Canadian Army tank commander in "Twilight:2000", and a plasma-packin' parapsychologist named "Robert McGeddon" in "Ghostbusters!"

Again, all in moderation. If anything -- including RPGs, but including any other pastime or hobby -- starts to interfere with your life, it's time to cut back.

In and of itself, I believe the game to be morally neutral. It can be used as a tool either way.

AmberDale · #13 Oct 9, '08, 8:31 pm

*blink blink* Ghoti, seriously..Um.. I play for acting not to read the rules

As long as I know what dice to roll when, I'm usually good. I like to ROLEplay not ROLLplay anyway. If I can't do something then the GM just says "Um Amber, you can't do that".. Then I'm like.. "K then I do this".. lol

I have played AD&D 2nd ed, D&D 3.5, Deadlands, Vampire the Masquerade (LARP), Vampire tabletop, Children of the Sun, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and 7th Sea.
This does NOT include all the board games, card games (including tcg's and ccg's), one shot games, computer games, video games....

Okay Yep, I'm a gamer girl through and through! BUT it does NOT interfere with my everyday life, raising my kids, praising God, going to Church, praying, cleaning, showering, cooking (etc etc)...

Most of my gaming gets done at GenCon nowadays.

*tears*

Ghoti · #14 Oct 9, '08, 9:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmberDale

*blink blink* Ghoti, seriously..Um.. I play for acting not to read the rules

As long as I know what dice to roll when, I'm usually good. I like to ROLEplay not ROLLplay anyway. If I can't do something then the GM just says "Um Amber, you can't do that".. Then I'm like.. "K then I do this".. lol

I agree. I merely mean that a rules framework is one of the few things (besides dice) it has in common with "Sorry!" or "Monopoly" (also called "games", but as different from D&D and other RPGs as chalk is from cheese). THe closest I've seen a family boardgame come to an RPG is playing "Risk" with a competitor who decides to portray real world-conqueror and does all his moves "in character" ("What? The dastardly Kamchatkans have crossed the Eastern Marches? Summon the Irkutsk Light Horse! To war! TO WAR!!")

I agree, the older I got the more removed from dice and rulebooks I got. Also, the less fixated I became in having a maxed-out character and the more I tried to have an "interesting" character. (Hmmm..."method" roleplaying? Not a stretch...)

I haven't played since I moved to T.O....I'm torn between running Donna (she's an old-school gamer too) through a campaign of my own, or turning my campaign into some short stories. I may do both -- good way to resolve plot holes.

Cat · #15 Oct 10, '08, 3:23 pm

It's fun.

You have to be careful who you play with. The book of Sirach in the Bible talks about spending time with wise people, elders who can help you to be wiser. While many D and D players are old and wise (!), there are those who are, sadly, misanthropes who use fantasy and role-playing to escape from real life, including real spirituality (Christianity).

I hope I am being charitable in my description. I don't mean to stereotype, as I know that there are many normal people who play D and D because they love pretending. That's fine. But if you fall in with a group who wants to avoid real life, or who can't separate real life from fantasy, well, that can drag you down, too.