Nerd Curious: Trying D&D For the First Time

[Ebb]

There's an interesting column that just started running on the AV Club, in which Todd VanDerWerff plans to go back and try various "nerdy" pursuits that he missed out on as a teenager. In this first installment he goes to a gaming convention, Orc-Con, and tries tabletop roleplaying games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, for the first time.

It's a well-written personal reflection that includes musings on the nature of roleplaying and personal identity, and comes to some interesting conclusions about exactly what people see in all of this. Plus it references one of my favorite tabletop games, Fiasco. I'd particularly recommend this article to those of you who are curious about "system" games. It won't teach you to play them, but it might give some insight as to why they're enjoyed.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/1-dungeons-dragons,71111/

[Silverfyre]

Fantastic article, Ebb. Thanks for sharing it.  Also, if you want to read a book that deals with pretty much the same premise but expands into fantasy in general, then check out "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks".  It's a wonderful read.

http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Freaks-Gaming-Geeks-Imaginary/dp/B0057DB8LK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332262691&sr=8-1

[Ebb]

That book looks great too, Silverfyre. Added it to my wish list.

[Silverfyre]

I got it as a birthday gift from Star last year and I think we both devoured it in a week.  It's a great look into the author's childhood as a gamer, how he lost it as an adult and then re-found it through his love of the LoTR films.  It's an interesting journey into the whole mindset and one man's journey to reclaim it.  I highly recommend it. :)