Lothar's Lair

Well, I been thinking about this over the years, and have come to the conclusion there are real life issues that I have learned about society, people, and certain choices that I have definitely learned from gaming.

One being that if you are by yourself somewhere that seems a possibility for violence from nefarious individuals, remain quite, hide in shadows, prepare an instrument of defense/offense, be aware of your surroundings, look for an escape route that YOU can negotiate without much effort.

Two, being that if you hear a noise in your home or where only you should be don’t say “Who’s there?” or “I have a gun”/Sword”..etc. Just hide in a place you may observe any forgeign entity skulking around where they shouldn’t be. Be ready to defend yourself if found. However One might say “I have conjured demons to protect me” You have been warned, life forms here other than myself are in danger of being cursed/possessed/or die horribly from the various traps I have set”.

Three, look at how people appear, I’ve seen some real rogue looking individuals, in a hoody, short, lithe, shifty, always looking around at other people up and down as to size them up for who knows what. Large tattooed(all over their arms/legs/face…etc) bald, that stare at other people for long lengths of time then just sortta grin. These people I put into a barbarian class or certainly an uneducated fighter type with little or no social graces. They can be easily mentally manipulated especially if drinking or had been drinking by intelligent other individuals that do not act superior to them.

Four, watch for the guy or gal that smiles way too much and seems to have the latest fashions and a sort of glare in their eyes. These people most probably are in sales and so conditioned to act the way they do that they do not even realize it. Usually these people are some type of religious zealot as well for they have been “sold” on whatever religion they tout. Sometimes they will probably have that little fish sticker on their car/vehicle as well. They want you to believe that they are just like you and are trying very hard to fit in(too hard), they have 2-4 children and feel that is what “people are supposed to do”. These people can be dangerous as well, because once they find that they are not correct or that whatever ideal they have immersed themselves in is not “‘real” and when they see themselves as “plastic” or fake they get uncontrollably violent or act in a sudden outburst of anger, sometimes lethal. Also when one talks to them logically and makes a point they cannot or will not even consider because of their belief all they can say is “That is just my faith” As if faith is the cure for stupidity or being irrational.

Large obese men and women that are odorous and impolite usually have no real social life. Nor want one. When one talks to them of dancing,nightlife,social drinking,having sex with the opposite gender, they will change the subject as fast as they can while looking at you like your speaking another language. But sometimes even more scarier, they will ask very strange questions and actually want you to be their leader in teaching them about those subjects, which makes one feel one must escape from their attachment to ones presence.

People carrying weapons (not pepper spray,tear gas, tasers…etc) but large knives or any weapon not considered in society as normal for modern self protection. Usually lack the ability to actually use the weapon in a martialy intelligent trained way. They want others to awe them and comment on the weapon and possibly feel they gain respect from people that do. Normally this is male gender based but there are probably women that do this as well, unfortunately I personally have not observed this.

Cigarette smokers usually have short attention spans, possibly high school graduates most just have a GED, few are well educated. Seem to feel that smoking gives them some type of elitism, will act as if the action of smoking is actually some ritual that takes precedence over whatever else is going on bordering on religious fanaticism. Normally not commenting on the new type of cigarette they are currently trying because of the blend or the rarity of that particular type of tobacco, or the various flavors of tobaccos they enjoy.

Well educated gamers (college graduates and better) usually game in a completely different way than non-college grads. They seem to look for ways of overcoming problems in a more cohesive less chaotic pattern. They can become predictable in their approach because of the linear thinking processes and ways to negotiate with NPCs (both in game and out)…lol. They are or it seems are open to more ideas from others and willing to try various different classes and races, but generally stick to a base class or a certain set of classes/races for ease of play. They are ready to help other players (friends) to a point, but I’ve seen some that separate themselves from a party or group and play and live that way as well.

Anime gamers and furry game/LARP participants-Usually non committed to any one real game, they are even geeks to role-playing gamers,they will wear ears/tails/fake feet/paws…etc Feeling they are “cute” Sometimes they will stand around and bounce in place. They make references to anime movies and that genre that are for the most part like name dropping to impress other that they know about that sort of thing. Normally they aren’t seen at the bar or dance clubs. Real life seems too intense for them and older ones of this genre have many children and are more over weight than “roleplayers of the table top variety” Or they are very skinny, few social graces, and when watched during a convention sort of drift from one group to another desperately seeking attention…IMHO.

Has anyone seen real life things that are attributed to gaming? If so I’m interested in hearing about them.

In every game one takes on a personae as a character he or she has made. The way one does this is as simple or as complicated as one wishes. However there are some common understood or hopefully understood rules or guidelines to follow. These include but not limited to; Sexual content if at a table of under aged players, Real life religious toe stepping, real life negative gay/straight lifestyle innuendos at a table of under aged children or people of certain strong beliefs, Real life racial comments…etc. These subjects and those related to them can create a real disaster in a game. As a DM the subjects and flow of the game is typically in your hands. You can guide the game and role playing as you wish and only you will know (if you know your players and their beliefs etc.) what can of worms one can open and have the game still be fun for all at the table. Same goes for the players at the table. If a player starts roleplaying their character in a fashion that makes the group uncomfortable as a DM you should dis-rail it quickly. You should allow humor obviously, but if the subject matter starts getting personal to other players it should also be averted. The characterizations and/or the roles one portrays as a character should be in a light tone at first to judge the reactions of the group (even their facial expressions and any negative side glances)so one can continue to play their character to the best as they can without any Real Life (RL) negative assertions. I’ve had a transvestite at the table before and for a gaming group it was a tough situation to control. I was in a gaming group as a player where the female DM (Dungeon Mistress) seemed to have an affinity to play any demon as being a violent male homosexual that during combat would try and rape the male characters in the group. Ok, so this was really strange because it would happen time and time again and if the player seemed to be ignoring it or show no response she would choose someone else and invest the time and effort to try to demoralize them next. I ran games where all of the players were Military police officers (20-28 yrs old numbering 18-20 at the table) where all the side jokes were related to military affairs or military actions of some nature or another. I had also I played in the RPGA (Role Players Gaming Assoc.) I played next to a guy that always played a young female mage of around age 10-12 in human appearance, using alter self spell. Not sure why he did that but when any subject came up that was adult in orientation he would play his young female as offended and acted that she wanted no part of whatever action the group was engaged in. It made the game interesting but at the same time also hard to deal with. In summing up, get a feel of the group one is playing in find out beliefs and strong convictions of the players and DM play a neutral role and get to know the character well, then invest the time to ascertain the various things he/she as a character wants to entertain as related to subjects and actions taken during a game to make it fun and a good time for oneself and others at the table.

Hope this helps and good gaming.

In alot of the games I have run I have players who will roll up a character, outfit it, even describe how the character looks and sometimes in great detail. However when it comes to role playing, of which the game is about, the person will say “My character does such and such” or “I ask the tavern keeper what is on special today” This IMHO is not role playing!! This is the player trying to tell the DM/GM what actions his/her character is taking. Role playing is when the player speaks as his/her character I call it “Being in character”. Now, don’t get me wrong here, there are times when as a player I need to ask the DM what something looks like or smells like or what sounds my character hears and as a player I expect a complete description of what my character sees,hears,smells…etc.But to tell the DM/GM what my character is doing in relation to dialog between an NPC and my character I should totally be immersed in being my character. I know that the English accent and or the Scottish brogue accent is the most common way to let all know that it is your character speaking and not the player. But players don’t have to put on an accent at all, they just need to be in character when speaking to NPCs, when speaking as their character to other PCs…etc. As a player I most certainly set up the encounter with an NPC while describing to the DM/GM how my character walks (swagger,saunter,skip,lope..etc) how his/her demeanor is (dour,happy,sad,jovial,sneaky,suspicious…etc) whether his/her arms are folded,hands on the hilt of a sword, stroking his beard…etc. Then speak in character to the NPC while looking as a player to the GM/DM to, as close as I can, the way my character would to the NPC, or to an other player if speaking to them. I don’t have to get out of my chair or approach the other player or GM/DM but if I felt it would be better played I could. As a player/DM/GM one can create facial expressions to help in the characterization and the look of that particular character as well. As a DM/GM one can look suddenly up at the ceiling or down to the floor as if noticing something and as the player follows suit you may roll dice to see if the NPC successfully feinted so as to facilitate a “+” on the die roll to leap to the shadows or pick that pocket/pouch while the player was looking where the NPC did, after all we are in character. Just some ways to help players stay/get in character.

I hope this helps and until next time, Good gaming.

Lothar Loc’Nar

There are players of table top games (D&D,GURPS,Role Master…etc) that I’ve tried to play the game with that seem that either they do not get the flow of the game or they take an exceedingly long time to make descisions as to what their characters will do on their current turn. It’s usually not a situation that’s tricky or complicated just a descision of where to move,what to cast,who or what to shoot…etc. The turn sequence is usually the same during the fight and some people cannot seem to grasp the ability to pre-think their next action(s). They will be talking to other players at the table and or skimming through books for “cool” items or class/race combination’s for their next character conception. After the fight or sequence is over and they seem to have been forced to make some type of decision they will complain that “I would have done this or that if I would have had more time to think about whatever” or ” If I’d have known that the spell or item didn’t do this or that I’d have done something else” They take the time to whine about what happened to the player next to them but they could be looking at the next situation or possible situation and scheming to figure out what their PC would/will do if such and such happens. These individuals take other players time and energy discussing how the DM/GM “made” them do something in a hurry and how better it would have been if they’d been allowed more time to resolve a situation in their heads.

Now I’m talking about a players turn taking maybe 5-8 minutes sometimes maybe 10 minutes just thinking of what to do next. I’m not talking about a player looking a spell up or an item’s ability or a rule clarification here. I’m talking about a player that looks blankly at the scenario map and when the DM/GM asks the player to tell him/her what the PC is doing they then start thinking about the situation and rummaging through books and their character sheet to see what they have for the situation and possibly ask questions like”where did the monster move from last”? “What does that monster look like again, I didn’t hear you”?..Where everyone else is perfectly fine with the whens.wherefors,and the tactical situation of the grid mapped placement. This person wants another complete rundown of what just transpired and not during the re-explanation but only after it, will the player start looking at his/her sheet and books to decide what to do.These types of players seem to me that they are a bit infantile when deciding on their PC’s predicament. I found I cannot tolerate the actions of these people during a game nor put up with their lame excuses of why they play the way they do. I believe they are uncaring and really are disinterested, for whatever reasons they are off in their own thoughts of whatever else and are taking the game and the people around them as secondary trivial interferences with their own mental agenda. If they are playing a game with others that have taken time to attend the game to give the game their time and effort then everyone should be respectful or all in attendance whether it be in person around a table, or over an internet web cam, or even a internet based virtual table top utility. If the game is 4 hours,12 hours or however long, the respect of others time,care and interest in the game should be somewhat exhibited to a point of knowing what class/race etc. to role play so that one is confident in their characters so as to facilitate a smooth gaming period for all in attendance. Ask other players after or before the game (not during) on how you can improve your play style and or what to look for so you won’t slow the game down.If you find youself always searching for the right spell or skill/feat on your character sheet, write down spell lists for different occasions if one is a caster type PC. Or skills/feats the PC has for special occasions or even a regular routine of what his/her PC will do is certain situations (before the game or after a game not during). Maybe this will improve ones style of play and allow for good game flow.

In most MMORPGs they allow teenagers and even younger play the game, and by “they” I mean parents! Which is really a terrible problem most MMORPGs have it seems, because when adults play,we at least have some sort of tactics in mind when assaulting the enemy and teamed with other online players. Children seem to randomly,have their characters (PCs) run in chaotic patterns,shoot,attack the wrong enemy for the situation. Every one knows when in combat with a mixed group of adversarial classes one kills the healers first,not children though, they will stand on the front lines and whack away at the other teams heavily armored (tank) PC and hope for the best. Children seem to treat MMORPGs as first person shooters (fps) and believe they can dish out more damage than the healer that’s 20 yds. away can heal, which is only possible if the healer is very busy healing himself as well as the tank. IMHO all enemy healers should be targeted first then the PCs doing the most damage per second (DPS) or Damage per millisecond (DPMS) usually the wizards/mages/sorcerers, or whatever the game calls the magic using fireball slinging finger wiggling classes in robes….lol. Then finally the tanks/fighters/rangers/or the sword wielding shield bearing heavily armored PCs. This should be automatic tactics for any group of online players fighting another group of online players in an MMORPG.

Dragon Age — Looks great!! I checked out the reviews and so far it appears like it’ll be another great EA game. I had read on their forums that they are going to allow a person the ability to create their own areas insert their own encounters and the ability to actually create their own little module if they like.

I think this would be wonderful for a 3D adventure base for a Dungeons and Dragons game. The DM can create the environment, the weather and what possible structures look like. Then take the players on the visual adventure sites, but not sure if the DM can actually put in the characters the players would be using or not and to what extent would they be able (onscreen) to interact with any adversary as per the Dragon Age game itself. However just to enable the world view to those able to see the monitor/a monitor (if multi-player online is possible).

Maybe someday a utility will actually come out that has that ability/the ability to adjust the stats for the characters, take them into consideration for the variables of the characters feats,skills,environment…etc and depict the characters onscreen as they are dressed, as they physically look…etc. maybe even work in facial adjustments based on the reaction of the characters, maybe that’s a little far out there in terms of capability though.lol.

Any way, so far the game looks realistic enough and seemingly the plot is subject to change based on what descesions the player makes in the first part of the game. So far I give it kudos as from the trailors and forums I have looked at.

Lothar Loc’Nar

Check it out here–
Dragon Age.bioware.com