TossCobble asks: "With table-top roleplaying giant Wizards of the Coast (makers of Dungeons & Dragons, for those not in the know) broadcasting an open call for adventure designers and developers (including an entertaining developer test to gauge your own game-design talent and knowledge), I found myself once again considering the odd appeal of gaming for us programming types. It's interesting that something so free-form-ishly creative, socially dynamic, and utterly fantastical be fun for folks so grounded in logical programming. Of course, my theory is that gaming and programming actually have more in common than we might think. Tabletop roleplaying involves coming up with creative solutions to problems set in a clearly-defined ruleset, involve constant data-tracking and minor mathematical equations, and involve working together with small groups of people toward like-minded goals. Conversely, love of roleplaying can illustrate how important creativity is to good programming. What do you think?" Coding and Roleplaying - Is There a Connection? Log in/Create an Account | Top | 274 comments (Spill at 50!) | Index Only | Search Discussion Display Options Threshold: -1: 274 comments 0: 267 comments 1: 221 comments 2: 144 comments 3: 35 comments 4: 21 comments 5: 19 comments Flat Nested No Comments Threaded Oldest First Newest First Highest Scores First Oldest First (Ignore Threads) Newest First (Ignore Threads) The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. A connection? Yes... by Anonymous Coward (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @06:52PMRe:A connection? Yes... by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:03PMRe:A connection? Yes... by WraithRealm (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:02PMRe:A connection? Yes... by yoyhed (Score:1) Monday October 24, @12:57AMRe:A connection? Yes... by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:49PMRe:A connection? Yes... by Meagermanx (Score:2) Monday October 24, @12:35AMRe:A connection? Yes... by SeventyBang (Score:2) Monday October 24, @12:58AM roleplaying? (Score:5, Funny) by charliebear (887653) on Sunday October 23, @06:53PM (#13860133) Well, I used to code, and me and the wife like to role play every once in a while, so I guess there is a correlation. [ Reply to ThisRe:roleplaying? by CyricZ (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @06:56PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:roleplaying? by Nakiko (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:03PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:roleplaying? by Raseri (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:23PM Re:roleplaying? (Score:5, Funny) by captaincucumber (450913) on Sunday October 23, @08:45PM (#13860649) I have a question. Why are Ask Slashdot questions always so stupid? They are more interesting for their amusement factor than for their content. I especially enjoy the self-serving questions like the high school kid who is so much smarter than his peers and asks slashdot "do other people have this problem? How do you cope?" or the unemployed engineer who says "I'm so smart and qualified but I can't find a job. Anyone else having this problem?" I have a question that I've been meaning to submit, but haven't gotten around to it yet:"Why do I have such a big penis? Does everyone else have a big penis or am I alone in having such a great big penis?" [ Reply to This | ParentRe:roleplaying? by Murderotica (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:14PMRe:roleplaying? by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:24PMRe:roleplaying? by drauh (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:45PMRe:roleplaying? by RingDev (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:18PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.1 reply beneath your current threshold. What do I think? (Score:4, Funny) by nagora (177841) on Sunday October 23, @06:56PM (#13860146) I think if Wizards of the Coast had an interesting idea they'd probably not know what to do with it, assuming that they recognised it. [ Reply to This mod parent up... (Score:5, Interesting) by ltwally (313043) on Sunday October 23, @07:48PM (#13860413) (mailto:ltwally@softhome.net | Last Journal: Tuesday March 04, @08:48PM) Just because the parent's comment wasn't exactly nice to WoTC does not invalidate it... Many, if not most, "serious" dnd players/dm's very much miss TSR -- a company that was full of innovative ideas and actually seemed to want to please its customers. Gamers have several reasons to be less-than-satisfied with WoTC, compared to TSR, including: Bringing out crappy products just to fill the monthly release cycle, instead of focusing on polishing products to a point where DM's don't have to read through a book to be able to sanction official content. Releasing books that seem more focused on pretty artwork than solid material -- and, of course, the artwork costs more to print, so the cost for the book is increased. Go figure Refocusing resources into creating entirely new realms (ie. Eberron) instead of updating much-loved and heavily-played pre-existing realms (ie. the Forgotten Realms). (note: I'm not saying Eberron sucks. I'm just saying that FR needs a lot of work before it is updated to d20, still.. and it's been 5 years since 3.0 debuted.) "Updating" the ruleset (ie. version 3.5) to the point that half the "current" DnD books are using incompatible rules which require serious work by the DM in order for their material to work with the 3.5 rule-system. I could go on... but I think I've proven my point: WoTC hasn't always shown consideration to its customers. The parent was perfectly justified for voicing dissatisfaction with WoTC. Mod him up. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:mod parent up... by slavemowgli (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:52PMRe:mod parent up... by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:06PMRe:mod parent up... by Azghoul (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:06PMRe:mod parent up... by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @11:01PMRoll your own distro by Fractal Dice (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @11:28PMRe:mod parent up... by Wavicle (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @11:34PM(Mod Parent Informative) Re:What do I think? by suitepotato (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:59PMRe:(Mod Parent Informative) Re:What do I think? by Arivia (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:56PMRe:What do I think? by Arandir (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @08:20PMRe:What do I think? by Arivia (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:12PMRe:What do I think? by DNS-and-BIND (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @08:24PMRe:What do I think? by Daengbo (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:50PMRe:What do I think? by Daengbo (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:16PMRe:What do I think? by KORfan (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @11:23PMRe:What do I think? by DNS-and-BIND (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @11:36PMRe:What do I think? by Daengbo (Score:1) Monday October 24, @12:30AMRe:What do I think? by korbin_dallas (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:00PMRe:What do I think? by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:24PMRe:What do I think? by czydve (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @11:02PM Umm, poor people skills? (Score:5, Insightful) by fuzzy12345 (745891) on Sunday October 23, @06:56PM (#13860147) Admit it folks, building or exploring fantasy worlds has a special appeal for people who feel they're having less than average fun in the real world.It's sad but true, and we know it. [ Reply to This Re:Umm, poor people skills? (Score:4, Funny) by Billly Gates (198444) on Sunday October 23, @07:05PM (#13860207) (http://www.livejournal.com/users/sinistertim101 | Last Journal: Sunday September 18, @02:24PM) Shhh!I ban you away from my wow tower! Begone! [ Reply to This | Parent Re:Umm, poor people skills? (Score:5, Interesting) by Raindance (680694) on Sunday October 23, @07:16PM (#13860267) (Last Journal: Sunday October 23, @12:45AM) Yeah, that could be part of it. But it's certainly not the whole story.I've known people to prefer a MUD PK war to a date with a beautiful woman; a game of capture the flag to sex; Word of Warcraft to their loving SOs. There's something about the gamer/coder personality type that is more than a function of1. Being good at analytical thinking2. Poor performance in social situations.It's more of an attraction to certain modes of thinking and systems of reward than failing at the "real world". In some people, at least. [ Reply to This | Parent Re:Umm, poor people skills? (Score:5, Insightful) by TrappedByMyself (861094) on Sunday October 23, @07:31PM (#13860332) It's more of an attraction to certain modes of thinking and systems of reward than failing at the "real world" You really have something there. Alot of geeks are conditioned to compare themselves to the popular crowd. They put themselves up against standards which they're not designed to meet, like an apple becoming depressed because it's not orange. They become 'losers', so they sink into this gaming world where they can win. On WoW for instance, there are so many people playing, that the field is very average. Any dedication will make you 'better' that alot of the other people you compete against. It's a huge ego boost to take out someone else in one-on-one combat. It's a well defined world, where winning is easy, much much easier than competing in the real world.And I'm not talking about gaming for fun, it's the people who game for survival.The sad thing is that these reculsive geeks do have the tools to compete in the real world, they are just afraid to try. //recovering gaming geek ;) [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Umm, poor people skills? by shutdown -p now (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:49PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by CrazyJim1 (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:06PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by geminidomino (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:26PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by CrazyJim1 (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:03PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Speak for yourself. by autopr0n (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:40PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Umm, poor people skills? by ksheff (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @11:13PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Umm, poor people skills? by heavy snowfall (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:18PMNo, there's something about the mindset. by btarval (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:19PMIts about the personality, not the problem-solving by fireboy1919 (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:30PMRe:Its about the personality, not the problem-solv by btarval (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:56PMRe:No, there's something about the mindset. by Gilmoure (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:14PM Re:Umm, poor people skills? (Score:5, Insightful) by pilkul (667659) on Sunday October 23, @07:32PM (#13860337) Bingo. Dorks like tabletop roleplaying for the same reason they like to read pulp science fiction/fantasy, read comic books or watch harem anime: not because they're more "creative" or whatever but because they want to escape into a pleasant fantasy land. They avoid reading mainstream literature, which is too concerned with reality for comfort. (Note: I don't mean this as a putdown of all SF/F, comic books and anime, just most of them.)This is blindingly obvious to everyone except themselves; like the story submitter, they tend to make up all sorts of more palatable justifications for why they like their hobby. It's all pretty sad really. Social anxiety problems can be largely resolved given practice, so the sooner they stop the self-denial and start becoming adults, the better. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Umm, poor people skills? by QuantumG (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:41PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by pilkul (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:52PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by QuantumG (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:55PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by shutdown -p now (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:52PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by pilkul (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:28PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by Oligonicella (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:29PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by shutdown -p now (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @11:59PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by DNS-and-BIND (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:30PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by QuantumG (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:46PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by Gilmoure (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @10:21PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by QuantumG (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:31PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by DNS-and-BIND (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @11:31PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by value_added (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:58PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by Eli Gottlieb (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:03PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by kurzweilfreak (Score:1) Monday October 24, @12:28AMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by Azghoul (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:16PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by FLEB (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:42PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by achurch (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:52PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by pilkul (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:07PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by FLEB (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:44PMEscapism? Analytical Interactions vs Social Norms? by eonlabs (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:58PM Re:Umm, poor people skills? (Score:5, Insightful) by daigu (111684) on Sunday October 23, @10:31PM (#13861084) (Last Journal: Saturday February 14, @12:23AM) I don't know what kind of science fiction you read. But, I don't think most can be described as pleasant.I also find it interesting that you leap to these conclusions. Would you say the same of people that do needle point? They should just stop deluding themselves and get more social and "adult"?How about gardening, reading, golf, long distance running - or any other mostly solitary activity that people enjoy. What all these people need to do is just go to more parties and be more social?Gaming is, in fact, more social than these activities, yet no calls you socially inept if you happen to be an ultra-marathon runner - even though as one you spend much more time away from people. What makes gaming such that you assume gamers are socially inept? Might it merely be a prejudice on your part? I've known people to make these comments because they don't find gaming useful - whereas running, gardening, needle point are considered useful in our society.Further, it is okay for people not to like social situations. I've found that most people are fairly interesting alone. Turn something into a social situation where people do not know one another, and they immediately make themselve less interesting. I've wasted enough time talking about the weather with people and I'm extremely anxious that someone will take up more of my life wanting to talk about this inane topic. You know what I mean? [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Umm, poor people skills? by ranton (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @11:53PMRe:Umm, poor people skills? by gozu (Score:2) Monday October 24, @12:32AM3 replies beneath your current threshold.Re:Umm, poor people skills? by ksheff (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @11:10PMRe:High CHA score by llamaguy (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:36PMRe:High CHA score by BlueCodeWarrior (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:07PM3 replies beneath your current threshold.It's common response... by heatdeath (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @06:56PMCut down on your caffeine intake. by CyricZ (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:03PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Other hobbies by saintlupus (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @06:57PMRe:Other hobbies by conJunk (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:26PMRe:Other hobbies by AndrewStephens (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:25PMRe:Other hobbies by Vengeance (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:23PM I... (Score:5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 23, @06:58PM (#13860160) I ... [rolls d20] ... agree totally! [ Reply to ThisRe:I... by SirTalon42 (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:16PMRe:I... by Gilmoure (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:29PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.1 reply beneath your current threshold. It's Independant Thinking (Score:5, Interesting) by WebHostingGuy (825421) * on Sunday October 23, @06:58PM (#13860161) (http://www.e3servers.com/ | Last Journal: Tuesday August 02, @12:03PM) Whenever you have a set of people who can creatively think outside the box you will get unique solutions to common problems. A lot of the time people are told this is the way you must do something. By reinforcing play at with no constraints except for the effect from the choice you will get different ideas and solutions from the norm.If you contrast table gaming with no rules for the players versus console gaming in which you must do x to get to y you will alwasy have more creative solutions in the table gaming. This doesn't mean a standard solution will not work or will not be better, but you can't change the boundaries of a console game for a unique solution to a problem so you never challenge the creative juices of a player and reinforce creative ideas; just the opposite you reinforce finding a solution only within the rules. Is this what you are talking about? [ Reply to ThisRe:It's Independant Thinking by KrispyKringle (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:37PMRe:It's Independant Thinking by Lonath (Score:2) Monday October 24, @12:30AMRe:What's so creative about it? by Gilmoure (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:39PMRe:It's Independant Thinking by FLEB (Score:2) Monday October 24, @12:36AM2 replies beneath your current threshold. The REAL connection: (Score:5, Insightful) by The Shrewd Dude (880136) on Sunday October 23, @06:58PM (#13860162) You see, it's actually that coders have no life sitting in front of their computer screens all day, and thus they try to make up for it by roleplaying. . .. ...(the sound you just heard is the myraid slashdotters modding this into oblivion) [ Reply to ThisVirtual worlds by Shishberg (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @06:59PMRe:Virtual worlds by nurbles (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:34PMRe:Virtual worlds by yinpeaceyang (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:09PM So does working at McDonalds. (Score:5, Insightful) by CyricZ (887944) on Sunday October 23, @07:00PM (#13860172) Tabletop roleplaying involves coming up with creative solutions to problems set in a clearly-defined ruleset, involve constant data-tracking and minor mathematical equations, and involve working together with small groups of people toward like-minded goals.That applies just as much to the workers at McDonalds and to farmers as it does to basically any other job that requires an ounce of skill. Before the 1960s such tasks were often called "common capabilities". That is, they were the basic tasks that pretty much anyone and everyone was expected to be able to do. It's only now, with declining education systems in many western nations, that we consider mastery of such menial tasks to be an accomplishment. [ Reply to ThisRe:So does working at McDonalds. by QuantumG (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:07PMRe:So does working at McDonalds. by CyricZ (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:27PMRe:So does working at McDonalds. by QuantumG (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:31PMRe:So does working at McDonalds. by Yaztromo (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:09PMCreativity? by dhasenan (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:24PMRe:So does working at McDonalds. by Radres (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:32PMRe:So does working at McDonalds. by Oligonicella (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:40PMRe: Left Wing Education == Declining Education by Radres (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:02PMRe: Left Wing Education == Declining Education by mariox19 (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @08:39PMRe: Left Wing Education == Declining Education by Oligonicella (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:45PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Agreement Check, DC 10 by Myu (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:00PM Of course (Score:5, Interesting) by FidelCatsro (861135) <fidelcatsro@nOsPAM.gmail.com> on Sunday October 23, @07:00PM (#13860175) (Last Journal: Sunday October 23, @04:58PM) We like to dream , and we like to make our dreams reality .After all programming is about turning thoughts in to something tangible .Role playing is about turning the dreams of adventure we all have in to some sort of reality .The only reason some people look down on it , is because they don't have the courage to do it for fear of looking silly. [ Reply to ThisRe:Of course by CyricZ (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:09PMRe:Of course by FidelCatsro (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:16PMRe:Of course by Radres (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:55PMRe:Of course by Oligonicella (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:48PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Of course by KrispyKringle (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:41PMRe:Of course by FidelCatsro (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:51PMRe:Of course by Oligonicella (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:52PM1 reply beneath your current threshold. Is there a connection? (Score:5, Funny) by SuperDuG (134989) <be&eclec,tk> on Sunday October 23, @07:00PM (#13860176) (http://www.eclec.tk/ | Last Journal: Tuesday December 25, @04:37PM) Good programmers are usually just as nerdy as good roleplay gamers?Or am I missing some non-obvious shared characteristic? [ Reply to ThisWhat I Think by dcollins (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:01PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Well... by PaintyThePirate (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:01PMDifferent types of problems. by dhasenan (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:32PM future conditional thought processes (Score:5, Interesting) by G4from128k (686170) on Sunday October 23, @07:01PM (#13860183) I think both role-playing and programming involve a "what if I do X" future-conditional thought process. Controlling a character in game or a byte-character in a program are not that different. They both require some explicit thought of future consequences of scripted actions in the context of a mechanistic system. This is especially true for DMs or scenario developers who must constantly think about how their setup will affect the player's future actions to guide those players toward some attainable game goal.Thinking abstractly about "what-if" is key to creating code that does what you want and expect it to do. Thinking about what-if is fantasy, by definition. [ Reply to ThisRe:future conditional thought processes by Zecritic (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:09PMRe:future conditional thought processes by hunterx11 (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:16PMRe:future conditional thought processes by Tony Hoyle (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:33PM It's cultural (Score:5, Insightful) by scenestar (828656) on Sunday October 23, @07:02PM (#13860184) (http://globalelements.nl/murisfurder | Last Journal: Friday August 26, @07:58PM) It's like asking, why do football players attend keg parties?Coding and roleplaying are part of geek culture [ Reply to ThisRe:It's cultural by CyricZ (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:13PMthat's everybody, man by conJunk (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:34PMRe:that's everybody, man by wed128 (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:55PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:It's cultural by i7dude (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @08:10PM Building with your mind (Score:5, Insightful) by phamlen (304054) <phamlenNO@SPAMmail.com> on Sunday October 23, @07:03PM (#13860191) (http://slashdot.org/) In both programming and FRPs, you can make things happen so long as you can imagine it correctly. As someone once told me, "Programming is like building with pure thought-stuff." Everything happens in an alternate realm from the physical world (the computer's memory or the group's imagination) and isn't limited by what you can do in the physical world.I think people who are attracted by programming's allure of creating programs just by thinking are also attracted by a FRP that lets you create a world with your own imagination.-Peter [ Reply to ThisTrue by heavy snowfall (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:34PM Maybe "systems" is the common thread? (Score:5, Insightful) by FlyByPC (841016) on Sunday October 23, @07:03PM (#13860194) Geeks in general, and programming geeks in particular, seem to be very much interested in systems of all sorts. Not just systems in the IT sense, but any group of objects and/or forces with interactions between the elements of the group.The combination of various skills, languages (another reason a lot of geeks like Tolkien), lands to explore -- and above all, magic -- comprise a field day for the geek intellect.Either that, or it's the improbably skimpy leather armor those amazons are wearing... [ Reply to ThisReminder by WilyCoder (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:03PMRe:Reminder by beaso (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:53PMRe:Reminder by Mishra100 (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:06PMRoleplaying boring...! by sploxx (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @07:06PMRe:Roleplaying boring...! by FidelCatsro (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:36PMWizards of the Coast? by uberdave (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:07PMRe:Wizards of the Coast? by InsideTheAsylum (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:13PMRe:Wizards of the Coast? by krbvroc1 (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:19PMRe:Wizards of the Coast? by VGPowerlord (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @07:28PMRe:Wizards of the Coast? by IWantMoreSpamPlease (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:54PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Is it due to enjoying intellectual challenges? by siliconbunny (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @07:08PMRe:Is it due to enjoying intellectual challenges? by krbvroc1 (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:27PMIntuition vs. Logic - Same or different by flyboy974 (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:10PM socially dynamic? quite the opposite, in a way (Score:5, Insightful) by Fross (83754) on Sunday October 23, @07:11PM (#13860243) (http://www.modernangel.org/) the social aspects of roleplaying are far less dynamic than real social interactions, because they are so much more controlled. you understand what your fellows are driving towards, the dialogue and situations are often cliched, or at least familiar, and there is less at stake, less responsibility, socially - if you make a jackass of yourself you can just claim you're roleplaying, and you already know that the people you're playing with are of a like mind to yourself, especially given the intelligent nature of a "game" such as RP.there are less unknowns, less uncertainties - and this is what is usually a problem for the socially inept - lack of confidence because of lack of certainty, which is what comes across as nerdishness.add into this the familiarity with the subject matter through books, films, and more recently computer RPG games, and the (to the mainstream) hurdle of a fantasy world is a non-event. the other aspect, which certainly will appeal to the mathematically design minded (not to mention the neurotic obsessive-compulsive detail freaks) is the range of stats, rules - *formal* descriptors of how the world interacts. if someone chucks a baseball at you, it's not down to something an unsporty nerd has little practice/familiarity with (ie catching it with his hands), but rather something quantifiable and determinate, stats, modifiers and a dice roll.this may sound harsh, particularly as i'm a programmer and have been a roleplayer quite extensively myself, but in our heads we're all great actors, witty people, conversationalists, sometimes we just need to find the right outlet for it to come out in. [ Reply to ThisRe:socially dynamic? quite the opposite, in a way by usrusr (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:37PMRe:socially dynamic? quite the opposite, in a way by pintpusher (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:00PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Mmmm, no by Reality Master 201 (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @07:12PMRe:Mmmm, no by Raseri (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:35PMCoding as Roleplaying by Ksisanth (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:14PMNot in my experience by pantaz (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:15PMSome time ago there was a paper... by Improv (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:25PMRe:Some time ago there was a paper... by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @08:53PMi hate games by MrP- (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:29PMRe:i hate games by mike3k (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:46PMRe:i hate games by Profane Motherfucker (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:58PMRe:i hate games by jpoint15 (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:20PMI am a professional programmer by autopr0n (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:35PMStronger tie between coding and management skills? by ChePibe (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:36PMThe editors know their audience by stuttering stan (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:42PMPiss Off with the Ageism by Eli Gottlieb (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:01PMWotC wtf? by zephris (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:50PMRe:WotC wtf? by Arivia (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:21PMRe:WotC wtf? by zephris (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @11:24PMRe:WotC wtf? by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @11:47PMRe:WotC wtf? by DNS-and-BIND (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:23PMRe:WotC wtf? by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:27PMRe:WotC wtf? by DNS-and-BIND (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @11:29PMRe:WotC wtf? by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @11:52PMThe culture of geeks... by icefaerie (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @07:54PMThe obvious by neelm (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @07:58PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Strategy Is Everything by Charles E. Hardwidge (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:01PMSick of staring at a monitor all day long by Bohnanza (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @08:08PMClarification by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @08:15PMIt's all about playing with your mind by mdarksbane (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:15PMI've always been intrigued by desktop RPGs...but.. by ylikone (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @08:18PMFollow the rules? You kidding? by Spazmania (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @08:27PMShort Answer: "Yes" with an "If,"... by sesshomaru (Score:3) Sunday October 23, @08:29PMRe:Short Answer: "Yes" with an "If,"... by rhetoric (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:47PMYeah... by Mongoose (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @08:52PMBefore I answer... by Alpha27 (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:01PMMusic is a better metric by Malc (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:08PMCRC Cards by HisMother (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @09:15PMSystems by Bellum Aeternus (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:28PMfree-formishly-creative? by bhav2007 (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @09:34PMRe:free-formishly-creative? by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:21PMMMOG roleplaying is number crunching by Danathar (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:05PMRe:MMOG roleplaying is number crunching by Arivia (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:17PMJust in case nobodys already said it... by SpacePunk (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:11PMcrap. by griffjon (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:17PMIt's all about abstraction and fantasy by Crouty (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:17PMOh, for Pete's sake... by mtec (Score:2) Sunday October 23, @10:22PMAgreed! by TheTiminator (Score:1) Sunday October 23, @10:23PM