To Game, or Not to Game?

I have been playing role-playing games ever since I can remember. My earliest memory is playing DnD, I was not any older than seven I believe. Gavin, Bob, and I would play on lunch break at school. At that age we really had no idea how to really play the game, but it was fun. Ever since then I have been playing on and off with the same group of guys. I have not seen Gavin in many years, (parted ways after elementary school), but Bob and I and a couple of friends we graduated with still play when we can. When you talk about Gaming, (slang for playing RPGs, which stands for role-playing games), to people who have never played, mixed feelings arise. Some still believe it is evil, thanks to some drug heads in the seventies who thought it would be fun to play "Live Action" in the sewers and kill each other, and some think that because there is magic, dragons, demons, and witches, that it is of satan, which makes it evil. I just think that most of these people just need to educate themselves before rushing to harsh conclusions. Of course you have the geek or nerd reputation that comes with this, but most gamers ignore the ignorance. (Though I can not deny that these games to attract those of that social status).

Personally I'm not all that crazy about calling it a game. I have no clue what else you would call it, but I still do not like it. My reasoning is as follows, this is one of a very few games where you do not compete with anyone. There is no winner or loser, and really no ending. Now some may say that the GM/DM, (game master/dungeon master), is who you are competing against, but I say no. I liken it to God. Yep you heard me right, God. Let me explain, God has a story, or a plan, we are the characters or players in this story. He does not make us do anything or live our lives a certain way, that is up to us. He is not out to kill us or make our lives difficult but he does lend a helping hand to those who have learned to help themselves. The same holds true to a GM/DM of a RPG, the said GM/DM is telling a story and the characters or players are the ones who is making it happen.

I have learned a lot from role-playing, to work as a team, strategy, vocabulary, how to write small, but most importantly, to use my imagination in new and creative ways. There are many different kinds of games, Dungeons and Dragons, Rifts, and a personal favorite White Wolf Games, just to name a few. The games are only as evil as the people playing them. Do I feel like I am compromising my faith when I play? No. But for others? Maybe. To each his own. Whether or not this is wrong in the eyes of God is really between you and him. As for me, I'll play in one form or another till the day I die.

Stolen Babies

This band is simply amazing. I joined My Space for one reason, to check out new music. The crap the music industry is pushing is just nauseous. There is a lot of junk on My Space as well, but every so often you find a gem...

Gil Sharone of Fishbone fame,
Creative and unique sound,
A chick playing an Accordion,
and original artwork of Crab Scrambly,
What is there not to love...