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Critical role: Making D&D cool again
The Western Courier ^ | 2/2/18 | Evan Williamson

Posted on 04/30/2018 3:09:26 PM PDT by Teflonic

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I posted this article because it's the only recent one I could find about this. I played Dungeons & Dragons as a kid in the 70's and 80's then again a few times as an adult in the 90's and have always harbored fond memories of the game. Recently I came across a show on Youtube titled Critical Role that has brought all those memories back for me and more. I'm having a blast watching these voice actors play under the direction of their fantastic DM. For those like me who played the game I recommend watching the second campaign, the first episode of which is hotlinked above.
1 posted on 04/30/2018 3:09:26 PM PDT by Teflonic
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To: Teflonic
Critical role: Making D&D cool again

When did it ever stop being cool?

I'm sure I still have a first edition Player's Guide and Dungeon Master's Guide (both hardcover) somewhere in my packed away boxes.

2 posted on 04/30/2018 3:13:23 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Teflonic

My 50 year old son played back then. All 3 of his sons are now playing it....even the 9 year old.


3 posted on 04/30/2018 3:14:30 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Teflonic

I started playing in Naval Nuclear Power School in 1981 and still do. Just not as much as I did back then.

I’ll check out that youtube channel. Thanks.


4 posted on 04/30/2018 3:15:30 PM PDT by Bryanw92 (Asking a pro athlete for political advice is like asking a cavalry horse for tactical advice.)
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To: Yo-Yo

Oh I’ll never let my old books and modules go, I think they will be worth lots someday. They’re akin to early comic books really if you think about it.


5 posted on 04/30/2018 3:16:18 PM PDT by Teflonic (tt)
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To: Teflonic

Oh the hysteria towards D&D, does anyone remember the made for TV movie that they did where the kid went all psycho and thought he was inside a D&D game in real life and needed to be re-programmed. Can’t remember the name of it though.


6 posted on 04/30/2018 3:17:34 PM PDT by rednesss (fascism is the union,marriage,merger or fusion of corporate economic power with governmental power)
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To: Sacajaweau

It is a great way to get kids away from their screens so they can learn to enjoy real human interaction.


7 posted on 04/30/2018 3:17:46 PM PDT by Teflonic (tt)
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To: rednesss

I wish our society was so healthy that Dungeons and Dragons was enough to cause a moral panic.


8 posted on 04/30/2018 3:19:36 PM PDT by Shadow44
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To: rednesss
That was Mazes and Monsters (1982), I was forced to read the book as a kid by my religious family that were taken in by the propaganda.
9 posted on 04/30/2018 3:19:43 PM PDT by Teflonic (tt)
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To: Yo-Yo

Mine aren’t packed away.


10 posted on 04/30/2018 3:21:03 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Teflonic
"But throughout the 1980’s it was painted as satanic"

The second time I heard a speaker say that, was in a college Sunday School class. I explained I had played the game and didn't feel any warnings from the Spirit.

The instructor thought for a minute and finally said, it's the role playing nature of the game. It can be used to introduce someone to demon worship or other practices.

I thought about it and realized that while that was true and is a danger of the game, the reverse it true too. It could be used to introduce someone to Christian disciplines. The game is not evil, but can be used as a tool for good or evil or just fun.

My college age kids now enjoy the game. My daughter is frequently a dungeon master. In some cases they've played online with their friends using some awesome computerized tools that facilitate the game play.

11 posted on 04/30/2018 3:21:16 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Teflonic

My late stepson played “Magic: The Gathering.” Does anyone here play or at least familiar with it?


12 posted on 04/30/2018 3:22:39 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It’s a trading card game, the mechanics are very similar to how Pokemon cards worked or Yugioh, but I assume it is because they were based off it.

Never was into it but knew kids who were. Seemed harmless.


13 posted on 04/30/2018 3:27:18 PM PDT by Shadow44
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To: Shadow44

His former roomates strenuously tried to get us to give them his card collection, which tells me it is valuable.


14 posted on 04/30/2018 3:31:18 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: rednesss
does anyone remember the made for TV movie that they did where the kid went all psycho and thought he was inside a D&D game in real life

Yeah i rememberthat movie. Mazes and Monsters It starred an early Tom Hanks IIRC.

I was already involved with D&D and thought anyone who knew anything about D&D thought the movie character was nuts.

As well as anyone who believed D&D drove them nuts was, well, nuts themselves.

15 posted on 04/30/2018 3:31:48 PM PDT by RedMonqey (" Those who turn their arms in for plowshares will be doing the plowing for those who didnÂ’t.")
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To: Shadow44

>>Seemed harmless.

Except that they require constant investment to stay competitive. Cooperative RPGs that you could play forever with 3 books and some dice were at the height of popularity when the CCGs were invented.


16 posted on 04/30/2018 3:33:04 PM PDT by Bryanw92 (Asking a pro athlete for political advice is like asking a cavalry horse for tactical advice.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Yes, they can be absolutely valuable. I would make sure they get appraised before getting rid of them.


17 posted on 04/30/2018 3:36:31 PM PDT by Shadow44
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Single cards can be worth thousands, don't just give them away.
18 posted on 04/30/2018 3:37:22 PM PDT by Teflonic (tt)
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To: DannyTN
I thought about it and realized that while that was true and is a danger of the game, the reverse it true too.

As a dungeon master I tried to make my "dungeon" as believable as possible so I did my research into the pantheon of Deities.

Not once was I tempted by the "Dark Side" to join their side.

Maybe I wasn't doing it right!(snicker, snicker)

Oer maybe I always wanted my players to have a sense of accomplishment when the defeated my evil characters...

19 posted on 04/30/2018 3:37:34 PM PDT by RedMonqey (" Those who turn their arms in for plowshares will be doing the plowing for those who didnÂ’t.")
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To: Bryanw92

Well, I meant in terms of morality. They obviously are meant to maximize consumption and revenue by constantly adding expansion packs.


20 posted on 04/30/2018 3:37:59 PM PDT by Shadow44
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