It’s similar to people who got into the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter after watching the movies. The movies aren’t exactly like the books, and generally speaking, “the book was better”, but the movies are easier for a newbie to digest and if they enjoy it, they’ll feel more comfortable committing time and effort into digging into the “deeper” version of it.
Comment on Baldur Gate 3 is must be what players experience in their heads when they do DnD.
Mowcherie@lemmy.world 9 months ago
DnD is kind of a cross between improv, telling stories, and a choose-your-own-adventure, from what I gather from my spouse who runs games for a living. Playing Baldurd Gate 3 was really eye opening and I think the game helps one understand the appeal of tabletop RPGs a bit better.
Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Mowcherie@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Ok, that makes alot of sense. I’m like the person who watched the movie and think I know what the book it like (but really the book is much better).
Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 9 months ago
It’s interesting to hear from someone who has trouble seeing the appeal. I think of storytelling, whether fictional or otherwise, as a core aspect of the human experience.
I think everyone should learn to tell a story that hangs together and has some elements of structure and style. We can’t all be raconteurs for hire, but getting to participate in a story is important. It gives us a chance to live a purer existence for a while.
canthidium@lemmy.world 9 months ago
The thing that’s always kept me from trying it is thinking on the spot. I have really bad social anxiety and I have bad validation issues and I always need to impress, so I get freaked out about having to improv. Collaboration is hard for me too. I’m much better when I have all the control and can make all the decisions myself and not have to worry about screwing up or disappointing. I loved BG3 though and it’s piqued my interest in DnD again.
Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 9 months ago
That’s very understandable. I’m so bad at improvising (or used to be?) that the only way I can stand to run a game is by writing huge reams of prepared content. So, not railroady, but narratively I’d create a room full of tripwire events and canned monologues so that no matter where they go or what they do, there are plot hooks and repercussions taking place.
I got quite obsessive about it for a while. Sometimes I think I’d be better off writing a book, but it’s too much fun to see people getting into it.
Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I have two methods of DMing. Either I do like you and prepare a mountain of content and the players see about 10% of it, or I completely forgot and just make it up as I go.
Funny thing is, the players can rarely tell. 😂
caseyweederman@lemmy.ca 9 months ago
I feel the same way, but I’m also bad at planning, so things fall apart really quickly.
I get lots of big ideas but then the players go right instead of left and I’m like ??? why
canthidium@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I think I would appreciate that a lot from a DM. At least the first few times. I think I would do better to be guided quite a bit until I get comfortable.