tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post5610193859414759791..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: CandorAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-84957399969258583602017-07-15T01:17:20.863-06:002017-07-15T01:17:20.863-06:00I had those thoughts, kimbo; and, however, did not...I had those thoughts, kimbo; and, however, did not want to use the word addict.<br /><br />Realistically, I'm an addict. I'm making a map when I should be writing my book. But as addictions go, this doesn't shorten my life nor cause my family undue misery as my addiction slowly destroys me.<br /><br />But yes, those with poor self-esteem will turn to addictions to sustain themselves. I think the key word in your comment, however, is "hope." They're "hoping" for a dopamine hit whereas I, and those who are trying to play as I do, definitely know they're going to get a dopamine hit.<br /><br />What a chasm that is . . . between players going off to their campaigns thinking, "I hope it's a good running" and those thinking, "Once I toss the dragon at them, I'll ..."<br /><br />Those poor devils.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-27490690869199885302017-07-14T15:30:26.980-06:002017-07-14T15:30:26.980-06:00Alexis,
Addicts hanging/hoping for a dopamine hit...Alexis, <br />Addicts hanging/hoping for a dopamine hit might be a better the description of players staying with shitty DMs. The real deal engagement game you advocate is by intentional design a dopamine goal pursuing activity, not aimed at fun (mild amusement, in fact these may be mutually exclusive).<br />May be of interest, this vid talks about a perception model during goal seeking behaviour. From this i interpret the DMs role is to create the environment that enables players to plan toward a goal and then allows them to act toward it, making it challenging enough and tense enough that they stay engaged in the hunt/explore/problem solve mental frame.<br />https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wNjbasba-Qw#t=72m30s<br />Kkimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12961382206655820923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-9471338654262285922017-07-14T11:52:10.330-06:002017-07-14T11:52:10.330-06:00The argument, "My players show up," has ...The argument, "My players show up," has always been specious. It is regularly used as the closing argument, Q.E.D., for the quality of a given campaign. But is this because the players <i>choose</i> this game or because the alternative is a night in without company? This is never explored.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-41919241440204921902017-07-14T11:33:02.181-06:002017-07-14T11:33:02.181-06:00It makes me wonder exactly how frequent this is wi...It makes me wonder exactly how frequent this is within members of the hobby.<br /><br />Whenever I offer criticism about we run the game, the first response I usually get is, "Well my players keep showing up, so I must be doing something right." I'm disinclined to argue simply because, most of the time, I have no evidence to the contrary. This post makes me wonder, "Just how many of us are affected by... whatever this is? And how many DMs are able to recognize it for what it is? And if they could, would they be able to set aside their pride long enough to understand that it's not a judgment call either way on their ability to run the game?"<br /><br />So many questions...Ozymandiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01065642299277380465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-19639495323464172812017-07-14T11:01:57.676-06:002017-07-14T11:01:57.676-06:00Well stated, Alexis.
People respond differently to...Well stated, Alexis.<br />People respond differently to these conditions, and so the temptation might be to say, "why can't (sad person) be more like (less sad person)." I am training to be a family therapist and will regularly be dealing with depressed and anxious folks. I will be in therapy myself to help me work with these people appropriately over time. That I see the symptoms in players around my table initially surprised me, but it probably shouldn't have. The training allows me to see things clearer, and to be more helpful, but I do wonder at the impact on the game. I haven't explored it that far yet. Jomo Risinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13552294536240059611noreply@blogger.com