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The Surprising Benefits of Role-Playing

Games (and How to Get Started)
Patrick Allan
2/09/15 11:00am • Filed to: GAMES 227 64

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When you hear about role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, you
Sploid probably picture a dimly-lit basement filled with people in silly robes rolling
Fox News: Either Planet X Will Kill Us All dice, but there's much more to it than that. Not only are role-playing games
on April 23rd or the Rapture Can Happen incredibly fun, but they can actually teach you skills you'll use in the real
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world.
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When I first heard about role-playing games, I immediately thought it was

something that was just for the nerdiest of nerds out there. I could only
imagine how ridiculous it would feel to sit around a table with other people
and act like someone—or something—else, pretending to fight goblins and
dragons. The entire premise just sounded way "too geeky" for me—even as
someone who was way into video games and other "nerdy" things.

Fast forward a couple years, and I found that I was completely wrong. As soon
as I took a moment to strip away the facade of monsters and swords, role-
playing games revealed themselves to be something far more interesting than
other traditional games. Behind the fantasy adventures was a fun social
gathering that required you to think on your toes, solve problems, be creative,
and ultimately learn how to become a team player. Sound familiar? Yeah,
that's because it's like every job out there. It turned out that it really wasn't
about the dungeons or the dragons at all—it's about thinking critically and
working like a team.

Now I indulge in role-playing games as often as I can. It's nice to have an

escape from the toils and troubles of the real world, but with every game
session I play, I find that I actually learn something as well. Maybe it's about
myself and the way I think, maybe it's something about one of my friends that
brings us closer together, or maybe I just find a new way to look at something
that I hadn't thought of. I've learned that role-playing games are about more
than playing a game, and more importantly, that they are for everybody.

The Benefits
Playing Cultivates Creativity

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What to Do With Amazon Packages You Creativity is the bread and butter of role-playing games. They have a certain
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freedom and the ability to move the story forward how you see fit. There are
rules for each game, but they are merely the skeleton to whatever story you
and your team want to create.

Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to activate our brains, and role-
playing games do this incredibly well. When we tell stories—or experience
them—our brains have to process language, the cause and effect of events, and
also relate it to our own pre-existing experiences. While you're playing a role-
playing game, your brain is firing on all cylinders.

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It's good for you, the same way socializing or reading a book is good for you.
In fact, as Jon Michaud of The New Yorker explains, reading comes with the
territory:
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...D. & D. is a textual, storytelling, world-creating experience, a great
Patrick Allan Yesterday 2:00pm
apprenticeship for a budding author. But, more fundamentally, you cannot play
D. & D. without reading—a lot. Ed Park, in an essay on D. & D. (included in the
anthology "Bound to Last"), celebrates the magnificent vocabulary of the game…
Combined, the player's manual, the Dungeon Master's guide, and the monster
manual (the core books of advanced D. & D.) add up to four hundred and sixty-
eight pages of small-print, double-column text. I read them with studious
devotion and headlong glee. Almost immediately, television all but disappeared
from my life.

Before Michaud started playing, he spent his days watching TV while his
grades were plummeting. As soon as the fantasy of D&D came into his life,
however, that all changed. Michaud even goes so far as to say that Dungeons &
Dragons "saved his life" because it got him on a better life track after reading
more and finding something that excited him. Perhaps it won't save your life,
but it can still enhance it. As you play, you'll develop creativity in a way you
might not have experienced before. Whether you're running the game as the
"Dungeon Master"—controlling what happens to the players—or simply
playing as one of the characters, your storytelling ability will increase.

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Dungeon Masters—also called Game Masters in some games—must be

particularly good storytellers. Even if you're using a pre-made adventure with
most of the work already done, you still have to be ready to come up with
dialogue and personalities for the non-player characters, and be able to vividly
describe the world your players explore. As a player, you have to find ways to
make your character more interesting by creating personality quirks or a rich
backstory.

Role-playing games force you to draw from what you know and create
something that you and others can enjoy. A lot of famous creators have been
influenced by Dungeons & Dragons as well. Comedian Stephen Colbert, writer
George R. R. Martin, comedian Robin Williams, Simpsons creator Matt
Groening, and Community creator Dan Harmon all played at one time or
another. Storytelling is the one of the most basic creative skills that you can
draw on for so many other skills, and being a good storyteller can even make
you a more charismatic person. Dive in to another world and see what kind of
cool stuff you can come up. You might surprise yourself with what you come
up with.

Playing Levels Up Your Social Skills

When you think Dungeons & Dragons, you probably don't think social skills—
but once again, that's a stereotype that doesn't necessarily hold true. Role-
playing games are 100% social. You need to be able to talk to other people,
express how you feel about certain situations, all in a group of people. Role-
playing games come with a social network built directly into them.

Sure, to an extent, video games do the same thing—but it isn't quite the same.
Role-playing games bring the interaction right to your face, no screens
between you. Plus, you get to hang out with your friends. Before and after a
play session, you can catch up with what they've been up to and share what's
going on in your life. Once you know the rules for a particular game, you can
easily make new friends too. You can hop into other game groups and make
new friends; the process being easier because a giant plot of common ground
is right out in the open. Making friends when you move can be really tough,
but you can hit up a local game and hobby shop to see if there are any groups
looking for more players.

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This engrained social network can be particularly helpful for kids too. Making
new friends can be more difficult for some people, and the forced social
interaction of role-playing games can help them find people that share their
interests. Additionally, kids and adults alike can use role-playing games to
combat shyness. Players are given a mask in the form of their character that
allows them to feel less vulnerable. Using my characters as a vehicle helped me
feel more comfortable talking to others. Over time I got over shyness and felt
comfortable cracking jokes and starting conversations on my own. There's
nothing necessarily wrong with being shy, but for those that do want to get
out of their comfort zone a bit, role-playing games can offer some help.

Playing Encourages Teamwork and Cooperation

Most role playing games don't end in a "win" or a "loss", but they still require
teamwork. The events depend on players' actions, just like any other game,
and failure to work with other players will guarantee a not-so-fun time. Role-
playing games are designed from the ground up to be cooperative and it can be
a lot of fun to play a game where there are no winners and losers.

A lot of games strive to be competitive, but life can be competitive enough, and
role-playing games provide a refreshing change of pace. Additionally, learning
to be a team player is highly important in the professional world. You take on a
role at work and do the things that you've trained to do, and it works the same
way in a role-playing game. Your character normally has a particular skillset,
and that fills a role on a diverse team. Just like at work, if you don't do your
job, the whole team can suffer for it.

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Of course, that doesn't mean that role-playing games are as serious as work.
They can just help you learn the basics of working with others. You get a feel
for how you handle interactions in stressful settings. Maybe you'll find that
you're a good leader, choreographing a perfect battle where nobody gets too
hurt. Or maybe you'll find that you're more of a support-type, ready to jump to
someone's aid when they need it. Perhaps you can just think outside the box
better than your peers, and figure your way out of complex situations. There
are no good or bad roles, just the roles you can fill. By learning to play with a
team, you can learn how to work with one.

Playing Teaches Problem Solving Skills

Problem solving is what makes the world go 'round and role-playing games
are filled to the brim with it. Layers upon layers of problems stand in front of
you and your fellow party members. You could be trying to solve a riddle, while
navigating a labyrinth, while deciding the best way to take out a band of
goblins, while trying to solve a murder mystery, all while preventing a dark
lord from taking over the kingdom. Talk about problems.

Role-playing games and their campaigns are problem after problem, all just
barely solvable. As each event of your game unfolds, you're forced to think on
your feet and react. You develop some improvisation skill and feel a rush
whenever your group finds a clever way to tackle a tough problem. In fact,
some of your most memorable moments will likely end up being times that
you felt like your back was against the wall, but you managed to pull through
using your wit.

Learning how to solve problems develops your critical thinking and can help
you approach problems in the future with the right mindset. In role-playing
games you're simultaneously the chess player and the chess piece. You learn to
see problems from multiple perspectives and realize that there's always a light
at the end of the dark, goblin-filled cave.

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Playing Is Fun

Seriously, playing role-playing games is an absolute blast. Try this: Imagine a

time in your past that you did something that felt a little silly. Maybe you were
at a party, or maybe you had a couple drinks and hit the dance floor at a
wedding. Something you were worried about being embarrassed about it at
first, but as soon as you gave in, it was some of the most fun you've ever had.
That's what role-playing games are like.

Half the fun is letting go of the heavy world around you and playing like you're
a kid again. You sit down at that table and suddenly you're running around the
playground, having adventures and saving the world. Can you honestly say
that fun like that isn't for everybody?

How to Get Started

Getting started can be the toughest part, but there are some things you can do
to make it a lot easier. Unfortunately, there's no way I could even come close
to explaining how to play all of the role-playing games out there, but I can
point you in the right direction.

First, you want to find a game that would interest you. The world of role-
playing games can be very overwhelming, but it also means that there is
literally something for everyone. If you like sci-fi, there's plenty of that. If you
like fantasy, there's plenty of that too. Vampires? Check. Werewolves? Check.
Super heroes, Lovecraft, zombies, aliens, Star Wars, wrestling… You name it,
there's probably a role-playing game for it. Heck, I've even played a role-
playing game based around the movie Mean Girls (and it was, like, so fetch). So
don't worry if Dungeons & Dragons doesn't sound like your cup of tea.

Do some research and see what you can dig up. Google "[thing you like] role-
playing game" and you might be surprised at what you find. Certain games are
going to be more popular, however—which means it might be easier to join or
start one of those game types—but see what you can find that excites you. If
you're not into the world the game is portraying, you're probably not going to
enjoy yourself. As far as recommendations go, check out Fate, Pathfinder, Star
Wars: Edge of the Empire, Call of Cthulhu, and (of course) Dungeons &
Dragons fifth edition. You can even get a large taste of what D&D is like
without paying a cent. If you're still lost, hit up a game and hobby store and
ask around. You're sure to get more recommendations than you'll what to do
with.

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When you find something that interests you, see what materials you need.
Most role-playing games require that you at least own a copy of its player's
manual. Some games may require additional books as well, so make sure
you're getting what you need. These books can be very expensive—usually $40
and up—and the go-to, Amazon, won't necessarily hook you up. Shop around
online and check local game and hobby stores to find the best deals. You can
also find digital versions of almost every current game and those can be
significantly cheaper. There are a few other things you'll need to play as well:

· DM or GM guide: The Dungeon Master (DM) or Game Master (GM) usually

can benefit from having this additional book.

· Dice: You'll usually need more than the standard six-sided (d6) dice.
Some games require sets of their own special dice. Always check to see
what you need.

· Character Sheets: You can normally find these in the back of the player's
manuals, but you can also find them on each game's web site for free.

· Pencils: Not pens—especially if you're just starting out.

· A table: The more space you have for books and character sheets the
better. Some people like to use grid mats and figurines, but they aren't
completely necessary.

· People: Alas, you cannot play these games alone. Trust me, I've tried. It's
not nearly as fun. Two people will work in a pinch, but a group of four or
five tends to be way more fun.

Once you have all of those things, you need to read. A lot. Role-playing games
require some investment. The rules for each game can be complicated, and
even though you shouldn't let rules be the focus of your game sessions, you
should get a basic idea of how they work. If you know someone that knows
how to play, ask them to teach you! They'll likely be glad to show you the
ropes. They may even have their own group and invite you to join, even if it's
just for a few sessions so you can learn.

In the same vein, it doesn't hurt to ask around if you're looking for a group to
play with. If none of your current friends play, ask around your local gaming
stores. A lot of stores have regularly scheduled sessions in-store, and it's a
great way to learn to play without having to buy a rulebook or convince your
current friends to come play with you. At the very least, someone might be
able to point you in the right direction. You can also find playgroups online.
Web sites like Meetup.com can help you find other people in your area that are
interested in playing the games you want to play. It never hurts to check out
the forums of big role-playing game publisher web sites—like Wizards of the
Coast or Fantasy Flight Games—in search of players, either.

Lastly, if you're having trouble understanding how things work, YouTube is

your friend. You can find countless videos of real gameplay and rules
explanation for whatever game you're interested in. Watch a few games and
you'll start to see how the flow of a game should feel. This can be especially
helpful if you want to run the game too.

Role-playing games are fun, exciting, and can actually help you learn a thing
or two. So get out there, find a group, and don't let the concept overwhelm
you. Ease into the games and you may even make some new friends along the
way. Role-playing games really are for everyone, especially you.

Photos by PublicDomainPictures, OpenClips, Dan Catchpole, Michael Harrison, Benny Mazur,

potential past, Benny Mazur, Sean Ellis.