slb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden) (08/26/85)
Robert A. Ekblaw, ekblaw@uiucdcs writes >I think these two writers represent the greatest threat to proving Dr. >Thomas Radecki's claim (if you don't know what I mean, go back and read >Note #14 about violence and D&D). The real-life actors have been shown to >get carried away with the action, and are in danger of harming themselves >or other people. I am not one of the two writers mentioned above, but I am a member of IFGS, and have played in 3 games as a PC and 3 as an NPC--so I think I can answer this. The games are about as safe as you can get. I know of only two injuries in games I've played or NPC'd in. One was an NPC who slipped during melee and hit his head on a rock. This is not hard to do in these mountains no matter what your activity. The other was an NPC who slipped in a cow pie on her way to an encounter and broke a leg. Considering the hundreds of people who participate, I think we're doing pretty good. All weapons are checked before a game. They are made from foam and bamboo, and you won't be hurt from even a VERY hard swing. (I should know. I've practiced with someone who can get "carried away" very easily. She hits REALLY hard, but never gave me any real damage other than one bruise, and I bruise very easily.) Head shots are forbidden. You can get thrown off course for head shots. Most of the action in the games is problem-solving and role-playing. They are not hack and slash or Monty Haul games. They do have some fighting--but no violence. >I challenge these people to prove to us they know the difference between >reality and fantasy. Well, I'm not quite sure how to prove this. If you can come up with the test, I'll be glad to take it. I am currently holding down a good job testing software, and raising two daughters, five cats, and a husband (-:). There is a lot of fantasy in my life, but I think I know the difference between Sunny (my IFGS cleric), Faubian (my IFGS magic-user), all my D&D characters and myself. I'm the one at the terminal in the jeans. I am also the one who is a Buddhist, and refuses to squash a bug--so I don't think violence has taken over my life. I just got back from an IFGS adventure that was held this weekend, and I feel great. I recommend it to anyone who is in the neighborhood of a chapter (currently only Boulder and NJ). It is a great vacation to be someone else for 2 days. And you make some great friends--people draw together when they face challanges in a group. Yes, I thought it was crazy when I first heard about it, too... -- Sue Brezden Real World: Room 1B17 Net World: ihnp4!drutx!slb AT&T Information Systems 11900 North Pecos Westminster, Co. 80234 (303)538-3829 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Your god may be dead, but mine aren't. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~