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10 Things Every Gamer Needs To Do Before They Die

As a gamer, I’ve always tried to immerse myself into “RPG culture” as much as possible. I think everyone should try to do that. Below, I present a list of ten things every gamer should do before they die. Not only will you be a better gamer for it, you’ll be a better person.

1. Teach someone else to play RPGs

As gamers, we are responsible for ushering in the next generation. Go to your local library and volunteer to teach people to game. Talk to your coworkers and see if they want to “give it a shot” over lunch. If you have kids, teach them to play as soon as they’re old enough. The more people you teach to play RPGs, the better.

2. Go to GenCon

The Mecca of Gaming. Every gamer owes it to themselves to make it to at least one GenCon. Trust me; you’ll love it.

3. Go to a local gaming convention

Local conventions are a great way to meet fellow gamers in your area. It’s also a great way to be introduced to new games and systems.

4. Play at least 20 different RPG systems

There are many, many different systems out there. You owe it to yourself to try out as many as you can. You never know; you may find one that you’ll play for the rest of your life.

5. Play at least 10 different genres of RPGs

Just like you should play different systems, you should also expand your horizons and play games from different genres. Horror, fantasy, comedy, pulp; they’re all out there waiting for you to give them a shot.

6. LARP

I have never done this but think it would be fun to try at least once. We sit around the table pretending to be someone else, why not immerse yourself in it for a few hours?

7. Run a game (DM/GM/Referee)

Almost every gamer starts out as a player. At one point, I think every gamer should make the leap to running a game. Even if it’s just a one-shot, sitting on the other side of the screen and learning what the GM puts into the game will help give you insight into what your GM goes through each session.

8. Play OD&D

While not the world’s first RPG, it is the grandaddy of them all. The one true RPG upon which every current RPG is descended. It’s always good to know where your favorite hobby came from.

9. Go to a Renaissance Faire

Renaissance Faire’s are a great place to go to shop, eat, and be entertained. The people who volunteer their time to work at Faire’s usually love what they’re doing and it will show.

10. Read everything

This may sound pretty generic but it’s a goal to shoot for. Read everything. Novels, gaming books, blogs, forums; everything you can to learn everything there is about gaming.

So that’s my list. Personally, I’ve done eight out of the first nine. And I’m still working on number 10.

So did I miss anything? What would you recommend?

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Posted in: Culture, Gamer Life, Geek Life, RPG

14 Responses to “10 Things Every Gamer Needs To Do Before They Die”

Chris Tregenza December 5th, 2008 at 5:56 AM

9. Go to a Renaissance Faire

We don’t have these in the UK. Instead we have real history. Buildings that have been in use since the middle ages, like one of my favourite pubs: The Trip to Jerusalem, establish 1189AD.

Apart from that I think I’ve done everything on the list. I cannot be sure I’ve played in 10 different genre’s because I’m not sure I could name 10 different genres. Certainly played 20 different systems and LARP’ed (but hated it).

Chris Tregenza´s last blog post..Lead Toy Soldiers

Electrocuted December 5th, 2008 at 9:16 AM

@ Chris Tregenza
Old west – Boot Hill
Post Apocalyptic – Hell on Earth
Fantasy – D&D
Modern – d20 modern
Near Future – Shadowrun
Scifi – Traveller
Horror – Vampire, or Call of Cthulhu
Comedy – Paranoia
Superhero – Champions or Scion, technically
Espionage – Top Secret or Spycraft

Some of them are kinda close together, and I tend to count all the period / Alt history ones together really. So old west falls in with samurai falls in with Valley of the Pharaohs falls in with Dogs in the Vineyard.

reveal December 5th, 2008 at 9:26 AM

@Chris – That’s why I love the UK. You don’t need fake castles!

@Electrocuted – Good list. “Near Future” could also be “Cyberpunk.”

Dead Orcs December 5th, 2008 at 9:42 AM

Excellent “bucket list” for gamers, Reveal. I’ve done 1 thru 4; and 7 thru 9. I’d count six, but only if you allow for performances on a stage in a play. I’ve never poked around in the woods with a foam sword; not sure I ever will.

Dead Orcs´s last blog post..What the Hell We Supposed ta Do, Ya’ Mo-dron!?

Wyatt December 5th, 2008 at 10:09 AM

I would suggest everyone try to run a parody game some time (and not with a parody game system, but with a serious system not specifically made for humor), but I guess that might be covered under genres.

Wyatt´s last blog post..Here’s A Weird One (4e Homebrew)

reveal December 5th, 2008 at 10:10 AM

@Dead Orcs – I’d say being in a stage play is close but not exactly the same as LARPing only because, in a play, you’re usually following a script and LARPing forces you to think on your feet, just like you would at the table.

As for #5, you better get cracking’!

reveal December 5th, 2008 at 10:11 AM

@Wyatt – Sounds interesting. Do you have any posts on parody games? I’d like to try it.

Citizen Mane December 5th, 2008 at 10:14 AM

Kind of tangential, but I’d never heard of Braunstein before. Neat little story, that is.

reveal December 5th, 2008 at 10:43 AM

@Citizen Mane – I just read about it myself just a few days ago.

Wyatt December 6th, 2008 at 11:11 AM

I actually don’t have a post on parody games…I should try doing one sometime.

Wyatt´s last blog post..Wyatt Is Crushed Beneath His Workload

reveal December 6th, 2008 at 2:02 PM

@Wyatt – You should. I’d like to hear how you run it.

Playing A Parody Game « The Spirits of Eden December 6th, 2008 at 4:53 PM

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