Snippitts of Illusions

FRANKS GEEKDOM SATURDAY

Hello folks.
I've debated what to write about this geekdom, as I always do.
The last geekdom (21st of May) was on Episode III.
The one before that, on movies.
Last week I was out of town to Joel and Deanne's wedding (Congratulations again you guys!) so there wasn't a post.
I haven't had much in the way of geeking out for well over a week... hell two weeks.
I've thought about talking about the geek social structure... but I don't want to.
What then?
Characters.
Yep, characters in rpg's.
Some people play rpg's for to get lost in the world, to fight baddies with their imagination, to do things they would never do in real life.*
The key to doing this is the character.
Now all of you theatre geeks do theatre because (at least one reason) of the characters you can play.
That's one reason I've continued doing theatre.
It's also why i enjoy rpg's.
There are other reasons, i'll talk about eventually, but characters in rpg are the draw for many people.
Do you want to pretend to be a swashbuckling pirate with one leg and a stutter? Make the character in an rpg.
Do you want to be a halfling (hobbit) barbarian with angst ridden rage, well DnD is perfect for that.
How about a private investagator with a thing for the ladies, a hairtrigger finger, and chronic jock itch who's discovered a wierd cult? Call of Cthulhu would be your game.
There are genre's to meet every geek and losers dream.
In fact you can do just about anything with rpg's.
You can even physically act out your character with Live Action Roleplaying.
Of course... I do prefer theatre, at least it's legitiment and I don't have to kick my own ass if I do a play.
I don't often play a character, but I've played a couple this last year that I've really enjoyed.
Braag Otcheim: Barbarian cleric of Kord, for DnD.
Lon'theal: Rogue shadowdancer also for DnD.

Yeah I'm talking about past characters... pretty pathetic.
But you must understand, IT'S FUN!
Why else would I do it.
Otherwise it would be a waste of time.
Braag and Lon'theal were very different beasts.
Braag spoke in a deep, resonant voice.
Lon'theal a soft whispery voice.
Braag was humourous, but not a clown or one for antics.
Lon'theal was incredibly sarcastic and cynical.
I took to each character (mind you, this is what I do when I'm not in a show) something of myself.
The game mechanics gave me the guidelines, and the limits to help play each character.
For those of you out there who read my blog and shake your head in wonder at geekdom, and rpg's, well for those that act; Its all about playing the character you want to play in fantastic worlds.
You have to have a good dm (or at least a decent one).
It doesn't have to be a character, there are folks who don't put alot of effort into character prep, or development.
They essentially play themselves, for them it's about the adventure and the fantasy.
Spending four or five hours a week, or ever other week or even a month, pretending to be someone else can be well worth it.
If you allow yourself to do it.
Being geeky has a few benifits....
The big one being; if your cool friends don't find out about it, it's fun.

posted by F.G. Shaw @ 4:33 PM