Are You In Good Enough Shape to Play D&D? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are You In Good Enough Shape to Play D&D? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Shiftkitty
07-02-07, 11:34 PM My husband has had a horrific back situation for awhile now. He loves D&D, especially as it doesn't require a lot of strenuous activity (except for jumping around and doing your victory dance when you score a lethal crit). But we now have a problem. You see, two vertebrae are herniated and the docs are screwing around with the fusion surgery that they all agree he needs but are unwilling to approve, as they get more money for prescribing painkillers for the rest of your life. The situation has gotten worse, and now it hurts him like crazy to sit at the kitchen table (hard wooden chairs, and even a cushion doesn't help) for longer than half an hour. He has to move into the front room and sit in his easy chair, where we have no viable die rolling surface.

You know, when you're not even in good enough shape to play D&D...

(I'm not as cruel as I sound. He got a good laugh out of this! He's also so determined to keep the game going that he's drawing up the plans for a die rolling table that won't leave us scrambling for dropped dice.)
Oregwath
07-02-07, 11:46 PM Set a tv tray next to the chair. That worked for a member of our group who was pregnant.
fatal error
07-03-07, 12:42 AM How about a large, flat-bottomed, bowl?
Tempest Stormwind
07-03-07, 12:52 AM Buy a folding card table and move to the living room. May not have as perfect lighting or similar, but this is your husband and a fellow player -- each individually more important, together it's a no-brainer.

Assuming it's physically possible, that is. If it isn't, then find a workaround -- the TV tray is a decent idea (interesting that you used it with a pregnant group member; a good friend of mine just recently delivered and she continued gaming using the TV tray approach until just before she went into labor. I haven't spoken to her since then (she's been home nursing and I knew her from campus), but I suspect she's continued gaming with the same approach).
docballen
07-03-07, 01:19 AM I can't get any of the people in the dialysis center to play D&D with me. They'd rather watch Food Network or soaps.

So I play on Saturday nights with a great group who is understanding about health issues.
DougyJ
07-03-07, 05:05 AM One of my Gaming buddies has made plans for a table that has Raised Edges so you can cast the Dice with out them falling over the edge.

This shows real dedication, I had seen the title and I was curious if this was an iference to L.A.R.P ing ( Lie Action Role Playing)
Cariyaga
07-03-07, 05:57 AM Typo?

My advice is; Get new doctors. Or file a lawsuit. Something.
mathogre
07-03-07, 08:27 AM Dice rolling? If someone has a laptop, either use the WotC online dice roller or download it for free.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20040517a

Maybe it's not a perfect solution, but it might work for you until you have something better.

Hope this helps!
VrecknidjX
07-03-07, 09:10 AM Die rolling shouldn't be a problem--you'll come up with a solution.

I played D&D with a blind player for a little while. That required some skill. We all had to learn a lot about description to make the game work.

I wonder if you'll ever be able to convince an OT or someone that playing the game is actually therapeutic. Getting a tax break on your D&D purchases would be a nice little break.

Dave
Iolana
07-03-07, 10:03 AM I had spinal fusion in my neck last November, so I can sympathize. Try not being able to look down to see your dice in addition to trying to find an alternative comfy place to game ;) lol It does become funny after a while, otherwise you just cry about how frustrating it really is.

Our solution was to bring my comfy office chair to the kitchen table and get me a lap desk. If you don't know what that is, it's basically a small hard surface with a cushion attached underneath it that you sit on your lap. It's very portable and lightweight, so you can take it anywhere. So now I have a comfy chair to sit in, and a portable table I can easily move to see what I've rolled if I need to, and I can still reach my character sheet and anything else I've sat on the lap desk. (I don't recommend any drinks however...lol) Less than a $20 investment for it and well worth every penny!

Iolana
Shiftkitty
07-03-07, 10:17 AM We may try the TV tray idea. I see very few with ledges on them these days, but it shouldn't take too much modification to put an edge on one.

I had suggested die rolling software, but he's bit of a purist when it comes to dice. He prefers the feel of them in his hand.
peteyrock
07-03-07, 10:21 AM 1. A dinner tray and a DM screen should keep the dice off the floor.

2. Stab those doctors
Phrennzy
07-03-07, 10:55 AM A comfy chair at the D&D table. Playing in your recliner would rock, especially doped up on painkillers.

If you get one of those cool lap pads, you can always just get a small tupperware container for him to roll dice in. THat way you don't have to worry about building a ledge on the pad, as the ledge might get in the way of him writing (the edge would hit his arm/wrist).
Iolana
07-03-07, 11:59 AM Phrennzy, yes good point about anything with a ledge on it. It kills to try and write over a ledge. I have a very fancy table that can be adjusted 50 different ways that happens to have an edge like that. Guess how often it actually gets used? :(

I don't even need a tupperware container or a ledge on mine. My lap desk is really nice sized. Unless you're trying to shoot the dice in Vegas...lol...it does just fine on its own. We have way more dice roll off the actual kitchen table from other players than I do rolling off my lap desk, and they have more room to roll.

It would seem more complicated to me to try and sit in an easy chair with a tv tray. For one, I couldn't lean back full in the chair like I can now and still reach everything. Let's face it, tv trays are only meant to scootch in so far to a chair. Normally you have to end up sitting at the edge of the seat to reach it right. (Unless you have plenty of room under the chair for those ones they have out now-a-days with the legs that actually slide under the chair. And even then, I don't care what they show on TV, they don't look that stable to me.) I'm just thinking outloud here, having been in a somewhat similar situation already, where thinking of moving at times just puts you in more pain! If you're forward all the time, looking at stuff (as with the tv tray) then you're missing the support of the back of the chair. That's going to get old fast. And if you're going back and forth between the two, well I hope you don't roll dice that often. I've also toppled over my fair share of tv trays thru the years because of their legs, seems they are never in a good spot, even if I'm not the one using it! So you've got to think of a safe place to put it where no one is going to trip over it.

Luckily, none of these ideas is that costly, and you've got to work around until you find just the right one for you. Most important is keeping the spinal support that he needs while still having fun. Being in pain is not fun. Been there, doing that, getting thru it while still playing :)

Iolana
Shiftkitty
07-03-07, 03:14 PM I like the tupperware idea. He can keep any paperwork on a clipboard, and everyone else is perfectly happy moving the game into the front room (except for the cats, who are used to hiding in their kitty hut when the gang shows up, but they'll get used to it).

Thanks for the great suggestions, guys! Especially the part about stabbing the doctors. I don't think anyone who hasn't been in serious pain themselves should be treating people who are in pain, or be making policies about what is and isn't covered. (His surgery is covered, they just don't want to do it. He's shopping for new doctors.)
Bruunwald
07-03-07, 03:27 PM My wife is in a similar situation, with regards to a back injury that causes discomfort and even terrible pain if she sits for long periods. Or stands. Right now, she has to frequently go lay down flat until the cramping and spasms finish, sometimes two or three times an hour.

As it is, the timing is not all that bad, game-wise. I put all our games on hold for awhile because I've been getting sick of all of the scheduling issues among the various players, and decided to take my time to make some terrains and paint up a bunch of minis.

Every-so-often, one of the players gripes to me, whining about when we are going to play again. (Ironically, she is one of the worst offenders, schedule-wise - very selfish with her own time.) I keep pointing out that my wife (a key player) can't sit that long anyway.

Having a good excuse is a poor exchange for feeling so lousy, of course. I'd prefer she was 100%.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shiftkitty 07-02-07, 11:34 PM	My husband has had a horrific back situation for awhile now. He loves D&D, especially as it doesn't require a lot of strenuous activity (except for jumping around and doing your victory dance when you score a lethal crit). But we now have a problem. You see, two vertebrae are herniated and the docs are screwing around with the fusion surgery that they all agree he needs but are unwilling to approve, as they get more money for prescribing painkillers for the rest of your life. The situation has gotten worse, and now it hurts him like crazy to sit at the kitchen table (hard wooden chairs, and even a cushion doesn't help) for longer than half an hour. He has to move into the front room and sit in his easy chair, where we have no viable die rolling surface. You know, when you're not even in good enough shape to play D&D... (I'm not as cruel as I sound. He got a good laugh out of this! He's also so determined to keep the game going that he's drawing up the plans for a die rolling table that won't leave us scrambling for dropped dice.)
Oregwath 07-02-07, 11:46 PM	Set a tv tray next to the chair. That worked for a member of our group who was pregnant.
fatal error 07-03-07, 12:42 AM	How about a large, flat-bottomed, bowl?
Tempest Stormwind 07-03-07, 12:52 AM	Buy a folding card table and move to the living room. May not have as perfect lighting or similar, but this is your husband and a fellow player -- each individually more important, together it's a no-brainer. Assuming it's physically possible, that is. If it isn't, then find a workaround -- the TV tray is a decent idea (interesting that you used it with a pregnant group member; a good friend of mine just recently delivered and she continued gaming using the TV tray approach until just before she went into labor. I haven't spoken to her since then (she's been home nursing and I knew her from campus), but I suspect she's continued gaming with the same approach).
docballen 07-03-07, 01:19 AM	I can't get any of the people in the dialysis center to play D&D with me. They'd rather watch Food Network or soaps. So I play on Saturday nights with a great group who is understanding about health issues.
DougyJ 07-03-07, 05:05 AM	One of my Gaming buddies has made plans for a table that has Raised Edges so you can cast the Dice with out them falling over the edge. This shows real dedication, I had seen the title and I was curious if this was an iference to L.A.R.P ing ( Lie Action Role Playing)
Cariyaga 07-03-07, 05:57 AM	Typo? My advice is; Get new doctors. Or file a lawsuit. Something.
mathogre 07-03-07, 08:27 AM	Dice rolling? If someone has a laptop, either use the WotC online dice roller or download it for free. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20040517a Maybe it's not a perfect solution, but it might work for you until you have something better. Hope this helps!
VrecknidjX 07-03-07, 09:10 AM	Die rolling shouldn't be a problem--you'll come up with a solution. I played D&D with a blind player for a little while. That required some skill. We all had to learn a lot about description to make the game work. I wonder if you'll ever be able to convince an OT or someone that playing the game is actually therapeutic. Getting a tax break on your D&D purchases would be a nice little break. Dave
Iolana 07-03-07, 10:03 AM	I had spinal fusion in my neck last November, so I can sympathize. Try not being able to look down to see your dice in addition to trying to find an alternative comfy place to game ;) lol It does become funny after a while, otherwise you just cry about how frustrating it really is. Our solution was to bring my comfy office chair to the kitchen table and get me a lap desk. If you don't know what that is, it's basically a small hard surface with a cushion attached underneath it that you sit on your lap. It's very portable and lightweight, so you can take it anywhere. So now I have a comfy chair to sit in, and a portable table I can easily move to see what I've rolled if I need to, and I can still reach my character sheet and anything else I've sat on the lap desk. (I don't recommend any drinks however...lol) Less than a $20 investment for it and well worth every penny! Iolana
Shiftkitty 07-03-07, 10:17 AM	We may try the TV tray idea. I see very few with ledges on them these days, but it shouldn't take too much modification to put an edge on one. I had suggested die rolling software, but he's bit of a purist when it comes to dice. He prefers the feel of them in his hand.
peteyrock 07-03-07, 10:21 AM	1. A dinner tray and a DM screen should keep the dice off the floor. 2. Stab those doctors
Phrennzy 07-03-07, 10:55 AM	A comfy chair at the D&D table. Playing in your recliner would rock, especially doped up on painkillers. If you get one of those cool lap pads, you can always just get a small tupperware container for him to roll dice in. THat way you don't have to worry about building a ledge on the pad, as the ledge might get in the way of him writing (the edge would hit his arm/wrist).
Iolana 07-03-07, 11:59 AM	Phrennzy, yes good point about anything with a ledge on it. It kills to try and write over a ledge. I have a very fancy table that can be adjusted 50 different ways that happens to have an edge like that. Guess how often it actually gets used? :( I don't even need a tupperware container or a ledge on mine. My lap desk is really nice sized. Unless you're trying to shoot the dice in Vegas...lol...it does just fine on its own. We have way more dice roll off the actual kitchen table from other players than I do rolling off my lap desk, and they have more room to roll. It would seem more complicated to me to try and sit in an easy chair with a tv tray. For one, I couldn't lean back full in the chair like I can now and still reach everything. Let's face it, tv trays are only meant to scootch in so far to a chair. Normally you have to end up sitting at the edge of the seat to reach it right. (Unless you have plenty of room under the chair for those ones they have out now-a-days with the legs that actually slide under the chair. And even then, I don't care what they show on TV, they don't look that stable to me.) I'm just thinking outloud here, having been in a somewhat similar situation already, where thinking of moving at times just puts you in more pain! If you're forward all the time, looking at stuff (as with the tv tray) then you're missing the support of the back of the chair. That's going to get old fast. And if you're going back and forth between the two, well I hope you don't roll dice that often. I've also toppled over my fair share of tv trays thru the years because of their legs, seems they are never in a good spot, even if I'm not the one using it! So you've got to think of a safe place to put it where no one is going to trip over it. Luckily, none of these ideas is that costly, and you've got to work around until you find just the right one for you. Most important is keeping the spinal support that he needs while still having fun. Being in pain is not fun. Been there, doing that, getting thru it while still playing :) Iolana
Shiftkitty 07-03-07, 03:14 PM	I like the tupperware idea. He can keep any paperwork on a clipboard, and everyone else is perfectly happy moving the game into the front room (except for the cats, who are used to hiding in their kitty hut when the gang shows up, but they'll get used to it). Thanks for the great suggestions, guys! Especially the part about stabbing the doctors. I don't think anyone who hasn't been in serious pain themselves should be treating people who are in pain, or be making policies about what is and isn't covered. (His surgery is covered, they just don't want to do it. He's shopping for new doctors.)
Bruunwald 07-03-07, 03:27 PM	My wife is in a similar situation, with regards to a back injury that causes discomfort and even terrible pain if she sits for long periods. Or stands. Right now, she has to frequently go lay down flat until the cramping and spasms finish, sometimes two or three times an hour. As it is, the timing is not all that bad, game-wise. I put all our games on hold for awhile because I've been getting sick of all of the scheduling issues among the various players, and decided to take my time to make some terrains and paint up a bunch of minis. Every-so-often, one of the players gripes to me, whining about when we are going to play again. (Ironically, she is one of the worst offenders, schedule-wise - very selfish with her own time.) I keep pointing out that my wife (a key player) can't sit that long anyway. Having a good excuse is a poor exchange for feeling so lousy, of course. I'd prefer she was 100%.