D&D and the military - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

D&D and the military

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
umbralknight
Aug 20, 2008 0:16:43 Hello everyone, I have a question.

I have been reading more and more that suggests that D&D is a popular hobby among men and woman in the armed forces. I've read a few articles about it (primarily regarding in Israel), and now I see people echo that in the John McCain thread. This is news to me, since D&D is hardly established in this little corner of the world.

So basically, I would like to ask just how many people play D&D in the military, how the two relate, and what kind of experiences folks have with combining the two.

I am intrigued.
#2
MusicOfCreation
Aug 20, 2008 0:46:35 I play D&D and I'm in the army. However, I'm in military intelligence so the fact that many of us play D&D shouldn't come as a huge surprise. I haven't really noticed too many differences between D&D players/campaigns in the military and out of the military, except we can't get stoned and play D&D like was common during the school year.
#3
KillerGM
Aug 20, 2008 1:12:27 My husband is in the US Army and plays D&D.

Also, there was Ziggurat Con.

I used to play with some people in the Air Force as well, but other than that I hadn't played with anyone from the military (that I knew of).
#4
MusicOfCreation
Aug 20, 2008 1:20:14
My husband is in the US Army and plays D&D.

Also, there was Ziggurat Con.

I used to play with some people in the Air Force as well, but other than that I hadn't played with anyone from the military (that I knew of).

I hope thats still around when I get deployed. We used to have KoreaCon when I was in Korea and it was one of the biggest gems of our BOSS(Better Opportunities for Single Servicemembers) program. Even non-gamers in the BOSS hierarchy took interest because of the generally high turnout compared to most other BOSS events.
#5
killerdungeonmaster
Aug 20, 2008 2:40:47 I played as much as possible in my 6 years.

The first 3 in the Marine Corps and the last 3 in the 82nd.

I never had much time - but I think I got in some really awesome games. One of which was conducted without dice or paper for 32 hours straight. A political one-on-one that went from start to finish in one session.

*****
#6
darkwolf71
Aug 20, 2008 6:59:32 Well, my experience is ten years out of date but it is what it is. I was in a department of 100 men in the Navy, these were almost all nuke school grads, so again rather on the geeky side already, of course we were also Snipes and worked in the engine rooms, so maybe not your 'classic' geeks. I played D&D with 5 or 6 guys and there were maybe twice that number who I know for a fact had at least played in the past.

So 15-20% maybe more.
#7
angel_blade
Aug 20, 2008 11:18:06 Although i'm not in the military, i have played with many people who are or have been. I think that the combination of downtime with nowhere really to go or things to do combine to make DnD a very popular game in the military. I mean, if you're stuck on a sub, or on a base in a foreign country, your only friends are the guys/gals you're bunking with. Then take into account that DnD only needs a few books, papers, and dice and you're good to go. You can start or stop at the drop of a hat, well maybe not start.

So that's my $.02

Angel Blade
#8
nowiwantmydmg
Aug 20, 2008 12:37:51 Not in the military, but I would guess in part that it's popular because its something a soldier can relate to and it provides some escapism.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 umbralknight Aug 20, 2008 0:16:43	Hello everyone, I have a question. I have been reading more and more that suggests that D&D is a popular hobby among men and woman in the armed forces. I've read a few articles about it (primarily regarding in Israel), and now I see people echo that in the John McCain thread. This is news to me, since D&D is hardly established in this little corner of the world. So basically, I would like to ask just how many people play D&D in the military, how the two relate, and what kind of experiences folks have with combining the two. I am intrigued.
#2 MusicOfCreation Aug 20, 2008 0:46:35	I play D&D and I'm in the army. However, I'm in military intelligence so the fact that many of us play D&D shouldn't come as a huge surprise. I haven't really noticed too many differences between D&D players/campaigns in the military and out of the military, except we can't get stoned and play D&D like was common during the school year.
#3 KillerGM Aug 20, 2008 1:12:27	My husband is in the US Army and plays D&D. Also, there was Ziggurat Con. I used to play with some people in the Air Force as well, but other than that I hadn't played with anyone from the military (that I knew of).
#4 MusicOfCreation Aug 20, 2008 1:20:14	My husband is in the US Army and plays D&D. Also, there was Ziggurat Con. I used to play with some people in the Air Force as well, but other than that I hadn't played with anyone from the military (that I knew of). I hope thats still around when I get deployed. We used to have KoreaCon when I was in Korea and it was one of the biggest gems of our BOSS(Better Opportunities for Single Servicemembers) program. Even non-gamers in the BOSS hierarchy took interest because of the generally high turnout compared to most other BOSS events.
#5 killerdungeonmaster Aug 20, 2008 2:40:47	I played as much as possible in my 6 years. The first 3 in the Marine Corps and the last 3 in the 82nd. I never had much time - but I think I got in some really awesome games. One of which was conducted without dice or paper for 32 hours straight. A political one-on-one that went from start to finish in one session. *****
#6 darkwolf71 Aug 20, 2008 6:59:32	Well, my experience is ten years out of date but it is what it is. I was in a department of 100 men in the Navy, these were almost all nuke school grads, so again rather on the geeky side already, of course we were also Snipes and worked in the engine rooms, so maybe not your 'classic' geeks. I played D&D with 5 or 6 guys and there were maybe twice that number who I know for a fact had at least played in the past. So 15-20% maybe more.
#7 angel_blade Aug 20, 2008 11:18:06	Although i'm not in the military, i have played with many people who are or have been. I think that the combination of downtime with nowhere really to go or things to do combine to make DnD a very popular game in the military. I mean, if you're stuck on a sub, or on a base in a foreign country, your only friends are the guys/gals you're bunking with. Then take into account that DnD only needs a few books, papers, and dice and you're good to go. You can start or stop at the drop of a hat, well maybe not start. So that's my $.02 Angel Blade
#8 nowiwantmydmg Aug 20, 2008 12:37:51	Not in the military, but I would guess in part that it's popular because its something a soldier can relate to and it provides some escapism.