I started DMing D&D with Set 1 - Basic Rules Set - 14th Printing (Red Box). I played AD&D prior to this, and went on with it years later.

The problem with "impersonating young giants" is that it is not likely to work for long and the results of the deception are entirely up to the DM's whim.

    DEAD GIANTS, on the other hand, are remarkably cooperative.    

This Fonkin Hoddypeck says even Gygax can have a really bad idea.

Like associating your name with a product called Cyborg Commando?

or hiring a seemingly effective general manager with the initials LW?

see: Manga

I've been playing since I was 10 or so which would make it around 24 years or so. I still play D and D (3.5 now) and I'm the youngest in my group at 34 years old. My current group have been playing ten years or so together and between the six of we've clocked up almost 200 years of roleplaying between us which is fantastic in itself in gaming terms but it's hard for my girlfriend of four weeks to understand that Monday nights are sacrosanct. Any suggestions anyone can offer to make understand how important my D'n'D nights are compared to our blossoming relationship would be appreciated

Well I've been a little vague about D'n'D and its nature etc. It's a hard thing to explain to a "non-beleiver" what you actually do during the game. How the hell do I explain do I explain that Monday nights I like to pretend that I'm Jess (warrior/priestess of Tempus, hell raiser, drunkard and general axe weilding-lunatic) and still maintain a shred of dignity?

I thought I'd invite her along to a game to convince her we weren't all completly mad but then I remembered who I play with....

Well I'll never get over it so I guess she needs to LOL

It's over 15 years since a rolled a 20 sider in anger!
My wife absolutely HATES all the crap I have and does not in any way,shape or form understand the joy involved in role playing.
The problem is that I rediscovered D&D a couple of years ago so it came as a bit of a shock to her that her husband had a strange,seedy,incomprehensible life in his school days, playing a game only enjoyed by social misfits and geeks!! (Let's face it this is the opinions of unbelievers)
HOWEVER - I have a plan, and I'm nothing if not patient.
I have 2 sons aged 9 & 7 and I am slowly brainwashing them! Let's face it , much as it pains me to say it, to a small boy the minis in a recent issue of White Dwarf really rock so they often 'borrow' copies of WD that I accidentaly leave lying around waiting to be sold! Now Warhammer et al is not my thing but Games Workshop is the ONLY high St Games outlet available to the majority of the UK  and their displays really capture my lad's imagination. I know that they are still young but I am convinced that by my underhanded and subtle influence they will approach me about gaming properly and then they will be mine - I will be KING DAD!!
Seriously though, I do believe that RPG's in general are really good for boys - the actual effort and imagination that goes into them can bring out the best, academically in kids that would not otherwise have any inclination toward creativity - Perhaps that's another discussion though!
And even if that plan doesn't work my little bit of buying/selling means I have cash in my pocket when the Mrs and I are out so that I can buy her pizza without denting the family budget - even she cannot complain about that!

sgy wrote:Finally got my electricity back. I'm getting very tired of hurricanes.

Grodog -- That must have been a "blast from the past." I wished I had kept some of that stuff, but it was all thrown out a long, long time ago, after I moved away, and my parents retired to Florida.

So, are you saying sgy, that you did in fact attend the NortheasterCon shows, and perhaps even played Treasure of the Dragon Queen???  Tell me more!

grodog wrote:

sgy wrote:Finally got my electricity back. I'm getting very tired of hurricanes.

Grodog -- That must have been a "blast from the past." I wished I had kept some of that stuff, but it was all thrown out a long, long time ago, after I moved away, and my parents retired to Florida.

So, are you saying sgy, that you did in fact attend the NortheasterCon shows, and perhaps even played Treasure of the Dragon Queen??? Tell me more!

No, sorry I can't help you there.  Your comment just brought back memories.  We had a guy from Rutgers in our group toward the end, but I can't recall his name.