"serious gaming" is a bit of an oxymoron. Beyond that, I think assigning motives to other people's behavior is a suspect activity, at best. There are billions of people on the planet, with as many reasons for doing all the crazy shit they do. Assuming that someone can't have two motives at the same time seems a bit off to me. I had sex with my wife so that we could have a child- and although this was on my mind when i was helping her out of her teddy, it wasn't the only reason I was there*. I game every week with the same crew. I burn one every time, but I am there to game.



* she promised to make me a snack after.

Quote from: droogWould you believe I won a roleplaying award at a con while off my nut?

In my experience you're an exception to the general rule.

Most people I've been around (myself included) tend to be really dull when off their face. It works if everyone is doing it, usually because the expectations of the group plummet to the point where even the most trivial stuff becomes profound. But a mix of sober and inebriated people rarely works well, unless the levels of inebriation are such that they don't impact on social and intellectual function.

The lesson is to hang out only with brilliant, entertaining people who stay brilliant when whacked.

Quote from: droogThe lesson is to hang out only with brilliant, entertaining people who stay brilliant when whacked.

Or get so whacked that everyone seems brilliant and entertaining...

You my friend require beer.

Quote from: droogYou my friend require beer.

No thanks mate. I'm a recovering alcoholic.

Quote from: DrewNo thanks mate. I'm a recovering alcoholic.

I raise my eyebrow.

Maybe you'd like some of this hydro, then....

Quote from: droogI raise my eyebrow.

Maybe you'd like some of this hydro, then....

A diet coke and a cigarette will be just fine, if you're buying.

Well, if I'm ever in London....

Quote from: Aos"serious gaming" is a bit of an oxymoron. Beyond that, I think assigning motives to other people's behavior is a suspect activity, at best. There are billions of people on the planet, with as many reasons for doing all the crazy shit they do. Assuming that someone can't have two motives at the same time seems a bit off to me. I had sex with my wife so that we could have a child- and although this was on my mind when i was helping her out of her teddy, it wasn't the only reason I was there*. I game every week with the same crew. I burn one every time, but I am there to game.



* she promised to make me a snack after.

To be clear, I was speaking anecdotally. Perhaps others in this thread (and apparently from their posts they have) have had great campaigns based on being inebriated while doing so. My experience, about 20-25 gamers worth, is that they think they are doing great but in fact, are making fools of themselves and bringing down everyone else's experience. Now, I have not played in a group where everyone was inebriated and I would never play or GM in such a state so am unlikely to get that play experience.

As to assigning motives to other people, well, again, I pointed out that you could have a game where you show up to game, and BTW, get high. As well, it can be applied to just about any situation and I even give an example to that.

Just sharing my experience with drug use and gaming.

Bill

Light use as with alcohol is fine,(I have burned a few in my day) but you cannot convince me that if you fire one up every day (or multiple times a day) you will be able to maintain your productivity at a level that no one will eventually notice.

Quote from: AosI was totally going to either ignore this or jump all over you about it, and then I stopped and thought- What you're saying is pretty much true, especially in academia. I hardly ever use myself when classes are on- maybe the occasional Friday night. I have too much to do most of the time. And I'm sure that, statistically speaking, regular users of pot miss more work than people who don't use, but I've known many who made it to work everyday- much as I've known several alcohol addicts who can do the same. As far as field work goes, (archaeology in my case), never on the job; but it's summer, my evenings are my own, and I'm in a place where it's accepted. Even then, though, moderation is the rule.

Our gaming sessions are often the only night out for a lot of guys (young families), so everybody has a couple beers when we play, and most guys partake in some hoots. The problem is, some guys can stay focussed on the game when mildly buzzed, and some can't. I could invoke a blanket ban on dope, or on having more than a couple beers, but that would seem kinda tight-assed, not to mention unfair to the guys who can play just fine.

Quote from: RockViperLight use as with alcohol is fine,(I have burned a few in my day) but you cannot convince me that if you fire one up every day (or multiple times a day) you will be able to maintain your productivity at a level that no one will eventually notice.

In the field, on any given day, no one is likely to notice because they're all hung over and I went to bed two hours earlier.

My sole experience (to my knowledge) of gaming with someone who was high was something i don't want to repeat. It signalled the end of my oldest friendship. Mind you, we found out later that it was LSD rather than weed or anything. Still, being threatened with being blinded with a paper clip because he couldn't differentiate between the game and real life (ooh, look, there are wizards in the fire!) was a bit of a downer.

Quote from: One Horse TownMy sole experience (to my knowledge) of gaming with someone who was high was something i don't want to repeat. It signalled the end of my oldest friendship. Mind you, we found out later that it was LSD rather than weed or anything. Still, being threatened with being blinded with a paper clip because he couldn't differentiate between the game and real life (ooh, look, there are wizards in the fire!) was a bit of a downer.

That's the problem with hallucinogens. No one really knows how they're going to react until they've taken them, and there's always the chance of a bad trip whether it be your 8th or 18th time. I've seen people who've taken acid plenty of times with no deleterious effects suddenly go apeshit without any indication or warning. Not pretty.