Just a fun Hobby?

It's a hobby with a significant social aspect.  You can get lasting friendships out of many things.  I happen to have several that have been formed and nurtured via gaming.

It's the hobby I spend the most non-essential free time on.  But in terms of life priorities its pretty far down the list.  I don't identify with gaming, for example.  I'm not a "gamer".  I'm a guy who enjoys playing AD&D.

It's definitely my main social outlet. Even if I end up spending more time boozing than GMing, as yesterday. Dam you, Rosie's Pig!

Oh, a beautiful Italian woman at the game yesterday told me a director she knows wants our group in a documentary about D&D. To show how it's 'not just for nerds anymore' (perish the thought!). I think I said yes, but I was a bit too inebriated to be sure...

It's an escape mechanism, for me.  I don't want it to be like everyday life.

Gosh, I'd say it's a pretty big part of my life, even during the times I'm not actively gaming. I'm always looking for new, interesting systems and settings. I currently visit 2 different RPG themed forums(using a feed reader as an aid). I've been a pretty regular member of the #randomworlds since ~2000(well before the recent name change, and even back to the short time that it was officially associated with "the hated place"). Also I go to Dragon Con almost every year, and the first thing I check on is the tabletop RPG games that are available and get in some of them. I did the same the one time I went to Gen Con, of course. And even at this little convention that's primarily about local authors in the Salt Lake City area called ConDuit, I found the gaming area and signed up for stuff. And partially thanks to the structure of Powered by the Apocalypse games, I've taken my first forays into being a GM in recent years after over 20 years in the hobby.

Can it be both? A fun hobby that has been a significant and important part of my life?

It was a big part of my life in my teens and 20s particularly, although it petered off in my 20s a fair bit as I got into other things.


After that, on and off over the years.  It was a good social outlet off, a fun hobby to stretch the mind and keep it active, meet like minded people etc.

I'm not so engaged in it these days (over the last year I suppose). I have other interests that occupy my mind and the effort vs reward has become less so, whereas other hobbies and interests get me out more and gives me a chance to experience different things.

So yeah, it HAS been a big part of my life in as far as hobbies go, but not so much now.
I still chat and socialise with friends who play RPGs.

Quote from: EOTB;1106819It's the hobby I spend the most non-essential free time on.  But in terms of life priorities its pretty far down the list.  I don't identify with gaming, for example.  I'm not a "gamer".  I'm a guy who enjoys playing AD&D.

Same here. One of my favorite hobbies, but ultimately a low priority.

its one of the few things left in life that I find remotely enjoyable.

My priorities are simple.

1) Having fun with Girlfriend & Cat
2) Making Money
3) Gaming & Writing
4) Watching Movies & Standup
5) Wanking about politics
6) Reading (I really, really need to switch up 5 & 6)

Gaming (of all kinds) is my high priority hobby for me because of my writing. Without the writing / creating component, just playing games would drop to about the same priority as watching movies. Although I love movies, I don't enjoy movie forums like I enjoy gaming forums so as for online.

Quote from: VincentTakeda;1106889its one of the few things left in life that I find remotely enjoyable.

I can elaborate on that subject myself.  It's sad that so many hobbies I previously enjoyed, are in my rear view mirror now.

As hobbies go, I think for me running/playing RPGs is #2, second only to #1 posting about RPGs on the Internet.

A distant #3 would be painting miniatures, or alcoholic beverages if that counts. I'm a fan of malt whiskies, real ale and traditional cider. There have been times when political discussion would count, too. I don't watch TV, but I do watch a lot of Youtube (especially RPG related, some political, and HEMA stuff), and seeing Marvel movies with my son is something I do when they come out.

Yes.

Tabletop RPGs rarely bore me, either in the playing/GMing or in the creating of stuff for them. Socially, they are more engrossing than a lot of other activities I've tried. They have been a part of my life for over 38 years.

Damn, I'm old.

Not nearly as important as it used to be. Merely in the top 5 of my leisure activities, but it was no.1 for many years so there's lots of good memories, not so good memories, and nostalgia.