The Last Secret?

[Daijaga]

This article copied from my site, Game Night, and posted here for your misspelled convienece ^_^

[Silver Adept]

Doubtful. D&D has been around long enough that even I, who has actually played only one quest with pregens, that I can spot a d20 a long ways off. Probably after the "Satanic Panic", where D&D was dragged out into the misguided scrutiny of many, then it stopped being the great secret.

[Ming]

I agree with this in that there is not much left for geeks to call their own anymore. Geek culture is, more and more everyday, invading popular culture, and now the geeks are in a position that they've never been in before. On the one hand, their activities are now more accepted. But on the other, they're now starting to lose their identity. It's now "cool" to play video games, watch anime, read comic books, and know how to work computers.

I also agree that D&D and other pen and paper games still seem relatively untouched. Although, I think there are still several other things that we have that have not entirely been spoiled by acceptance. Being an avid card gamer myself, I still feel like collectible card games are relatively untouched...at least the good ones anyway. Yes, Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon and any other Japanese anime franchise is wildly popular right now in the CCG industry, but only amongst certain and very specific demographics. The rest of the world is still in the dark as to what Magic is.

Just my thoughts though. I really liked the article, and I'm hoping that a discussion on this continues, because this is something that I'm personally very interested in.

[Silver Adept]

The Magic craze was there for a while, too - it led the charge with the current obsession with CCGs, and then the popularity of the Pokemon CCG opened the door for brand tie-in. Magic, like D&D, simply waited and has returned to the place where it was, having survived the hype because the mechanics on it are apparently solid enough that more people want to play.

No, if we're going for a last, geeky secret, it's NetHack.

[KiSin]

Wow, that is fantastic! x3

Thank you for NetHack!

First run: Died on level 3 by a sewer rat with a total of 502 points.

[reaper]

Well This used to be one of the last secrets

[Terin]

It's all about trading your own individuality to fit in, and how much off which side is important to you. I blame the internet. SO much exposure to every kind of culture and having free access to all of it at all times. Here's a tip, if you have something to call your own, keep it in a close group of friends, something of an inside joke, and make damn sure it doesn't get on the web, complete with urban dictionary definition, or it will lose all individual value to you. My alternate advise is to not label yourself by constantly using a basis to describe yourself as. For instance, by labeling yourself a geek, whether you wear it proudly or not, is allowing people to assume certain things about you, be they true or not. I would personally love to shatter that stereotype, and all others, transcending into our own individuality. Unfortunately, as long as it's popular (in society or in your own group of friends) to be labeled something, most people aren't willing to do so.
-T

[BWS-1]

It's a change, yes. But does it matter what it is on the outside if it remains what it is on the inside?

I feel I should modify this quote so it more accurately shows what was ( or maybe it's just me being completely off):

[Kothar_Isk]

Well I fear that D&D may be going into that open area soon. 4TH edition made the game ( in my opinion ) too simple and easy to learn. one of the things that I have always found with great D&D players is their great grasp of the rules and character builds that come out of nowhere even though you may have been building them for years there is always a new angle to try. I feel that the new edition is too "user friendly".

[shadokastur]