I think that schmidt brings up a very good point, you can't really break down such a large group of people and say that they are all this way or that way. Yes there are people that may have taken the game more seriously than they should have, but then there were others that just did it to have a good time on the weekends ( the guy at 13:50 for example). I play Dagorhir, which is very similar to this, but that doesn't mean that I am socially inept, and there would be know real way to tell that I do anything like this from the way I act outside of the game. Am I a nerd? I do see myself as a nerd, yes. Do I lack the social skills necessary to function in everyday life? No.   See 11 other replies

The SCA believes in fake weapons and real armor. The armor is usually authentic, but the weapons never are. They are Rattan (think Bamboo) swords with padding. Even the rapier duels are with schlager blades (German student duels from way back) and the tips are padded. No one dies, but you're right, it is much more realistic than boffer combat.The more you know indeed.   See 2 other replies

That may be opening up a lot more philosophy than you intended. The concept of "it's just a game" is, of course, true. However, it's also a cliche that deserves a second glance.Everything we touch and, especially, create is a product of who we are. Therefore, a character you've created in a game is only an extension of the reality of who you are. Skip and his friend both have an out-of-game motivation to succeed in-game. When Skip's friend made an in-game decision to 'betray' Skip's character, it was a product of his out-of-game desire to succeed, not his character. Therefore, the conflict was between the players and not the characters.The argument that "it's just a game" can be used against either person, really. Against one for going too far to succeed and the other for taking it personally. They've obviously both invested a lot of emotion into the game (far be it for us to judge) so it stands to reason that a friendship could be split because of it.   See 11 other replies

If only we could send a camera into YOUR house and pick apart how pathetic your life is. You're real brave from behind the keyboard.   See 5 other replies

Look around the Internet. Like as not there's some boffer group within driving distance.   See 8 other replies