For your enjoyment, I’ll start this discussion with a video (WARNING: Video is French with English subtitles)
Farador D&D – Tom et ses chums
Uploaded by drukskill. – Independent web videos.
If you hadn’t seen this before, just know that this is one of the modern classics in the nerd wheelhouse. All should see it.
Now, I understand that this a hilarious short. Still, there’s a point brought up almost as a side note that was why I put it up here: Drinking at the table. This started as a conversation between myself and another gaming friend. He told me he had declared a ban on booze anywhere he runs a game. I said I always have at least a couple of beverages handy. I was interested in where this was going, and so I explore it here.
“This is a serious game.”
- Jemut men? (Excuse me?)
I love this line. I sets up the whole argument. So many people have told me that they don’t like drinking at their gaming tables. I have always seen an intrinsic connection between storytelling and a fair amount of libational infusion. Must be an Irish thing. If gaming, though, is a social activity, and drinking is (hopefully) a social activity, why couldn’t the two cooperate?
My biggest question for anyone who doesn’t allow adult refreshments at his or her table is: Why? My friend told me one of his players is relatively new to the game, and she can be easily distracted. Apparently it’s happened that she gets a few drinks in her, and any focus is lost. That’s perfectly understandable. Sometimes a DM (or GM; I’m not going to be *too* presumptuous) can feel like his job is not unlike herding cats. Players can be hard enough to keep on task, and adding even one more distraction (or distraction enhancer) to the mix can be catastrophic.
Still, people tell like to tell stories. The occasional drink also seems to be linked to storytelling. How many times have we heard the phrase, “Lets see where this bottle of wine/six pack/raspberry flavored strychnine takes us”? How many times have we been out at a bar/party/human sacrifice where someone started recanting the epic tale of [when something interesting happened]? The two seem linked such a way that each defines the other.
Let me take a minute to address the false dichotomy/paradox of the “serious game”.
For one, games are meant to be fun. We’ve heard this as frequently as we’ve heard that what we’re doing is somehow “a feeding program for occultism and witchcraft.” While the occult claim is clearly not true, and has been disproven time and again over the years the point that it’s supposed to fun can be an elusive concept to some. I pose that, if you’re not in it to have fun, then why are you involved? The possibility that you got involved for a gateway to Satan worship becomes less absurd when you play games NOT to enjoy yourself.
Also, “serious game” and “drunken frivolity” are certainly not the only two options. The false dichotomy seems to be between the game running like a well-oiled machine and abject chaos with funny shaped dice (which will someday be the name of a talk show I host :P). Are we seriously saying that there’s nothing in between? As soon as I first bend my elbow and touch a liquor-infused glass to my lips is the exact moment when Pandora realizes she should have re-gifted? Let’s be reasonable.
Benefits Of Drinking At The Table
Drinking at the table is not just about filling ourselves with “bewze”. There are many ways that a drink or two at the table can make the experience of gaming better, if implemented correctly. Let’s go over a few.
Diminished Inhibitions
Right, that thing that makes you actually think the girl/guy at the other end of the bar actually cares about what you have to say is a fantastic tool to aid role-playing. There’s none better, as far as I’m concerned.
Emotional Involvement
For whatever reason, when there’s beer or the like handy, the level of emotional investiture skyrockets. I’ve actually seen people take on characteristics of the imaginary people they might be playing if there’s a greater emotional connection.
A Relaxed Environment
Let’s face it: Nothing cuts through tension more cleanly than sharing a drink with friends. Often, it can be how friends are made. We are, after all, social animals, and anything that encourages the behavior, especially in an environment thats supposed to be social, shouldn’t be frowned upon.
How To Drink Without Breaking The Game
This is very important. When sitting in for a session of collaborative storytelling, sometimes we (myself, at least) like to up the theatricality. I have been known to bring weapons to the table*, wear a funny hat, do something that alters the sound of my voice, whatever. The reason I do this is to enhance immersion, not only for myself, but for others who might be involved. Again, we’re out to have fun here.
Is there a way to make session drinking part of the game? Absolutely. Let’s say the party’s at a tavern, and is generally carousing with the locals. How better to set the scene than a tankard of ale or, if you can get it, hot mead? Suppose you have a barbarian who can almost feel his rage like a hot gas forcing its way out through his eyes. Starting combat with a strong beverage might not be a bad idea. Hell, it could even be your healing potions.
*Note: I just have weapons around for show. I NEVER lift a weapon with the intent of using it, even to slice fruit.
Conclusion
I need to be very clear here. I AM NOT AN ALCOHOLIC! I could hear people reading this as I wrote, saying things like, “He needs to go to a meeting,” or “Why is this guy so obsessed with alcohol?,” or even “See? D&D leads to alcoholism AS WELL AS Satanism!” I am nowhere near that. I believe in using a commonly accepted, leisure modifying substance within safe and reasonable limits to increase the level of fun at the table. Your party barbarian might want to hand over his keys, though. Keep an eye on your threatened squares, friends. Keep a bottle of Gator-Ade handy, too. You’ll figure out why in the morning.
IMAGE NOTES: Images of Gimli are the property of New Line Cinema, and Reno 911! is the property of Comedy Central.
UPDATE – 1/14/11
I totall forgot to throw this link up there. Middle Ages Brewing is a small craft beer house out of Syracuse, NY, that specializes in medieval-themed beers. They’ve got a great selection, and the offerings are quite tasty. Go there.
