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July 2005
It's hard to believe that 2005 is now officially half-over. The next Harry Potter book releases this month (yes, I'm buying it), hopefuls for the big "blockbuster" movie of the summer will hit the theaters, and for those heading that way, San Diego Comic Con again takes the city by storm. Or maybe by Rogue, or Wolverine; who knows?
It's been difficult thinking up a topic for this month, since I've been busy lately and haven't had much time for gaming. I'm enrolled in "Writing 101" which is, essentially, a basic course in essay writing required for every degree program. Maybe that sounds like the class would be boring, but to be truthful, I'm having a blast.
I can hear you saying now, "Rick, you're sick." Bear with me, though, and let me state my case. Perhaps I'll offer you something that you can apply to your gaming.
"Fun" is a matter of perception. Some people find fun in wandering a grassy course, trying to knock a ball into a series of holes. It doesn't do much for me, but they seem to like it. Others find fun working in their gardens, or spending hours searching the skies hoping to discover a comet. What makes something fun for some and not for others?
Quite simply, it's how we view the activity. It isn't the activity itself that determines whether it is fun or not; it's what we think of it. To some people in my class, composing a 500 word essay is dreadful work. To me, though, the problem isn't producing 500 words; it's limiting it to 500 words. While one might think the instructor would delight in students who eagerly exceed the minimum in assignments, the limitation has two purposes. One, it keeps the essays such that they don't require excessive time to read and grade (the instructor does have a life outside her professorial duties, after all). Two, the limitation forces us to be creative in stating our case. It isn't enough to just fill a page with words; we have to effectively convey the point.
This imparts a challenging aspect to the class, beyond simply polishing my writing style under the tutelage of a professional. It becomes a puzzle to pare the composition to fit the parameters of the assignment. The limitations can be a burden, or they can be a mystery to be solved; I get to choose by how I approach it.
You find the same choice in your gaming. The limitations imposed by the rules or the game master are either a burden or a mystery to be solved. You can bemoan that a certain power or ability has been denied to you, or you can creatively approach the game with an eye on how to best play with what you have. Fun is where you find it, and you decide what you want to find it in.
Best of all, it's contagious. (500 words!)
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