January 12, 2012

Hello All

My husband introduced me to the world of role playing, but not the kind you might imagine, the Dungeons and Dragons kind. I had always been interested in trying D&D but I had never really known anyone who played on a regular basis. Alex (my then boyfriend and now hubby) had a pretty regular group of guys who he played a multitude of different role playing games. I asked him if I could join in the next game that started. And his group allowed me to play.

Unbeknownst to me, female gamers are rare. The boys teased that most of the girls that game are just as smelly and unpleasant as stereo-typical male gamers.

     I decided it was time to break the following stereo-types...
          1. Girls are bad at role playing
          2. Female gamers are gross, smelly, fat and all around unpleasant
          3. Girls couldn't possibly "get" how to play

For Christmas that year Alex got me the following gifts, "Confessions of a Part Time Sorceress: A Girl's Guide to the D&D Game" by Shelly Mazzanoble, "Heroes of the Fallen Lands" - D&D Essentials and a full set (two 7-die sets and a block of D6) of pink polyhedral dice. I was set!

    NOTE: Shelly Mazzanoble's book is a great introduction to the world of D&D gaming. I recommend any female that is interested in gaming picks up "Confessions of a Part Time Sorceress". The book gives an overview of the basic rules and excellent girly analogies for playing.

I have been a wizard, sorceress, fighter, barbarian, and a cleric. I have played in home-brewed games, modules and participated in Wizard's D&D Encounters. But I have always played with a table full of boys and some times the testosterone is just too much!

So in the spring of 2011, I decided it was time to start my own gaming group. There were a few qualifications to join...
          1. You had to be new at gaming
          2. You had to have taste for adventure
          3. You are a girl!

I got together a motley group of girls, including my best friend, girlfriends of the guys Alex's gaming group, one of my gay, male friends (he was allowed to join), a friend of a friend who had lost her usual all male group and moi, as DM. And with-in those Sunday nights, the Screaming Pussy-willows emerged; a group of female PCs ready for adventure!

We played every Sunday night. But work and school schedules started to get in the way and I began planning my wedding. Our weekly adventures went by the way-side. Until now!

Starting January 22, the Screaming Pussy-willows will rejoin in an all new, original adventure in the Shadowfell. The PC line-up has changed a little but the fun and excitement is sure to still be there as always.

Stay tuned for DM notes, as I will post all their adventures and the original story I have created after the PCs have experienced it.

2 comments:

  1. I just started gaming a year ago and it was nothing like D&D. We play a modified GURPS. Right now we are in a Supernatural kind of game and I am the only girl in the game. I had always been opposed to gaming because of stereotyping of all players involved, not just females. I love it because it is acting and I get to be someone else. I wished I lived close because I would love to game with you!

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  2. I wish you did too. We have a great time! It's totally acting and playing "make-believe". Keep following the blog, I'd love your input.

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