What have you learned through RPing?

[zornwil]

I mean besides stuff about RPing specifically...a friend who does a lot of stock investment mentioned that from some RP research for characters he's actually found good stock tips, and we were discussing that in the context of things in general we've learned.

I just heard about Barmann via a player's research. I learned an interesting good bit about Mongolia from doing research as characters needed to go there on a mission. I also learned a lot about Vanuatu and some of the islands out that way, including relatively little-known Hunter Island.

I think there's been a thread like this before but it's been a while, I believe.

So what have you learned?

PS - more recently did some studying on planet sizes and rates of different sorts of vehicle speeds, stuff I'd otherwise never look at. And learned more about Ch'i/Ki/Qi spellings as evidenced elsewhere on the boards!

[Roy_The_Ruthles]

I learned about cars (when i tried to make one) , about the state of plasma (for a gun i made) did lots of reading on traditional litterature for werewolfs and vampires.

Looked at some cellular biology for a shapeshifter once. Other than that, pretty standard

[tkdguy]

Roleplaying made me want to build worlds. After I decided I wanted the worlds I created to make sense, I looked into science and history. I also do lots of research based on whatever campaign pops into my head, ranging from Victorian culture to Film Noir.

[Barton]

Math. Manly how to add/subtract/multiply/divide small numbers quickly in my head. I can do simple math very quickly.
History. I did research for my Pulp games and learned about Ethiopia in the 1930's.
People. I learn a lot about my fellow players values by observing thier roleplaying.
Myself. I had a great example at last year's GenCon Indy. I was GMing a Champions game and the players were forced into a press encounter. I played the members of the press in a hostile, aggressive, way. One of my players (who I had just met) said to me "You must hate the press". I thought for a second, and responded "I guess I do".

[John Desmarais]

Always make the thief go in first...

[Old Man]

Then send in the Dumb Barb.

[JohnTaber]

Neat question.

Over the years I have learned a bunch of oscure crud...I mean...meaningful data. Some stuff that springs to mind includes life in 15th century France, the Ottoman Empire, Serbian royalties, and speculative technology trends. Lately I researched Zimbabwe as I am going to be playing a PC from that region of the world.

[J. Chamberlin]

Awesome topic. I've learned all sorts of stuff from the RPs I've been in; life lessons and practical wisdom, as well as trivia. Lessee, what comes to mind...



Neitzche wrote "Thus Spoke Zarathustra", from which is taken "that which doesn't kill me makes me stronger".

Don't go anywhere without checking for traps first.

"Tin Lizzie" is another way of saying Ford Model T. The Tin Lizzie is slower than The Black Goat of the Woods with A Thousand Young.

No matter how convincing a speaker he may be, the bad guy is the bad guy. Period.

If it looks like a dragon, smells like a dragon and sounds like a dragon, it still might be an illusion.

Solids melt into liquids. Liquids evaporate into gasses. Gasses somehow become plasma. Plasmas somehow turn back into solids.

When all else fails, jump.

White, black, or candy-apple red, it doesn't matter: orcs are the enemy, not humans.

Despite being the "leader" of something, its definetly wiser to let the guy with the appropriate skills do his thing without being told how to do it.

No matter how powerful you might be, if you don't have a plan, you're probably f*ck*d.

Quick math.

Folding a katana "1,000 times" really isn't as daunting a task as people make it out to be.

When you really get down to it, gold is just a shiny metal. Silver is where its at.

You could live on hard-tack, but who'd want to?

Sigmund Freud, like many psychologists of his time, prescribed cocaine for his subjects.

The plural form of Platypus is Platypi. Platypi are poisonous.

Never dismiss the possibility of mind control or of zombies - nothing sucks more than being killed by someone you loved.

Whether or not there actually is a God, pay respect to Clerics. Even if they can't cast Cure Light on you, they can at least put in a good word for you in all the right circles.

Anything you need to know you can find in a book. Anything you can't find in a book you can beat out of a stoolie.

By law, all buildings in North America must have windows and a fire escape - you're never as trapped as you think you are.

Work the contacts.

The little crucifix with a looped top is called an "Ankh", and it's from Egypt. Neither it nor a regular crucifix really work against Vampires.

The island with those big head-monuments is called Easter Island. I dunno what those things that live there are called, but they are likewise unaffected by crucifixes. Maybe Ankhs work there, but I dunno about that either.

Always, always use the dynamite. Always.

[Savinien]

NOTHING! It's all meaningless drivel.

Dorks are dorks are dorks.

Seriously, I find the socialogical ramifications of fictitional creations engaging. Nothing solid has been learned, but I think the secret of all is in there somewhere.

If not. I'll just make it so in my next original campaign setting!

[Cancer]

I spent a few hours trying to track down accurate maps of medieval cities. I found some great resources down in the map room of the university library. On the whole, though, the sort of detailed information a GM would want to have is also the sort of detailed information an academic historian would want to have (and more to the point, publish professionally) ... and it looks like the information just doesn't exist. Pity.

[RDU Neil]

There is a thriving sub-culture of those who make maps of the underground tunnels under universities.

There is no "right way."

Communication is an art that very, very few people are adept at performing.

Having a plan is crucial. Depending on the plan is stupidity.

What is obvious to the GM is almost never obvious to the players.

The importance of "three" in Celtic mythology.

Twizzlers can really hurt.

[zornwil]

There is a thriving sub-culture of those who make maps of the underground tunnels under universities.

There is no "right way."

Communication is an art that very, very few people are adept at performing.

Having a plan is crucial. Depending on the plan is stupidity.

What is obvious to the GM is almost never obvious to the players.

The importance of "three" in Celtic mythology.

Twizzlers can really hurt.

Hey, do you have pointers to these maps? I've heard of the tunnels under MIT, but never knew about this mapping thing.

[GestaltBennie]

I've learned a lot, but forgotten most of it. :-)

[AmadanNaBriona]

Honestly, RP games gave me a great appreciation for History, improved my research abilities, and provided the spur for my creativity to flourish.

But one of the most useful skills I learned was how to be a rules lawyer.
Has helped with dealing with city hall and the planning commission on more than one occasion.

[susandwyer]

Always hide the body.

Always look up.

Always look under the car.

"I disbelieve" doesn't work in HERO.

There are good people to know and count as friends and most of them game.