Well, if you ask us, it isn't. Or it kind of is. A little. It can be. *sighs*

The perception that D&D is the passtime of the adolescent male social shut-in, which it isn't (only), is still one of the most frustrating things about the hobby, and it's too deep to deal with in any satisfying way without this FAQ question becoming a major article for the Table Manners section. So, watch for that later. ;)

Suffice to say, if someone you respect plays the game, there's a good chance the game is as cool as he, or she, is. There's an idea that players often prescribe to: don't play D&D with anyone you wouldn't hang out with away from the gaming table. Following that, you shouldn't find yourself in any situations too nerdy to describe.

If you're worried about your reputation surviving despite your enjoyment of rolling dice, the best advice we can give is to stick to your guns. Since D&D is played by millions of people worldwide, there are "cool" games, and "nerdy" games, and thousands of games that fall between the two extremes. If anything, this should allow you to find, or even start, the gaming group that you really want to play with. If you start looking around, you might be surprised who plays.

Last updated on July 8, 2008 by RPG Ike