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I started a new job located in Chantilly, Virginia, and joined a gym nearby once it reopened. This means that every single day I drive by the old site of the Game Parlor. This is a tough pill to swallow. I left D&D in 1981 due to the satanic panic. In other words, I left because I was forced to leave. When I finally broke through a particular mental barrier, I returned to the game in 2005. My first game was at the Game Parlor in Chantilly, Virginia, where I created my warmage, Frylock, who would be immortalized both in a mini made for me by my friend, @Luddite_Vic, and also on my license plate.
I played two Living Greyhawk modules, which itself opened my eyes to a larger community that was unavailable when I was a kid. The game had become more popular, and the internet brought us all together. I instantly started making new friends (and frenemies) and found a new social outlet, which I know creates a paradox for the ignorant. Within five years, I had attended my first GenCon and was organizing my own convention, synDCon.
So here I sit on Wednesday night having a thought. I should be playing D&D with a group I recently joined, but I’m not. Why? Because I no longer enjoy playing the game. I don’t play it the way almost all others do, and the way those others play the game simply doesn’t appeal to me. I didn’t particularly like D&D 3.5e but, despite that systemic problem, still played it because of the people. Even though I like D&D 5e, getting to see them no longer is enough to make me sit through a game that just drags for me.
So while I lament not having the Game Parlor, I realize that even if I did (and there were no more pandemic), I wouldn’t take advantage of it. It’s like this: Even if you think very fondly of, for example, 5th grade, you wouldn’t want to go back there with the mind you have now. You’re an adult. You don’t want to do childish things with ten-year-olds as your primary source of entertainment. I’m not saying D&D is per se childish; I’m just saying I’ve moved beyond it as it’s usually played, so I don’t really want to go back there. I just want the idea of finding something like that. Unfortunately, I think I’m too old to expect that to happen.
You can never really go back.
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Follow Vic @Luddite_Vic
Play What You Want 
I loved meeting you at those games and you were a great organizer. I also loved our random like 2am meet up for D&D at Gencon. I think your style was goofy and fun. There are groups out there for your style should you still want that joy. I think most of them moved on from D&D though.
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This is why I took so long to give up on it, occasionally try to go back, and never miss a Winter Fantasy. It’s always about the people I met and new groups of people I meet. Some of them suck, but most don’t.
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[…] couple of weeks ago, one of my posts raised some questions from my social media contacts both on Facebook and Twitter. Specifically, […]
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Nice to meet a fellow NOVA person! I grew up in Fairfax and spent many years skateboarding in Chantilly in the 90’s. It wasn’t until the quarantines hit here in Ohio that I got back into D&D. I remember the Game Parlor but maybe only visited once. Since I’m basically new to the game, I don’t have a clue what it used to be like. What elements of the game did you like that are not being used now? Is there anything that would get you playing again?
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The editions have changed twice since I returned to the game after a 24-year hiatus, but mechanical elements aren’t my concern. I’ve rarely been able to play the game the way I wanted to. I played anyway because something was better than nothing, but eventually it grew tiresome. For more details, see my post from a free days later on why I no longer play.
https://gsllcblog.com/2020/09/07/howiplaydnd/
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