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Table-top Role-Playing Games, a pastime for tens of thousands across the United States and hundreds of thousands across the world, are an elusive amusement for those who are unfamiliar with their workings. An often misunderstood pastime that can, contrary to popular legend actually be good for you, role-playing games often called RPG's-offer more than meets the unsuspecting eye.

We have all heard the old, "Dungeons and Dragons will make your kids (or your friends, or even you) evil," still it is seldom that anyone has taken the time to look a little deeper into that myth. A role-playing game is just that, a game. It is often argued that they can have mind influencing effects on their players, driving those that partake in them to do stupid and often dangerous things, which could potentially get them hurt. It is simply not true. Gamers are merely people who enjoy the suspension of reality, and interactive "choose your own adventure" style fun that table-top games provide.

We all know the urban legends about role-playing games, now it is time to shed a little light on the truth behind the myth. As I have already said, RPG's can, and generally do, have positive effects on their players. Gaming is a group activity, an activity that requires the participation of two or more players to go smoothly. Gaming groups build friendships, give rise to social environments, and spark creativity. Role-playing games lead to confidence, increase problem solving skills, and can at times be used as a tool for teaching and/or problem resolution.

Gaming groups build friendships. Gathering once a week or more around the kitchen table, or living room floor, gamers enjoy the companionship of others with whom they have some interests in common. Individuals who play role-playing games are often taken by other such pastimes as reading, writing, and acting. Finding others to share their passions is invaluable and inevitably leading to increased self-esteem and life long friendships.

Role-playing gives rise to social environments. Most gamers enjoy the company of others and strive to seek out that friendship. Role-playing gamers are inherently social creatures. Thousands of game stores around the United States offer this social opportunity, introduce people who have this unusual pastime in common, and provide a place to have fun without prejudice or danger. Hundreds of role-playing game conventions and workshops take place every month across the country, from Gen-Con to CyberCon, bringing gamers

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