A Note On Obsession

This is not so much a social commentary, nor an interesting observation, so much as it is a rant, so please bear with me. Actually, it's specifically a rant about an observation, so if you don't like that kind of thing, get stuf'd.

Fact: There is no such thing as a casual game master. This will probably be disputed (I will take on all comers), but I hold firm that it is a fact. While there is such a thing as a casual gamer, they will only be found in the position of player, and will often be the type to abstain from arguments about game rules, arguing alignment (pro or con), and can even be the type that sleeps until a fight starts and his character needs to kill someone.

For the rest of us, role-playing is an obsession that takes a back seat to no other hobby. Players have a mountain of supplemental books to sort through and character details to mark, explain, interpret, author, and otherwise memorize. Game Masters are in an even bigger pickle. Even if they don't have to create the game world entire (and many GM's do enjoy such a challenge) they still must create a whole plethora of NPC's, create locations of interest, learn or author all the special details of the campaign setting, and learn as much about whatever special rules that the players are bringing in for whatever character's that they are running. They also must learn to be one part diplomat, one part storyteller, one part general, and two parts enlightened despot (let's face it, sometimes the best way to keep things going is by shoving a lightning bolt down the motor-mouth's throat).

While most people can marshall these kinds of efforts for a short span of time, it takes a mark of obsession to keep it up for any length of time (unless, perhaps, you're getting paid for it, hint, hint). It is this obsessive quality, and the fact that only the, at least marginally, obsessed will last long in most role-playing groups keeps RPG's on the fringe, though at times we do seem to posess the unity of our own little sub-culture, so I guess it's not all bad.

So, when will I actually get to the point, you ask. Well, this being a rant, there is no actual point.