Quote from: Bren;779724At least three people in this thread are confused about what the word "everybody" actually means.

And at least one who is confused by hyperbole.

A link to a seven minute clip crossposted from the "future looks bright" thread because it fits this thread equally well:

Documentary proves girls will play D&D with boys is a nice complimentary piece to the links Zak S provided upthread.



I usually don't have any problem explaining the hobby to the uninitiated, especially if it's a face to face situation like the one in the OP.
Usually I know a little bit of the persons, know what TV shows or books they like, and go from there.

My problem is people who are genuinely interested ("what do you actually do there?") but that have no experience or interest in any storytelling media, that don't relate to any activity that doesn't serve any practical use. People who can see value in outdoors activities, or crafts where the result is a thing that they can use, but sitting around a table and discussing imagined things with no bearing whatsoever on actual life?
People who don't "get" watching CSI, Seinfeld, or Sherlock (let alone Lost, Fringe or Game of Thrones...), or board games either.

I can explain the what and the how pretty well (having had a game store helps a lot in gauging the target and adjusting the spiel to the needs of different people) but in this case they always come back with a "ok, but why?"
I haven't found an answer to this, yet.

Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;779858I can explain the what and the how pretty well (having had a game store helps a lot in gauging the target and adjusting the spiel to the needs of different people) but in this case they always come back with a "ok, but why?"
I haven't found an answer to this, yet.

"Because we enjoy doing that."

Although in truth, there is no answer that will explain it to those folks. In matters of taste you can't answer the question why do you enjoy this thing that they don't enjoy. Or in the words of Oliver Wendel Holmes, "You cannot argue a man into liking a glass of beer." You try it and either you do or you don't enjoy it.

Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;779858I haven't found an answer to this, yet.

I explain it as similar to the desire to perform in a theater, sing a song, or other type of live artistic activity. You don't want just sit then and consume your entertainment but also actively create it.

This also includes a dash of social gaming like a chess tournament. The point of a chess tournament is to play chess but another point is to hang out with fellow chess enthusiasts.  Well with tabletop roleplaying, the point is to experience an imaginary world, but also it is to hang out with fellow enthusiasts periodically.

Quote from: Zak S;778767This episode is super clear, I think--
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/i-hit-it-with-my-axe/1872-Episode-18-200-lbs-Of-Meat-And-A-New-Fur-Coat

this is a text people have used to explain the basics
[snipped for length...

That's pretty damn good.

Sadly these days my first words to new comers might be more along the lines 'Run, run while you still can. It's too late for me but you can still save yourselves!"

Quote from: Soylent Green;779130You have a point there, but suspect on that basis espionage might work even better. Horror tends to stack the deck against the players, depending on the person that might not be the best introduction to the hobby.

That said the 1920s (or other historical) twist might well work as a geek antidote with some. TV shows us that dress up a soap opera as costume drama it suddenly becomes classy.

I've found that horror often works better with new players. They're not jaded and, when they get into it, respond more naturally to what they're characters are experiencing and less like they're trying outsmart the genre.

Quote from: Doctor Jest;779726And at least one who is confused by hyperbole.

*chortle-snort*

Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;779858but in this case they always come back with a "ok, but why?"
I haven't found an answer to this, yet.

Because it's a game. Because it's fun.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;779988. Because it's fun.

That's really the only real answer but good luck trying to get some types of people to accept it.

Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;779858My problem is people who are genuinely interested ("what do you actually do there?") but that have no experience or interest in any storytelling media, that don't relate to any activity that doesn't serve any practical use. People who can see value in outdoors activities, or crafts where the result is a thing that they can use, but sitting around a table and discussing imagined things with no bearing whatsoever on actual life?
People who don't "get" watching CSI, Seinfeld, or Sherlock (let alone Lost, Fringe or Game of Thrones...), or board games either.

IME, you accept that they're not your core audience and move on.

The comparison they're most likely to "get" is performing in a play. I normally avoid that one because to me, the differences between RPGs and theatre are more important than the similarities, but to people like you describe who clearly aren't going to be playing anyway, it's okay to be imprecise or even a little misleading. Trying to get full understanding with the sort of people you describe is a lost cause anyway.

Quote from: purpleplatypus;780647IME, you accept that they're not your core audience and move on.

The comparison they're most likely to "get" is performing in a play. I normally avoid that one because to me, the differences between RPGs and theatre are more important than the similarities, but to people like you describe who clearly aren't going to be playing anyway, it's okay to be imprecise or even a little misleading. Trying to get full understanding with the sort of people you describe is a lost cause anyway.

Or maybe, telling stories around a camp fire or something like that.

I  wrote following as introduction in RPG I am currently writing:

1   Introduction
Overlord is a game of social climbing set in a universe filled with young, beautiful and very ambitious aristocrats attempting to rise to the very top of massive interstellar empires.


Game's concept is to create a game universe, where players could immerse themselves in intrigues and plotting between aristocratic families.
 
The game works towards its vision with emphasis on status and fame. Main characters work towards these goals with carefully plotted intrigue where seduction, persuasion, subterfuge and outright lying are all possible courses of action.

Players who excel in their ambitions may find themselves as rulers of vast empires. However, the price of ambition is steep as well.  Each action should have future consequences, some good and some bad.

It is a universe where ambition truly knows no bounds – but the price is often too high.

1.1   What is a Role-Playing Game?

A role-playing game is a game where Player pretends to be someone else.

Player's alter ego has detailed attributes, skills and resources which make her character as detailed as any major heroine in a novel. This character exists in a fictional game universe which is also detailed. Depending on a setting this universe may have intriguing people, places, societies and situations that character will face. During the game Player acts out the part of her Character as if that character actually existed in this fictional universe that Game Master has created.

Game Master (GM) is one of the players acting as a referee. She works within rules framework objectively determining the effects of Players actions. At the same time Game Master acts as a master storyteller who weaves the tale that Players hear. She is responsible for telling Players both what is happening to their characters and what their characters are seeing in this universe. She also runs all those characters that Players own characters meet from poor beggars of the street to wealthy nobles in their palaces.

The real thrill of a role-playing game is in pretending to be someone else to what one actually is in a real world and doing it socially. You can really be anyone you wish within imaginary universe and its rules.

At the same time it is important to understand that role-playing is not about GM writing or telling a pre-determined story. Players have free will and they decide what their characters do. They enjoy themselves being active participants in this exciting game. Any story is created after the game by remembering characters actions and reassembling them into some kind of coherent narrative.

QuoteDesigner's Notes: Role-playing games do not have rules that make players to role play. Role playing is a voluntary activity that comes from immersion of Player to game being played.

Two types of immersion can be identified:

Impersonal Immersion comes when players notice that each and every character is both unique and their representation within rules matches the description in what players have wanted them to be. For example a strong character can be made and rules concerning strength are sensible to all players. Sensible and fair game rules support this immersion.

Personal Immersion happens when players choose to identify themselves with their characters. This typically happens when character behaves and responds as player would want to respond in a given situation. Thus players start to feel that detail they put to game is what they are themselves doing rather than their characters are doing.

Role-playing games support immersion with two methods:
First, open-ended storytelling where players have complete freedom of action with their characters in fictional universe within rules framework.
Second, ability to carry out dialogue between Players' Characters and non-player characters of GM.

Quote from: golan2072;778765I'm looking for a good and simple explanation of RPGs for complete laymen, i.e. people like my mother or my current girlfriend, who are not gamers, giving them a general idea what I do in my hobby. A youtube video would be perfect.

You play a character in a virtual world.

Quote from: golan2072;778765I'm looking for a good and simple explanation of RPGs for complete laymen, i.e. people like my mother or my current girlfriend, who are not gamers, giving them a general idea what I do in my hobby. A youtube video would be perfect.

I sit around with my friends making up crazy stories together. We use dice sometimes to figure out what happens next.

In between stories, we drink beer and tell jokes.

Quote from: RPGPundit;783011You play a character in a virtual world.

Succinct and accurate for my tastes in gaming. I like it.

One minor quibble: while probably all sci-fi/fantasy fans and nearly all if not all nerds would get the virtual world bit, some people would not understand the phrase without further explanation or an analogy to Murder Mystery parties, kids playing cowboys & Indians and cops & robbers, video games, TV series, movies, novels, etc. Of course the specific explanation or analogy should be tailored to the audience and something they are already familiar with so a generic response isn't really the best way to go and is probably better left out because really shorter is better. Give them just enough explanation to get them to either try playing or to move along.