A pal o' mine told me that I'm too old to roleplay. Is there even such a thing? It got me thinking about the age of roleplayers. From what I've seen, anyone can do it, but what is an acceptable age in your book? I've seen seen ages 10-50 so far and I myself am 21. I do understand roleplaying isn't only about being a character, but its also a great way to get a ton of free inspiration for writers and the like. I think I'll be roleplaying for at least another 25 years or so before I throw in the towel; on that thought I have a comment or rather a thought to add: As we all know time can't just stop while we roleplay, so everyone will get old, but I'm thinking the biggest thing that changes throughout a roleplayer life is one, the things that they are interested in, two, the types of roleplays they are in, and three, how much they put into roleplaying.

Another thing is that my pal is chewing on my foot because I prefer to use my small knowledge of writing and martial arts to split some wigs more often than not, and as much as we yak on and on about videogames, he just can't bring himself to find my mad skills to be epic. In all honesty, if there was a game out that could be as creative and ever expanding as textual roleplay, then that game would be the greatest game ever. Being a diehard gamer and hopefully a developer some day, I think that more developer should roleplay, for one their characters won't be shitty, two, like I said, inspiration is a great feeling.

Our chat just spark an idea in my head so I thought I'd spray the brain chunks in a crowd to see what people think.

This reminds me of a conversation I had, ironically with a close friend. He and I were on one of our non-sequitur rambles, when suddenly he decides to bring up one of my old characters. He too was a role-player, albeit then (and still) retired. I, on the other hand, was operating several character pages on MySpace. Although it was towards the end of our Sophomore year of high school, he begins to tell me to "leave RP in past and go on with life." At that time, RP was a daily ritual - one which had become a serious hobby.

Fast-forward three years later, and I find myself scaling the black letters of my aunt's XP keyboard; typing this very reply. Life-experiences and events have assisted in shaping my view of RP from merely a 'hobby' into an art form. It's more than just playing out a couple of character actions in sequence. You get the chance to paint a canvas of your own creations - to tame your wildest imaginations and springboard them forth for the world to see.

As long as you take precedence and priority over your life, it doesn't matter how old you are.

Well, I just turned 22 so if you're too old I'm really pushing it here :P

Seriously, though, role playing is like writing with a partner and I think that's the core of what a lot of us love on here. Creating characters and plots with other people. We feed off of each other's creativity to create these amazing stories. Some people build toy planes, some people make scrap books, some people go fishing, and some people write stories online in role plays. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it one way or the other and I probably will be role playing for a good number of years to still come ^.^

It's the difference between roleplaying for escapist value and roleplaying to create something.

Hmm odd question as I am 43 currently and find that the ability to create, dream, invent and speculate much more enjoyable than watching pixels on a screen. Now I do play MMO's and other computer and console games but the ability to create worlds is much more satisfying to me personally.

Skall

I don't think there is an age limit that states when someone should stop roleplaying. I mean, roleplaying is for writers, and writers come at all ages, so obviously that is a good sign that you can never be too old to roleplay.

I'm 23 and I've been roleplaying since I was 12. I mean, sure I may have taken an occasional year long break from it here and there, but regardless, my love for it has always been aspiring. No matter how long I leave it for, I know I will always come back, and it will feel brand new when I do.

A lot of movies have retarded plots and they still get fangasm'd over like mad. As a video-game developer you don't need to have a grasp on good story-telling, just a decent knowledge of what ingredients your audience enjoys. Audience is a generalisation. Also, jRPG's are based on what the Japanese like and not what Americans like. Hence why other cultures think a lot of those protoganists are annoying whiny fuckers and their villains look and dress like girls.

But back to the topic at hand. Outgrowing things is something the individual decides for him or herself. Look, if you're 80, wear a G-string to the beach and start hitting on tweens... Then you're too old for that deal. That is for more practical reasons. But the only thing you need for roleplaying is a functioning mind, functioning eyes and functioning fingers. Got that? Well, then you're not too old.

Well, then you need to check out a lot of indie movies. I like seeing the hollywood ones for comedy, special effects and badass action-scenes. When you go to the cinema you shouldn't be expecting a good plot ;p Writers get a lot more publishing opportunities and don't need as many material resources and staff as a movie-producer (the word escapes me) and often their audience is a lot older, which makes a large difference also.

But this is going off-topic ;p

Yep, Kestrel hit it on the head.

Baa-aack on topic plox. Just for Liquidis's sake.

Yeah, my dear mother seems to wish I would stop roleplaying, but as I've proven, it's not happening. I honestly can't see myself not roleplay in the future, so whether I be 99 and can't see the screen or the lovely age I am, I'm probably still going to be, somehow, roleplay or writing. Preferably roleplay, it's not fun alone.

I feel like the only 'young' rper from aus here, most of the people in aus don't even know what it really is and those who discriminate me forever in the day for doing it as over here that is beyond a 'nerd' as they would call many of us, those on here would be constantly given looks if anyone found out and avoided no matter where they went. Seen it happen, not pretty.

Wow. I come from an entire family of role-players. Many of which are just reaching 40 years of age but at least three of them are in their 50's. Both of my parents and my mother still. My younger sisters are even starting to try it.

Can you ever be too old to do what makes you happy? A scoop of ice cold vanilla ice cream on top of a hot slice of cherry pie makes me happy but does that mean that when I turn 22 this December that I should leave such childish desserts behind me? Taking long walks at odd hours of the night while listening to music on my MP3 player is something else that makes me happy. Should I quit doing that when I hit the big 3-0?

Here is the way I look at role playing. I want to be a writer. It is something that I have wanted to do since I was in 4th grade. I want to write Fantasy (Stephen King's Dark Tower is one of my favorite series and R.A. Salvatore is a literary hero to me). I fear, though, that this dream will probably not come true.
I've come to terms with that. After a difficult life (made difficult often by my own hands) I have finally enrolled myself in to school (I start January 1st. Whoo!) and I have a girlfriend whom I absolutely adore (and who loves me just as much). Role playing is a creative outlet, for me. I love playing video games and love escaping in to the Fantasy world of a good book but none of that compares to the thrill of literally creating your own world and populating that world with a fantastic history, events and even more fantastic characters.

The day you become too old to keep doing what you love is the day you die (and if I have it my way then my spectral fingers will still be "pecking" at these keys!!!).

I've never really been told "Oh you shouldn't be doing that" or "Your a bit too old to be spending your time doing this".
Since I've always done some form of art like drawing, or making things, roleplay came as almost second nature. Now I myself may not always write as well as I want due to the fact I am a more visual person than I guess textual?

But for someone to tell you your too old to be doing what you could call a literary art form is idiotic. Next time he says something ask him if he's too old for waiting in line at the nearest game stop for the newest Halo or DMC, or if he's too old to be spending his time sucked into a console game. (I have nothing against console games or table top) Those activities could in themselves be considered childish.