You know you spend too much time gaming when...

...you're listening to a radio news report about the war in Iraq and they mention the effective use of RPGs and you think to yourself, "What did they do, get too distracted to keep fighting?" :lol:

...you missed when your kids grew up, until they started playing with you. :)

You fail a year of school, and get constant whining from your parents, and your social life exists pretty much exclusively of other gamers, both IRL and online
:borg:

You look at a compass and wonder what an alignment is doing on there.

Your beard is noticably thicker than when you started your current gaming session.

(Especially a problem if you're a woman. :shake: )

... You attempt to right click your friends to see their inventory.

... You go out and wonder where all the elves are.

... You suddenly realise there is no autosave.

... You pick a fight with muggers only to realize you don't actually have Carsomyr, and for that matter aren't even a Paladin.

...you lock your keys in your car, and find yourself wondering if your lockpick skill is high enough to remedy the situation.

...you attribute your penchant for binge drinking to your 18 Con score.

...you fall down a flight of stairs and break your leg, but insist you'll be fine once you step over a medpac.

...you flunk a science exam and scream "RELOAD!"

...your dog farts and you scramble to remember the incantation of "Zone of Sweet Air." (may be used liberally in fraternity houses)

More later...

...someone lights up a smoke and you worry they will attract wandering monsters.

...you go to a funeral and think about casting Resurrection.

...you pass all your classes and move up a level in education and wonder what additional powers you gain and how many hps.

...you refer to your whinny little sister as Arie.

...your feeling a bit sluggish and think you may need a better video card or more RAM.

...you find yourself calling your professor Elminster.

...you use the words "random babbling" in a sentence.

...you find yourself wondering if your bedroom is a safe place to rest for the night.

[ August 26, 2004, 18:39: Message edited by: Dark Haired Beauty ]

this is a true experience,
i played Commandos 1 back then, almost extensively. So i was driving, gas tank hits E spot (e for enough and f for finish?), i was planning the route to the nearest gas station. "What happend if this route is too far and my gas run out?" i asked myself. This came to my mind immediately "quick load".

...you look outside and think 'those trees look so real!'

...you wish for a quick-save before making major decisions...

...then wish for a re-load after realizing you've made a bad decision.

.....you ponder how your Dexterity stacks up against the Olympic gymnasts, shooters, volleyballers, and table-tennis medalists.

...your best pick-up line is "Hey baby...wanna see my bag of holding?"

...you dive feet-first into every large, green flowerpot you see.

...you insist your spoon has a +3 versus Fruity Pebbles.

.....your in the bar tipping the barladies but no matter how much money you tip they won't give any rumours on hidden treasure.

You actually get in a discussion with your friends on who you would rather sleep with: Jahiera, Imoen, Mazzy, Aerie, or Viconia (once you go 'drow' you'll always say 'wow').

...you start to feel tired and begin to look for the rest button

...you wake up without knowing how you got to bed, and then realize you are still in the middle of your game at your computer

...you start off most of your jokes by saying 'I was playing my game the other day and...'

...you realize how shooting an arrow in real life is different then in a game the hard way

When you actually stop and wait for the rest of the party to show up when hearing "You must gather your party before venturing forth" in your mind at your house' doors.

...when you start strafing around every corner and trying to remain out of sight of security cameras.

@ el timtor

Quicksaving... boy do I get that. Whenever I do *anything* I spend at least a few seconds "searching" for the quicksave hotkey, and then another few seconds understanding that you can't quicksave in real life. This scares me.

...when you read a thread like this and nod at pretty much every sentence.

... when you realise a million threads like this have been made yet we'll always have something new to share.

... when you argue with someone and wonder what you'll have to roll on your bluff score.

...watch a film and as the main character tumbles past the bad guys and blasts him in the head, you think to yourself ... he made that DC25 tumble check and used his vorpal pistol to blow of his head with a crit of 19

[ :D ]

... try to work out what level and class legends like King Arthur is, or in general, people like Tony Blair

...you see Bush on TV and try to cast protection from evil and chaotic command on yourself. :p

when you read a thread like this and nod at pretty much every sentence good one hehe.


...the worst thing you can call someone is a gibberling ;)

... You actually do carry something that eerily resembles Carsomyr around. And feel like chunking the occasional gibberling from time to time IRL :p
I *have* called people gibberlings... it's remarkable how many gibberlings there are out in the scary place they RL...
On occasion, I have lamented being unable to quick-save but that's pretty damn rare.
On occasion, I have flashes of seeing something (usually in movies) that make me think *cheater* that roll was haxorred.
Sauron: spot on... if there's any video game I'd want to bring into RL... *shlrrrp*
DR: where the hell did the green plant things come from?
:borg:

...when you drive through Iowa and hope that Iowa 2 has a better graphics engine.

...when you are in a boring discussion with your boss and wish you could hit the "esc" key to jump to the end of the conversation.

...you stare blankly at your work computer that currently has no games on it and wonder what on earth you're supposed to do all day. (working not being an option) :good:

...you are more concerned about your character's well-being than your own.

@Big Bald Ranger, I believe the flower pot thing is a reference to Mario 1 or Mario brothers (or both) where you would jump upon the green flower pot/tube like objects press up (or down?) and descend into them (feet first).

...When you start seeing health bars above peoples heads.

This happened to me after playing Dynasty Warriors for waaayyy too long!

you're fingers have naturally grown stuck on the keyboard, you'r sitting in a yellow stinking lake, there are some skeletons lying in the house, and you see pictures of yourself on every tree with the words "have you seen this boy?"

...your picture is on the back of a milk carton :lol:

... you start to explain how Con affects your fort saveing throws and Strength is only useful for bashing locks.
when you read a thread like this and nod at pretty much every sentence :lol: so true :lol:

...the computer is out of date

...your dead

...people refer to you as "the nameless one"

...you see flying skulls all around you (iritating one!)

...you're wielding a sword (purely decorative), you're walking across mountains, killing wild boars, chasing rabits, fishing with your hands, have no ideea what soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, wasing machine or toilet mean...

...you fall in love with Bastila Shan (SW-KotOR) and keep talking and thinking only about her wherever you are (my case:))

...you have an imaginary friend by the name of Revan, Minsc, Boo, Jaheira, Aerie, Imoen, Irenicus, The Nameless One, Bhaal, Myrkul, Jergal, Cyric, Bane, Mask, Tymora, Obi Wan, Vader, Luke, Anakin, Qui-Gon Jin, Jar-Jar, Tyranus, Carth Onasi, Bastila Shan, Mission Vao, Canderous Ordo............... and when you can't stop writing names of people that never existed... NNNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

....you start, read, and post in an internet bulletin board thread that asks the question: "You know you've spent too much time gaming when......."

... you forget what you were asked to do and try checking your quest journal

... you try quiksaving your notes and other handwritten work

... you ponder other peoples alignment

... you ponder peoples disposition towards you (Morrowind)

... you talk to people and look for the dialogue options

... you wish you had dialogue options when you don't know what to say

... wish you could pause real life to determine your next move

... wish SO bad that you had a bag of holding

... wish you had all the rest of the cool equipment your character does


@ Colthrun

Bravo! Most clever and very true. Too true in fact...

..... you make a comment about how well the water in the bath is rendered.

... Police break into your home after you haven't been seen for months.

... You think of them as Guards, not police.

... You try to open a door and if it's locked you shout out 'DENIED'

... You meet someone called Anna(h) and immediately start looking for the tail.

... You try to cast a spell at your parents when they try to get you off the computer.

... You *really* cast a spell at your parents when they try to get you off the computer.

... You call your mother/father in law 'Firkraag'

... You wonder why cheating to speed up a romance doesn't work in RL.

... You are rushed to hospital for dehydration but still manage to tell your best friend that you *must* defeat the Demogorgon no matter what the cost and that you will fireball him if he doesn't save your game.

... You look outside and wonder when Bioware got a new skybox.

... You don't venture into your basement without a torch and a cleric.

Whenever you are walking around with a group of friends or love ones, you usually hear someone say "You must gather your party before venturing forth."

you think "how many hours of sound recording went into this game, i CAN'T WAIT for the sequel".

... you're trying to work out when you got pregnant, and hear yourself saying, "well, it must have been a slow night on ALFA...", and then when you announce your pregnancy to your gamer buddies they say the same thing.

...you wonder what the minimum specifications are to play 'Real Life 2: The Revenge of Reality'.

...someone says to you, "Hey, you spend too much time gaming, stop it, it could really become quite a detrimental hobbie you know.
Peter? Peter? PEEter?
Are you listening to me?
You're not are you?! HELLOOO? Fine then, i'm leaving you, bye."

Meh, what does she know.

(Note: This hasn't actually happened to me...yet)

...you wish you knew what the globals were for starting the romance with the hotty who just walked by.

...you get frustrated because you aren't able to stuff 2 suits of armor, a sword, a half-dozen potions, a baby dragon and a human body in your backpack.

...when you feel a dire need to ctrl-alt-del random morons for causing your day to crash

Yeah... I *need* some of those tomes of strength... and a larger backpack :|
:borg: