RE: DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

#1 · October 10, 2013, 3:52 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on October 10, 2013, 3:52 pm
Posted by: mbgross <mbgross@...>

Hello Jane and Joe,

I am a youth pastor (vocationally) for 20+ years and have been using the game on and off throughout that time with great results. While there may be slight doctrinal differences from a person's viewpoint, I have found those issues are typically easy to adjust—even if that means telling students "we are doing this different" and why. It is great for discussion.

Tell your husband not to get too caught up on all the rules. The game is designed to help him figure it out as he goes by guiding him through a step at a time. I would also say that it is better to play the game and get some the logistics wrong than not to play it at all. The basics of learning to think through a biblical framework and memorize Scripture are key! Honestly, after I haven't played for a while, I forget some of the rules but it has never hurt the experience!

The game play is best when you have a lengthy time set aside. A camping trip would be a great place to play and introduce the guys to the game. I can think of a bunch of fun stuff they could do to create a cool experience for the students and kick off the group!

With regards to girls, I have done the game mostly with guys but have done a couple of mixed groups and they were great. When I don't do mixed groups there are always a few vocal girls who complain they don't get to play—especially post LOTR movies.

I am not sure what seminary you are near but some of the most creative people I have ever met were in seminary classes with me. While seminary may not be the most "creative" environment, those seminarians are often looking for a creative outlet and DR is definitely one of them!

Lastly, while a video game may have some appeal, I don't think you could accomplish the same thing through it. Like the Christian life, DR is a highly communal and incarnational experience—something that pixels cannot replicate. I have former students who have elementary/JH aged children who still talk about playing DR and who was a part of their Raid party.

Thanks for the discussion and keep up the good work Joe.

Brian Gross

From: dragonraid@welovegod.org [mailto:dragonraid@welovegod.org] On Behalf Of Joe
Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 7:22 PM
To: dragonraid@welovegod.org
Subject: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

Jane,

To answer some of your comments; http://www.youtube.com/

I would like to know what your friend found that was so negative. Usually it is some doctrinal point or a personal preference.

Funny how camping takes a lot more than five minutes, but none of the dads have time to do some kind of discipleship. We all have time for what we want to do.

The DragonRaid name isn't going to change. If people will not look into something past its cover, they pretty much deserve not knowing anything. Sad.

What demons? The dragons represent demons and the dark creatures are beings that follow them.

Joe

From: Chesshir [mailto:chesshir@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 12:09 PM
To: Joe
Subject: Re: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

I would love to do that, send me the link. But when I told a friend who is starting a young adult group with my son and others in our homeschool group, he researched the origins of the game and somehow found something negative (I really think he was just looking for something). It's no that the imagery and name are any worse then the Narnia or Lord of the Rings books and movies, but when they hear the name "Dragon Raid" his wife literally curled her lip and making a kind of snarky expression. For others, I know for a fact it's the time that is involved in reading the material and learning the game, most of our friends are homeschooling and they are already over budget on their time. My husband's head spins when a game involves more than a few rules. The boys are coming up with equally complicated games or playing others that have absolutely no value spiritually on their own. There are no dad's in our group who have the time to invest in discipline unless it's a quick five minute thing or going camping or a sports game. There are a lot of young seminary students in churches around here, but they aren't taught and don't have the experience to do much in the way of creative thinking. I think the only way to get thru this wall is to go video game, or make the game more user friendly and attractive to both girls and boys if that's possible. Maybe you could send a free game and a live demo on DVD to church youth pastors and seminaries. Maybe some kind of name change could be a thought. The name fits but you know folks do go by "the cover" because most don't have the time to check it out further. I guess if I didn't trust the mom's whose kids were participating in the game that my son was part of, I may not have tried it either. But please no pink boxes! The colors are fine, the demons could look a little less threatening. Just some random thoughts. Got to get on with reporting to the school district now.

Jane C

----- Original Message -----

From: <a href="mailto:joerevesz@windstream.net" title="joerevesz@windstream.net">Joe

To: <a href="mailto:dragonraid@welovegod.org" title="dragonraid@welovegod.org">dragonraid@welovegod.org

Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2013 9:57 PM

Subject: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

I have run into a lot of people who judge DR by the cover. It is evil, just because they are too lazy to actually check out the text.

Maybe we should change the box color to pink and the title to the "I Love Jesus Game".

And, most of the reviews I have seen are from non-believers who don't understand the purpose of the system.

I think someone other than myself should post a fair, Christian review on Youtube that explains a few of the misconceptions and points out the strong points. If I did it, it would be an advertisement and not a review.

Joe

From: Chesshir [mailto:chesshir@verizon.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 12:38 AM
To: Joe
Subject: Re: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

I'm not sure. But I've been trying to get someone ANYONE (dad) to lead a dragon raid group for my son and his friends who I know would be into it. I get a lot of don't have times and often a push back as if it's cultish. One dad who is leading an young adult group and not sure how to reach these boys took a look at the game and did a little research to find at least one thing he could to call it cultish. He found something, but I have no idea what he was saying about it. I love the game, but I really believe it should be led by a guy and I'm not one. Good luck with the intro. Maybe a name change would help the conservative Christian nay Sayers?

Jane C.

----- Original Message -----

From: <a href="mailto:joerevesz@windstream.net" title="joerevesz@windstream.net">Joe

To: <a href="mailto:dragonraid@welovegod.org" title="dragonraid@welovegod.org">dragonraid@welovegod.org

Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 5:33 AM

Subject: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

Hello,

I am getting close to printing/burning another batch of Intro CDs and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions or corrections for it?

Thanks,

Joe

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: dragonraid-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: dragonraid-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6686 - Release Date: 09/20/13

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: dragonraid-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6724 - Release Date: 10/04/13

____________________________________________________________

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: dragonraid-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

Posted by: mbgross <mbgross@...>

Hello Jane and Joe,

I am a youth pastor (vocationally) for 20+ years and have been using the game on and off throughout that time with great results. While there may be slight doctrinal differences from a person's viewpoint, I have found those issues are typically easy to adjust—even if that means telling students "we are doing this different" and why. It is great for discussion.

Tell your husband not to get too caught up on all the rules. The game is designed to help him figure it out as he goes by guiding him through a step at a time. I would also say that it is better to play the game and get some the logistics wrong than not to play it at all. The basics of learning to think through a biblical framework and memorize Scripture are key! Honestly, after I haven't played for a while, I forget some of the rules but it has never hurt the experience!

The game play is best when you have a lengthy time set aside. A camping trip would be a great place to play and introduce the guys to the game. I can think of a bunch of fun stuff they could do to create a cool experience for the students and kick off the group!

With regards to girls, I have done the game mostly with guys but have done a couple of mixed groups and they were great. When I don't do mixed groups there are always a few vocal girls who complain they don't get to play—especially post LOTR movies.

I am not sure what seminary you are near but some of the most creative people I have ever met were in seminary classes with me. While seminary may not be the most "creative" environment, those seminarians are often looking for a creative outlet and DR is definitely one of them!

Lastly, while a video game may have some appeal, I don't think you could accomplish the same thing through it. Like the Christian life, DR is a highly communal and incarnational experience—something that pixels cannot replicate. I have former students who have elementary/JH aged children who still talk about playing DR and who was a part of their Raid party.

Thanks for the discussion and keep up the good work Joe.

Brian Gross

From: dragonraid@welovegod.org [mailto:dragonraid@welovegod.org] On Behalf Of Joe
Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 7:22 PM
To: dragonraid@welovegod.org
Subject: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

Jane,

To answer some of your comments; http://www.youtube.com/

I would like to know what your friend found that was so negative. Usually it is some doctrinal point or a personal preference.

Funny how camping takes a lot more than five minutes, but none of the dads have time to do some kind of discipleship. We all have time for what we want to do.

The DragonRaid name isn't going to change. If people will not look into something past its cover, they pretty much deserve not knowing anything. Sad.

What demons? The dragons represent demons and the dark creatures are beings that follow them.

Joe

From: Chesshir [mailto:chesshir@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 12:09 PM
To: Joe
Subject: Re: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

I would love to do that, send me the link. But when I told a friend who is starting a young adult group with my son and others in our homeschool group, he researched the origins of the game and somehow found something negative (I really think he was just looking for something). It's no that the imagery and name are any worse then the Narnia or Lord of the Rings books and movies, but when they hear the name "Dragon Raid" his wife literally curled her lip and making a kind of snarky expression. For others, I know for a fact it's the time that is involved in reading the material and learning the game, most of our friends are homeschooling and they are already over budget on their time. My husband's head spins when a game involves more than a few rules. The boys are coming up with equally complicated games or playing others that have absolutely no value spiritually on their own. There are no dad's in our group who have the time to invest in discipline unless it's a quick five minute thing or going camping or a sports game. There are a lot of young seminary students in churches around here, but they aren't taught and don't have the experience to do much in the way of creative thinking. I think the only way to get thru this wall is to go video game, or make the game more user friendly and attractive to both girls and boys if that's possible. Maybe you could send a free game and a live demo on DVD to church youth pastors and seminaries. Maybe some kind of name change could be a thought. The name fits but you know folks do go by "the cover" because most don't have the time to check it out further. I guess if I didn't trust the mom's whose kids were participating in the game that my son was part of, I may not have tried it either. But please no pink boxes! The colors are fine, the demons could look a little less threatening. Just some random thoughts. Got to get on with reporting to the school district now.

Jane C

----- Original Message -----

From: <a href="mailto:joerevesz@windstream.net" title="joerevesz@windstream.net">Joe

To: <a href="mailto:dragonraid@welovegod.org" title="dragonraid@welovegod.org">dragonraid@welovegod.org

Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2013 9:57 PM

Subject: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

I have run into a lot of people who judge DR by the cover. It is evil, just because they are too lazy to actually check out the text.

Maybe we should change the box color to pink and the title to the "I Love Jesus Game".

And, most of the reviews I have seen are from non-believers who don't understand the purpose of the system.

I think someone other than myself should post a fair, Christian review on Youtube that explains a few of the misconceptions and points out the strong points. If I did it, it would be an advertisement and not a review.

Joe

From: Chesshir [mailto:chesshir@verizon.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 12:38 AM
To: Joe
Subject: Re: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

I'm not sure. But I've been trying to get someone ANYONE (dad) to lead a dragon raid group for my son and his friends who I know would be into it. I get a lot of don't have times and often a push back as if it's cultish. One dad who is leading an young adult group and not sure how to reach these boys took a look at the game and did a little research to find at least one thing he could to call it cultish. He found something, but I have no idea what he was saying about it. I love the game, but I really believe it should be led by a guy and I'm not one. Good luck with the intro. Maybe a name change would help the conservative Christian nay Sayers?

Jane C.

----- Original Message -----

From: <a href="mailto:joerevesz@windstream.net" title="joerevesz@windstream.net">Joe

To: <a href="mailto:dragonraid@welovegod.org" title="dragonraid@welovegod.org">dragonraid@welovegod.org

Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 5:33 AM

Subject: [DragonRaid] DR Intro CD - Suggestions?

Hello,

I am getting close to printing/burning another batch of Intro CDs and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions or corrections for it?

Thanks,

Joe

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: dragonraid-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: dragonraid-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6686 - Release Date: 09/20/13

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: dragonraid-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6724 - Release Date: 10/04/13

____________________________________________________________

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: dragonraid-unsubscribe@welovegod.org