How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
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How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
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Re: How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
#2Surprised that prisons ban dice but not cards which can be used to substitute for dice.
Interestingly some of the early board games used spinners as dice where seen as sinful, normally by the more hard core protestants.
Re: How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
#3Disappointing to hear that some prisons are cracking down on D&D, like the Idaho State Correctional Instutition whose rules are quoted ITA. It seems like a productive outlet to me. Locking someone up for a few years with nothing interesting to do sounds like a good way to make someone come out the other end worse than they were before.
Re: How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
#4Well, they can't ban 1-bit random number generators (e.g. coins) and with a bit of time, you can simulate any of dice used in RPGs.
Re: How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
#5This article is extremely well documented. It must have taken a lot of time to investigate the matter. It becomes rare enough to notice this!
Re: How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
#6We used to make them with toilet papier-mâché.
Just add water and push them into the corner of the locker. When it dries, put on dots and wrap it in clear tape to protect the dots.
Re: How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
#7I guess I can understand the dice ban (sort of?) but the fact that some prisons have apparently have banned games like D&D altogether is bizarre to me. It seems like a healthy, relatively peaceful way to pass time and do something creative. I can't see it having a negative effect that other prison activities don't already make possible.
Re: How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
#8I guess I can understand the dice ban (sort of?) but the fact that some prisons have apparently have banned games like D&D altogether is bizarre to me. It seems like a healthy, relatively peaceful way to pass time and do something creative. I can't see it having a negative effect that other prison activities don't already make possible.
As far as pastimes go it seems pretty innocent, but I guess one could argue that because jail is supposed to be punishment time passing actives aren't a priority (not saying I do or do not agree with that stance).
Re: How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
#9We used to make them with toilet papier-mâché. Just add water and push them into the corner of the locker. When it dries, put on dots and wrap it in clear tape to protect the dots.
Would not using cards (which appear to be allowed) be simpler
Re: How Inmates Play Tabletop RPGs in Prisons Where Dice Are Contraband
#10Disappointing to hear that some prisons are cracking down on D&D, like the Idaho State Correctional Instutition whose rules are quoted ITA. It seems like a productive outlet to me. Locking someone up for a few years with nothing interesting to do sounds like a good way to make someone come out the other end worse than they were before.
> Locking someone up for a few years with nothing interesting to do sounds like a good way to make someone come out the other end worse than they were before.
Given the (growing) number of private, for-profit prisons - that would be seen as a feature, not a bug. Because if they leave worse off, they'll likely be returning - thus generating a steady income stream courtesy of taxpayers.
Cynical, yes - but likely true.