When a Scene Hits Too Close to Home

Written by James

Sometimes, you find your character in a scene that hits a little too close to home. Your character could be facing a situation that you yourself have faced in life – and it hurts.

That happens. Fiction often touches us in unexpected ways. If there weren’t some emotional bond in role-playing games, we would quickly lose interest. But what should you do when a scene becomes uncomfortable or too emotional for your tastes?

Here are some tips for handling situations that are too close to home.

Play it Through

People tend to shy away from self-examination of the darker sides they hide away deep down. Role playing games do often touch on emotional aspects of real life and may bring out some feelings we thought were locked up inside.

Sometimes, taking a deep breath and playing through the pain while taking a good look at why you feel so upset can help resolve personal issues. A scene about a death can free you from your own fears of death. One of love may help ease a broken heart.

Talk to a Moderator

So-called “darker” games tend to involve violence and graphic scenes that aren’t always comfortable for players. But part of the attraction of darker games is that they do involve high-level drama and sometimes horrific scenes. It’s much the same as horror movie aficionados who watch scary movies for the sheer fun of being scared.

Sometimes, though, a player has had a violent act done to him or her and feels the scene evokes personal memories. If that’s the case and the situation becomes too hard to handle, talk to a moderator. It’s okay to send a quick note advising a moderator of the removal of a character.

It’s Just a Game

Role-playing games often rely on real-life situations, using them as a basis for scenes or settings. This does not in any way mean that moderators condone certain actions in real life – fiction isn’t reality. It’s just a game.

If a scene involves a murder, don’t believe that the moderators feel true murder is acceptable. If a scene involves high emotion hatred, don’t believe that players truly feel this hatred every day. If a character loves this or that, don’t assume that the player loves the same.

When You Need Help

An uncomfortable, emotional scene can sometimes be a revelation. Role-playing has long been used in psychological therapy to release feelings, to discover hidden memories or to cope with pain. Sometimes, players do realize introspective benefits from fiction gaming.

But a role-playing game is no replacement for true therapy with a professional – if you realize you have trouble coping with your emotions, seek help. Don’t use a game as therapy and don’t continue to play if the game truly upsets you.

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