is dungon and dragons a cult game?

Answer 1

Define 'cult'. Then define 'cult game'.
I think I can anticipate most of your definitions, and even so my answer is "Not in the least."

I've been playing since 1978, and in my experience, if people want to do something scarey and occult, they whip out a ouija board.

Is Harry Potter a cult? The Lord of the Rings? The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? The Tempest? Macbeth? How about the Arabian Nights?

Fantasy is a healthy part of a healthy mind, and Fantasy Role-Playing Games are merely interactive ways of creating fantasy stories together. Whatever parts you are perceiving to be 'cult'-like are either hollywood-style, fantastic magic and monsters, or normal, American male, obsessive-social outlet-nishness.

Answer 2

Let’s look at the two definitions of cult that come to my mind (you can look these up in the dictionary yourself):
1. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian. (The KKK or some manor of Satan-worshipers as an example)
2. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest. (Any small organization from a group of people who actively attend Comic Book Conventions to a Football Team)
Dungeons and Dragons is not by any means a cult game based upon the first definition listed above. Dungeons and Dragons is a make-believe game where you make up a character and pretend to be them. It’s not all that different a concept from Cops and Robbers or Cowboys and Indians you may have played as a kid; Dungeons and Dragons has much more complicated rules, naturally. Sure, you can play a mage of some sort; if you’re the type of person who’s offended by that, I don’t recommend the game. But really, the game is no more evil or intended to turn people to the devil than the Tales of King Arthur of Olde or Lord of the Rings. It’s all about the brave knight slaying the dragon and saving the princess (or getting lots of cash, whichever your character prefers). It's just fantasy. The story line is what you make it and that’s all there is to it.
Now by the second definition listed above, Dungeons and Dragons is very much a cult game. The word “Cult” is actually derived from the word “culture”, and if you know anything about Dungeons and Dragons, there is very much a subculture that revolves around the game itself. I’ve known heavy duty gamers who seem to have everything they do revolve around playing Dungeons and Dragons. (Frankly, I think that’s dumb) But they in their little subculture are not evil, just a little narrow minded in that they don’t branch out and try other things. This really isn’t that different from any [2nd definition] cult that revolves around hunting or fishing every weekend or someone who hits the night clubs every chance they get.
Dungeons and Dragons is not my favorite game at all; way too many rules to keep track of in my opinion. It’s not evil, [1st definition] cultish, or bad in any way. In fact, consuming time is the worst I can think of to say about it, but that’s only if you’re obsessed with it. Otherwise it’s a nice, healthy hobby that “teaches” (for lack of a better word) math skills, problem solving skills, social skills, story telling skills, reading and public speaking skills, and promotes and develops imagination (which is something I think is very underdeveloped and sometimes even smothered by today’s society.)
Dungeons and Dragons is good in my book, but I’m not a fan myself.

Answer 3

Only in the same way a movie can be a "cult movie" or a show (like Star Trek) can be called a "cult show." There's nobody controlling people as they play Dungeons & Dragons. There's no leader or heirarchy. And while I can't vouch for online versions, people don't even "act out" the action, despite what you'll sometimes see in movies--the action is done through rolling dice and comparing numbers with simple addition and subtraction.

Answer 4

No, It's not a cult game. It was made for people who like fantasy, imagination, although it could be taken too far to possibly become a cult game which I believe is inappropriate

Answer 5

Yeah, today at the session, our rogue got some pocket change to turn our leader into the Evil Army of Pilate!

Oh wait, I'm sorry, that's a real cult.

Answer 6

Not unless you think a load of nerds spending their Friday night huddled around a table eating corn nuts and pretending to kill goblins is a cult. It's honestly a fun way to socialize and use your imagination.

Here's a good example: http://www.cybermoonstudios.com/8bitDandD.html

Answer 7

No, Dungeons & Dragons is not a cult game. It's an imagination game.

It's not satanic; it's fantasy.

Answer 8

to make it simple, NO. It is a game that as in any game that makes you use your mind, it is how the players push the terms. I have seen people make these games out to be bad, but being a player, and avid gamer, it is a game and that is all.

Answer 9

Do you mean cult as in something that people follow because they are forced to? Or maybe because they want to learn something? Or, maybe just because its fun.

Answer 10

No, but like anything else, it can cause trouble if taken too far.