Public Research: Field of Activity
 

Part of Public Research Project

Have you engaged in some activity under Tolkien’s influence? The possible list is covered by the poll, if you choose 'other', please explain yourself in the thread.

Role-play as indicated in the poll includes the forms of role-playing as seen here on the Downs (which in itself may be listed under ‘write prose/poetry options) and actual outfield fancy-dress Role-playing (may be listed under ‘recreation’) and computer RPG playing, so you may choose that option or divide your vote into three options, up to you, or all of them together, of course.

Computer games include PC, Xbox, PlayStation and all other possible forms.

Multiple choice is allowed

How funny H-I! I was thinking of starting a similar thread. With all the connotations floating around that Tolkien fans are a bit geeky, (not that I agree, mind you. :D) I’ve noticed quite a few members here who are at least artistically inclined, if not activity pursuing the arts. Not to leave out another batch who seem to be very creative thinkers as well.

I am at a loss though, as I don’t remember if Tolkien’s work directly influenced what I have done other than RPG’s here, yet I don’t think I could separate them from what I’ve done either, in that they are a part of who I am. Sooo…I am uncertain what to check off.

Edit: I am thinking that you are asking if we have created or played something actually to do with Tolkien's world.

Although I did vote poetry and drawing, this is not something I have done much of,

I wrote some poems several months ago, but they really sucked so I am currently on a brake.
I have tried several times to make maps over different places and I consider this drawing. (they are allmost as bad as my poems)

I was very into drawing long before Tolkien, but I started trying to sketch all my RP characters. And that's the only reason that I can draw people...the first incarnation of my character Fainpathe (who I met almost 6 years ago now) looked like some sort of half-orc, so I learned how to do it well. If I remembered where I posted my final sketches (4 years ago) I would link to them...but I don't.

A question.

Is "Role play" intended to cover RPGs of the type played on this forum, role-playing games of the Dungeons & Dragons variety or both? It seems to me that BD-style RPGs fall more into the realm of creative writing.

So, the answer is both (and all other types of)

I had a great deal of trouble deciding which boxes to check in this poll. While I do engage in many of the activities listed, it's hard for me to say whether I do so, or began to do so, "under the influence of Tolkien". In the end, I decided to construe "under the influence of Tolkien" fairly loosely, and voted for writing prose, poetry, and music, role-playing, and creating artificial languages. Of these, the only one that I clearly started to do specifically because of Tolkien is role-playing; when I was about seven or eight, my quest for more stuff in the vein of TH and LotR led me to Dungeons and Dragons. Writing prose and poetry and creating artificial languages are things that I might have started doing because of Tolkien, but (as I first read the books so long ago) it's hard to recall. Writing music is something that I definitely did not start to do because of Tolkien, but I have made a few attempts to write Middle-earth related music.

I certainly also play computer games, but I don't think that this has anything to do with Tolkien at all.

Nice Poll HerenIstarion :D

Well for me it's gotta be Rpg and Prose, which here on the BD is practically one in the same, with so many good writers and interesting plots. ;) But BD aside my own writing is influenced by a great many things as was Tolkiens I believe, Culture, History, language....ect. I also write a little Poetry but did not include it in this poll as much of it comes from real life experiences and is in noway influenced by tolkiens world.

I also have to admit that for a time after I first read LOTR I had the mad hankering for taking up Archery :eek: thought to the relief of my siblings I never did. lol

I'd never have wanted to make a cloak and get a sword if it wasn't for Tolkien. ;) I wouldn't have tried RPGs either.

Although his work did give me an impetus for writing, in terms of being inspired to pick up my pen, the work I have produced is not influenced by Tolkien. I have a preference for good narrative structure, and I often make use of elements of folklore (even if it is a contemporary piece - or perhaps, especially in a contemporary piece!) but I would say that other writers have had a far bigger influence, particularly concerning poetry. That is no reflection on what I think about Tolkien's work, just that I am keenly aware that his 'voice' is so strong, to attempt to write like he did would end up with the writing being swamped, and it would be impossible to create as detailed a world as he did.

Playing computer games often has more to do with my stress levels and the therapeutic results of giving something a virtual bashing than it does with Tolkien. ;)

I am curious what others consider "other". I checked off that box because I sometimes do cooking and recipes that loosely fall into the Middle-earth variety, especially in relation to the Shire. (I have several "Middle-earth" cookbooks.)

Ah, good to see Role-playing is still in the lead. Keep up the good work ;)

I've marked RP and artificial languages, as directly linked to Tolkien, (though I have been known to weave, draw, paint and write quite a bit with non-Tolkien themes.)

specification
 

Martial arts does not exactly mean karate-kung-fu etc type martial arts (or not at all, to be honest), but rather fencing/archery etc.

I've always drawn and had a fascination for swords. I think getting into Role Playing is something wholly different though. Both here on the Downs and DND with some good friends, (we try to all meet up on friday at the DM's house):D .

But certainly the fantasy genre in general, Tolkien in particular, I've vastly enjoyed. And because of DND I've begun to read The Order of the Stick, very funny*


*There are some mature themes, so be careful.

Whenever Im bored (usually in class) i like to draw maps of Middle-Earth, and see how close i can replicate them. The Cartography of Tolkien is what i enjoy the most, probably because i like looking at the big picture.
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Ford vega

I like to make clothes but they are deifinetly not accurate historical costumes, yet.
I also chose 'other' for my growing interest in gardening and cooking in a more homemade-from scratch kind of way. I've been partial to a simpler lifestyle and Tolkien's works fuels the fire, but I wouldn't want to live totally "off the grid" cause I like my computer and movies too much.

A question:
 

Does that mean rather a long-term commitment to some activity or does it count if you've ended up trying some of the things above because of Tolkien? For example, I tried to write poems because of Tolkien's works, but I made only a few before I gave up. Shall I check the "Write poetry" box even though my attempt to become a poet was quite short-lived?

All of them things...
 

Anything you believe love of Tolkien made you do