Treat It Like It's Great

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do..." - The Apostle Paul

The point is, Dungeons & Dragons is worth it. It is the greatest game in the world by far and on par with only the best group social activities that are available. Imagine that, what you do around that table on campaign day is as good as anything else. Go to the movies with friends? I'd rather play D&D. Go to the bar and watch the ball game? I'd rather play D&D. Go bowling? Go picnic? Stay home and party? Just give me the game! It is great.
Just because D&D is great in itself doesn't mean that there isn't notable responsibility attached to it. If it isn't great in your experience, then make it great. Reliable content is out there if you need help. It is worth the work, and we all have to do it. A football player only works for a couple of months during the season. But in the off-season, he still works. He has to keep his body in shape. He has to see to any injuries he has. He has to stay up on technology and what's going on in his sport. As a DM in this noble, great and fun activity, you've got to make it great, if it isn't.
The hurdle, I suggest, is that most of the D&D stuff out there from decades of production, is fluff, harmful, and unnecessary to a healthy campaign. That is true for the majority of the advice as well. Therefore, it is important to have a very good idea of what your game is or will be. Be as idealistic as you can be. Do not settle for vague notions of "I just want the game to be fun." The football player does not say that, without knowing all that goes into it. He may very well have experienced greatness, and greatness is fun.
D&D is great and it is worthy. Do the work.

Let's Make Fun of Geeks

I have had a couple of players who openly discuss their lack of lives. If you commit to play D&D then you obviously have no life. Surely there is some other life that you should be living. If your life was better, then you wouldn't have to condone to play D&D every week.

I know these players never really think about what they are saying. These are good people. They do good things. I enjoy their company. In fact, when my best friend says "I have no life" when he considers playing in an additional game, I think that he is joking. He is making fun of what used to be the external, stereotypical point of view of geeks.

It is only now that I am calling these players out. If they truly think that playing D&D is an unworthy commitment or worse, then they cannot think much of people who happily commit to playing. Furthermore, it speaks of someone who has low self-respect, as in, "Yes, I play this game and therefore I have no life." Respect yourself, dammit.

This is only one instance of several where such thoughtless, disrespectful words have been spoken at my table. It's not funny anymore.

Occult Book List

Back when I was a Call of Cthulhu player, I took it pretty seriously. I also had a ton of time to waste. For that game, I compiled a list of occult books seen throughout history. I also listed a few books whose actual, original existence is not certain. This list only goes up to 1930, I believe, as I only wanted books that might be available in my 1920's game. Feel free to use this information: