Attacks on roleplaying, generally claiming that it leads to suicide, participation in satanic rituals, or crime and murder, have dogged the pastime since its earliest days. Generally conducted by fundementalist Christian groups, especially in the U.S. these attacks have greatly influenced the public perception of roleplaying, and of Dungeons & Dragons most of all.

This topic is too large to discuss fully here. Suffice it to say that roleplaying has never been linked with any crime in a court of law, nor with any suicide or satanic practice. Indeed studies have frequently shown that roleplayers are less likely to comitt suicide, and are generally better adjusted socially, than non-roleplayers.

for more extensive discuassions of this topic see:

• Ref.