Paul Beakley My “interested” comment above was simply the best language I had at he time to describe how I feel when I’m enjoying an RPG session. I would never have used the phrase “altered state of consciousness”, but I don’t know if that’s just because it’s not common parlance for me.

I’ll also admit to being someone who has pooh-poohed “immersion” in the past.

Which is to say, if “pursuing an altered state of consciousness” is what it means to enjoy the effects RPG have on my brain — namely the mental exercise they provide that I feel like I don’t really get in day-to-day life — then I guess that’s what I am doing.

I dunno. This is all new to me.