Advanced Play

[Bobster]

On the side of the box in English, there was a warning. “For Advanced Players only”. I chuckled when I read it. Before seeing that, I was wondering what I would do with her when I got her. I am Japanese figure collector. Figures just sit on the desk or computer rack and look good. A few of them I look at regularly, but for the most part they are meant to be left alone. So far there are things that I know I will want to do. I love the idea of situational photos. I am back out of town again and wanted to get a shot of her in the seat next to me on the plane, if only she had more that the slip and panty she shipped with. :( So she stayed home on this trip. Play and the ABJD is an interesting concept to me. I know this is subjective, but how do you "play" with your ABJD?

Bobby

[Myriai]

Hmmm...there are many different types of playing for me playing usually consists of picking up whichever dolls catch my interesting and sometimes changing their clothes then taking them out for photos (I am lucky and live in a land of (almost) eternal sunshine). Beyond that I love to make up stories about them though the dolls don't act them out much like they did when I was a kid, but I have fun coming up with photostories, though I've been decidedly lacking on that part of late. Other ways I play are to randomly change their poses on the set-up my roommate and I have for them ^_^

[Karhys]

I'm going to move this to OD as I think this is a good discussion thread that a lot of people would enjoy participating in. :)

For me, it's very varied. My favourite way to play is to take photos, both general snaps where we just sort of pose and play and take pics that look good, and also photostories where I tell about their characters and what's going on in their lives. I really enjoying capturing them in pictures, capturing individual moments of their existence.
I also like to dress and redress them regularly, and brush their hair, or style it (for those that can be styled!).
I often like to change or play with their sitting poses when I am walking past them as well.
Also, I often take one or another around the house with me, particularly when doing stuff that takes a fair amount of time (like watching a movie or playing PS2/PS3) so that they can be 'sharing' that time with me. I'll usually take whoever's character is most suited. (i.e. depending if I'm watching say a romance movie or a horror movie, the doll(s) sitting with me will be quite different. ;)) When doing that I often sit them on my lap or near me, and play with them (random poses) or their hair or clothes while doing the activity, whatever it is.
I also like to have meets with other people and then they all get passed around and played with and posed inappropriately and given wigs that don't suit them at all, etc, etc.. so really OOC silly fun stuff.
Also, because my dolls are all character-driven (in that they all have personalities) I play with them in non-doll ways as well.. as in I am often thinking about them and their characters and personalities, plotting out future stories or fleshing out backstory, imagining things they might be doing or saying, writing short stories or drabbles for them, and that sort of thing. I find that enriches the enjoyment that I get out of the physical playing as well because it makes them more 'real' to me, if that makes sense. :)
They also inspire me to be creative in other ways; sewing things for them, making things for them, etc.

So yeah. I guess I play with them in a lot of ways; they interfere in a lot of different parts of my life. ;) I'm curious to hear how other people play with them too. I guess it's probably different for everyone as we all have our own ways of appreciating them! :D

[Taco]

I take pictures (though, not as often as I would like) and change their clothes. Mine also have very strong personalities and characters, and I enjoy writing about them--my bjds are what got me started writing again. I take them to doll meets and sometimes to hobby stores. I watch tv and movies with them--I always hold onto Lorry while I watch horror flicks and two of my girls like Sci-Fi and Fantasy stuff. I also have them set up around the livingroom so I can enjoy looking at them. I also like to do faceups.

[lyrajean]

My primary mode of "playing"/reason for collecting BJD is making clothes for them.

Then of course I like to take pics and post them all over here and DOA.

This is harder now that I'm in Okinawa, the lighting sucks in my apartment and I no longer have my cat w/me to intervene in photoshoots, steal wigs, scare the dolls, sit on them, etc...

[Brightfires]

Once upon a time, my crew were primarily my photography models. These days, I don't really photograph them very often, so the way we "play" has changed. It's mostly a matter of changing outfits and reposing them now.

[Ridgeway]

My play falls along the lines of what everyone else has mentioned. Traveling with dolls can be trying but fun. Setting up a mini (Volks Hewitt II) in front of the Great Buddah in Kamakura, Japan was a a riot. I chickened out on taking my Dollshe boy to Venice. I'm glad I didn't, it was a very long trip but I could've gotten some amazing shots.

I can't say enough about the fun that can be had by going to meetups with fellow doll collectors. No matter what other interests BJD owners have, dolls open a lot of doors to people you'd otherwise never have met. We are an eclectic type! We are men and women, young and old, and (un)usually open minded. I've made some very good friends through my dolls. Can't stress that enough.

[bunnyscotch]

I play with my dolls seasonally. They all have their moments in time with me...and it just happens. One can't force the moment. (kind of like love!):kisses

[lin]

I like to dress and pose my dolls in various little scenarios and occasionally take photos of them if I like the way they look. I think about them a lot, though, so in a way, I am playing with them even if they aren't with me. Their personalities and looks are sort of evolving; I am always searching for the perfect wig, eyes, and clothes that will make them seem alive to me. I keep changing my mind about them, so I expect this to be a long process.

[skumring]

I make clothes for my dolls, and I take photos of them. They all have background-stories and although these are not always written down I now and then develop these further.

Sometimes I take one of my dolls with me when watching movies, surfing the net or making dinner or even to sit on the shelf in my studio when I am working to keep me company.

I have brought one of my dolls on holiday-trips. And she has also been my travel-companion on a couple of work-related trips. I find bringing a doll on holiday or on a business-trip is a lot like bringing something that reminds you of home. And it also helps me to take that little break in the day to sit myself down and enjoy the scenery, take a couple of pictures and relax a little.

Some days though, when work takes all my time my girls are left to themselves for days on end. Then they just sit prettily on top of my wardrobe until I have time to play again.

[byouyuuken]

I like to stare at them, or have them sit by me and just pet them...^^;. Sometimes even if the dolls are not around, I'd plan in my head what to do with them next--and as others have said, take pictures, change clothes, make them look pretty in general etc.

Maintaining, restringing, and painting new faceups for them is also part of playing, I suppose ^^.

[OddEthics]

Lenore has long hair so I spend a lot of time brushing it, I have a hair brushing fetish I guess. ^^ Kohl and Wesley have short hair so I just sit and style it. My main form of play right now is photoshoots and just posing them for fun then staring. I do like taking them places when I can.

[Bobster]

I have to say thank you to all who responded. I had been thinking about play for a week before I saw the note on the side of the box. Play seems to be one of those hard concepts that western civilization shoe horns in to a childhood activity. When I originally decided to bring her into the family, I did not think about what I would do. I now have a number of ideas thanks to you all. I will be photographing, creating stories, posing and most likely making clothes. I can see that she already has the makings of a personality or “Resinality” if you wish.

If anyone is interested in play research, one of the apparently best authors is a gentleman named Brian Sutton-Smith. Today I was able to find all of his books from the last 40 or so years at a local university library. I tend to research interesting topics, sometimes to exhaustion. :)

Bobby

[Daniel Falls]

I mainly like to dress and take photos of my dolls in everyday living situations. My first exposure to these dolls was through seeing various Volks one offs at their mansion tea parties, so I usually strive for the same perfection in presentation. I know Im still learning, so it's fun for me to dress my dolls, switch heads and different body parts, and try to take interesting photos of them.

I think the best part of these dolls that I enjoy the most is the ability to take fictional characters from my mind and give them solid form in these dolls. It gives me personal satisfaction to "give life" to my characters.

[hoshinokachi264]

mostly i carry her around with me, take her pictures and make clothes for her. sometimes i have her sit on the couch next to me while i watch some T.V

[aichaku]

i play with my dolls the same way i used to play with dolls as a child -- i dress them, have imaginary situations for them, make them pretty, pose them. in addition, now as an adult, i take photos and spend alot on them to make them into the "people" i want them to be. that's how "advanced" i am now hahaha ... spending alot more money.

[slrphebos]

I mostly make clothes for my girl so she is handled a LOT in any given week. I also take pictures and change her poses. I don't play play with her cause she's on her own and if I were to play with her how I played with my barbies growing up I need another doll for her to interact with.

[eptrauma]

I hug them, style them and arrange them. I buy them things, i am so into "stuff" for dolls. I don't have a lot of dolls, but wow do i love buying them clothes, furniture, shoes.... My dream is to someday make a shadowbox and furnish it. ( like what Kallisti has) Right now, i dont have the space for something like that. But in the future, it's a way i'd really love to expand my hobby. I feel like having goals like that keeps me interested in the hobby. I just love collecting little things that i think would go well with my dolls. I don't see myself ever having a huge doll family, but whenever i travel or go places at all, i'm always on the lookout for doll accessories.

I also love to sew for them. I sew a lot for people too, but i really like making cute things for my dolls. It makes me feel very calm and satisfied.

I make up very loose stories for them, but i don't really act those stories out. well... not often... but i'm not going to say NEVER because that would be a LIE. :)

[FunnyLori]

At least one of my dolls is always with me. If only I would bring my camera as well! They get changes of clothes, posed in interesting situations, and love going to the movies. My friends think I'm crazy. But, if I'm having fun, then it's worth it. I enjoy my dolls most when they are doing things unexpected in the real world.

[Faye]

I believe "for advanced players" was written with age meaning ^-^ just a way to say they are not dolls for children, in my Nasia box is all written in japanese but I can see a clear "+13" on it

As for the way I play I could not explain better than Daniel Falls, I "play" with them very similar! :nod

[Bobster]

I believe "for advanced players" was written with age meaning ^-^ just a way to say they are not dolls for children, in my Nasia box is all written in japanese but I can see a clear "+13" on it

:nod

My girls boxes have a 15 year limit in English on the side of the box. The labels may have been added in Los Angeles at the Tenshi No Sumika where they came from. It is clear that a non native speaker of English composed the labels. I have not checked the Japanese yet, but the label looks interesting. One interesting thing to note, is that Elena came with an English instruction book that had been written by a non native speaker of English, however the English instruction book that came with Mimi13 was written by a person with a native like command of English. It also had the details of the Los Angeles store. The first one did not.

Bobby

[Stella Maris]

I do like to have them with me for companionship. Sometimes I hold one on my lap when I'm driving (usually a little one!). I also enjoy drawing and painting them on paper and canvas, and I love doing their faceups. I know I have a long way to go but I'm definately improving! I love changing their eyes and wigs too, and seeing how different they look.
I also love to draw other people's dolls, that is really fun, especially if I feel like I "know" the doll, that is know their character.

[derilan85]

I really love changing their outfits and eyes and taking pictures of them, may seem odd to talk to them, but I do and I'll even have them watch a movie on the dvd with me. My mom thinks I'm crazy, but my husband totally understands.

[kboyd912]

I shop online with them. :) Sigh - they really love to shop!

[BloodRedRoses1]

I shop online with them. :) Sigh - they really love to shop!

Oh lord YES!!! If I shopped as much as my crew wants me to we'd all be living in my car until it got repoed. ;)

I "play" with mine by changing outfits, taking pictures, designing clothes & I've started trying my hand @ making props & things.

Morgan

[Laylian]

I love taking pictures of my dolls, even though I'm not very good lol. They also travel around town with me. I take them into bookstores, movie theaters, restaurants. It all depends on where I'm going XD They usually go out one at a time though, unless it's for a photoshoot/story or something similar.

Issachar has even been to St. Louis, Missouri with me. We drove, so he was a little awkward in the car, but it was great having him along. Sharing that experience with my doll is a way that I play with them^^ It's a lot of fun.

[EilonwyG]

Heh heh heh. :sweat Play can get kinda interesting, especially when my friend and I get together with our kids. ;) Usually play consists of posing, picture taking, clothes changing, and shopping. I have backgrounds for nearly all of them, as they're mostly based off of D&D characters. Sometimes my friend and I "act" with them, playing with them almost how I used to play with Barbies when I was younger. That can usually become rather entertaining. :lol

[aernath]

Play for me is mostly taking them places (work, pool, lake, parks, etc.) and shooting photo stories or just shoots.
Whenever my husband's not home, I carry them around the house with me for company. ;)
They also sleep with me when he's not home.

Sometimes, I like to just sit and look at them and imagine the adventures or conversations.
Occasionally, I'll follow up and do a shoot based on those musings.

[Artemille]

My room is full of doll sized furniture that I put them in occasionally, and the wardrobe and dressers are good for storage. I turned their boxes into beds that they sadly spend most of their time in. Play usually just consists of me on days off posing them against the pillows on my bed and leaving them there to hang out with me since I spend most of my time in my room. They're convenient for keeping my sanity when I might be the only one in the house. Then I drag them around and take pictures too.
My new one is a tiny, so I can carry her around places easier, and she has long hair, so I brush it a lot.

[delbelcoure]

I play with my dolls by sewing for them. I "explore" their personality with each new outfit. It really surprises me when I make an outfit and my dolls say "No -I don't want to wear that (sometimes even after they requested it !)". BTW - yes I do hear voices in my head. They say things like " Make me a pair of Glam Rock gold vinyl jeans" or " Buy that expensive embroidered and sequined shot silk and make me a kimono out of it. No, I changed my mind, I don't want it - give it to Nathaniel" and other such drivel :p
My daughters seriously play with their dolls (DD1 & 2) and when their friends come over, I let them use my DD1 also. These dolls get kidnapped, put in cages, escape their dreary lives as pampered princess to go mountain climbing, rebel from bossy mistresses - you name it. I sometimes envy them their vivid imagination. Of course, how would they have clothes to go adventuring in if it weren't for my clothes fetish ( although, a surprising amount of costuming can be done with scarves :D )
Susan

[saint_savin]

I've been known to pester my sister with "Lets play dolls!" when she comes to visit. She's always made up cute doll outfits and I enjoy it when she does that for my gang.

I can second what most people consider playing with their dolls. Sewing for them, taking pictures, letting them occupy my lap for no real reason.

One other thing I love to do? I have a neighbor who likes to admire and fiddle with them, so, if he and his wife come over for dinner and then stay for cocktails, I'll bring whoever is best dressed out and let them sit on my lap. As people tell stories, I move the doll around as if he or she is reacting to who's talking and that that person is saying. Marv likes to tell risque stories so I really enjoy making them look embarrassed! XD

[MieAga]

I'm kinda random as far as what I do for play from day to day. I love taking photos and dressing my dolls. I will take them too. Usually the goal is to take pictures somewhere other than home :) I have played with some stories but that's more my hubby's department. I also find comfort in cuddling up with my dolls now and again...The other part is customizing/modding a doll. I love reworking dolls! It's fun to see how they turn out!

[EilonwyG]

One other thing I love to do? I have a neighbor who likes to admire and fiddle with them, so, if he and his wife come over for dinner and then stay for cocktails, I'll bring whoever is best dressed out and let them sit on my lap. As people tell stories, I move the doll around as if he or she is reacting to who's talking and that that person is saying. Marv likes to tell risque stories so I really enjoy making them look embarrassed! XD

Heh heh, that's great! I bring my dolls to my parents' and once I had Zip hold out his arms to hug her. She rejected him. So I had him act all insulted and curl up into me. My mother laughed hysterically!