No offense meant to the good, clean, geeky people out there. But you and I both know that there are geeks out there who have a less than stunning record of self-hygiene. And, at any place where geeks gather, whether it be at a massive convention or at the backroom of your local gaming parlor, so too does Geek Stink. You know it. You’ve smelt it. Perhaps you’re even one of those who, on occasion, had smelt of it.
My friend recently sent me the ultimate cure for geek stink – homemade soap, with a d20 embedded in the center. You don’t get the d20 until you’ve washed away all the soap. (The instructions clearly stated – no cheating by simply leaving it in water to dissolve. You gotta use the soap, or you don’t get the +1 to your charisma.)
I can just see the commercials now…
Geek Stink – don’t let it happen to you. Get Geek Soap, Instead!!
Jen Says:
That’s awesome. I know people who need that soap. Where can I get a bar?
Arram Says:
Going to GenCon makes me want to offer free deodorant.
Joseph Says:
Been there. Done that. Went across the shopping plaza and bought incense and air fresheners.
We ended up smelling like sandlewood and cloves.
THOR Says:
I wanna know what soap that was, too! Me, I’ve been partial to Thinkgeek.com’s Shower Shock brand soap: caffeinated soap! It’s pepperminty!
Peter Says:
I know a couple of guys who really needs that soap. Any suggestions on how I tell them politely?
Martin Says:
Sad but true. But its even sadder when you need to print “Attendance only when showered and wearing clean clothes” on the flyers for the next big event (because last time the stench almost made you gag), and some guys who can recitate the most complex rule sets ask you like little children what that is supposed to mean. Sigh …
Disco Duck Says:
My friend says to take it a step further and shape the soap like the dice embedded in it. Could make them separate or sold in a set shaped like the usual dice box. The strange shape would make it harder to just rub it between things to get the dice.
David Says:
Snippet of Trivia: The product is called “Handmade Soaps For GAMERS” and can be ordered over the website of a rather well-known d20 game designer — just google it
soloran Says:
Here’s a link to a site that sells such items. Unfortunately, the creator is traveling until May of this year, so we all have to wait to order any.
http://www.seankreynolds.com/soapsbywillow/index.html
I wonder if I can get my local comic shop to stock these…
MarioB Says:
So terrible true.
Like the Idea of a d20 embedded in soap. Maybe it would be possible to use that for other things as well.
)
(probably a d4 in a Cake. whoever finds it has to clean the living room after a long roleplaying session
Rob Says:
Hey Peter, just give it to them for their birthday / christmas or sumthin
gnrrrg Says:
I know too many people who would cut the soap in half to get the die out and throw the rest away.
http://starbasephoenix.podbean.com/ A place to here Trek geeks talk about Trek without having to smell them.
Peter T. Says:
As someone who works at a game store and manages two of the CCG tournys we run here (MTG and Yu-Gi-Oh!) I can attest that some people really need to learn to shower a bit better.
Our store has the unspoken stinky gamer rule. If someone complains about the smell of another gamer we politely take them aside and ask them to please show up next time a little less flagrant smelling.
Jan W Says:
Heh. This wakes memories of Magic The Gathering tournaments. I still believe it was some sort of strategy to make your opponent submit to your stench
Cool comic by the way. Definitely one I’ll stick to!
Nelson Says:
Paizo seems to be flogging such soap, though it may be that someone’s coppied the original idea.
http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/t/twoStrandsSoapWorks
Andres Says:
That soap would sell out at conventions
Dave Says:
Charisma – too often a gamers’ dump stat in real life as well.
Ali Says:
Fun idea. You could do a homemade version of it pretty easily with liquid body wash. Get a nice bottle, dice, maybe print out a cool label… Just push one of the dice into the bottle, and they can get it out once the last of the soap’s rinsed out.
Kassie Says:
Your friend really should make that and sell it like crazy. That’s an awesome incentive to bathe for those who apparently don’t mind the smell.
Perrin Says:
On the one hand, embedding a die in a bar of soap is a marvelous way to encourage the stinky geeks to use the soap in order to get the ‘prize’.
On the other, we are talking about gamers, here; the one bit of silver lining in an otherwise smelly dark cloud is that they learn to solve problems.
So, one solution would be that they have to promise to actually bathe, using the soap, in order to earn the die. Okay, so this would tend to work mostly with folks who actually introduce themselves as “Lawful Good” or otherwise inclined to keep promises, but it’s a start…
As far as the whole concept goes, what do you all say about a ‘metabusiness’ line? Put together a soap-making kit (not including dice) with instructions, enough to make, say, about a dozen bars of soap, and let every game store make their own “house brand” with customized scents, colors, etc.
The deluxe version of the kit might even include home-made shampoo and laundry detergents. After all, the “+1 shirt of dice-rolling” loses its magic if it gets washed.
Idea: personal hygiene products for S.J. Games’ “Munchkin” line! Bonuses only applicable if you can prove that you’ve used the product, not if you use it at the game table…
Flippie Says:
Oh, mai, god. x.x My cousin is one of those kinds of geeks. I mean, my cleaniness record isnt perfect… There are those times… >w> But still D8
I would seriously get one of those soaps for him, though, or I’d just make him use the soap, I keep the d20, and he can keep the charisma. >>
Dennis Says:
Too funny…too true!
I ran a game store for a few years and actually kicked a customer out until he washed…with soap…and used deodorant. He was bad enough that the other geeks were complaining.
Lord-Boofhead Says:
I’m planning a Chinese New Year Taoist Clensing Ritual before my WFRP game I’m running tomorrow. Translation I’m bringing incence to bannish the geek stink!
And I’ve never got stinky geeks Ifeel crappy without my morning shower! And hell I’ve got exma that makes me alergic to normal soaps and I smell less than the most geeks!
Bar Barian Says:
I really lucked out on this with all my gaming groups. I can’t really say they were a group of weregeeks per se… but when we weren’t adventuring around a table, we were adventuring through the nightclubs of Calgary in much the same manner… our hobbies away from the table were drinking and chasing girls, so hygiene made a real difference…
Awesome comic Alina… I’m sad I only found it yesterday and missed you at the Calgary comic expo…
LoneHowler Says:
I heard that a recent furrycon some entrepreneur was selling caffeinated soap he had plenty of preorders
LoneHowler Says:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/accessories/5a65/
ScardyG Says:
Ahh, Geek Stink.
I have a guy friend who’s entire apartment has a musk of geek throughout. And he wonders why I never study at his place anymore.
Someone needs to find a way to market geek air freshener.
gnrrrg Says:
Woohoo – Wookie Batman kicks butt.
Captain Steckley Says:
One would think that the Caffiene Soap would also work well, absorb your daily buzz through your skin etc.
Disco Duck Says:
Saved both soap selling sites to my delicious bookmarks. No one in my dnd group has the geek stink, but my friend Sam might think about selling them to his customers.
MHZ Says:
Isn’t using one’s claws in a violent manner generally considered taboo in Wookie society? Usually a sign of insanity, or something like that, if I recall.
Alina Says:
MHZ – Wow. Way to show some geek cred!
But, yes. It is taboo. However, one can always leave it to Abbie to make a slightly insane character. Kit’thar is a wookie outcast who makes her living as a pilot for hire.
Jazhara7 Says:
Paizo does indeed sell these soaps too. They used to sell the ones by Willow, but since she’s not currently available they have found a different source (the wife of their warehouse manager, who happened to be in the soap making business too).
-
