I've played sober, soused, and stoned, and they're all fun in their own ways. The first table I joined was a Friday night game that often ran late and where everyone threw (more than) a few back. It lowered the inhibitions and led to a lot of ridiculous role playing, but not a ton of consistency in the rules or narrative. The second table I ever joined (playing Exalted -- gorgeous RPG for anyone looking for something new) was with a professional game designer. We played on the daytime weekends and entirely sober. The game narrative was tighter and less ridiculous. Both games were fun, in large part because everyone was on the same page about what the game experience was. More than a particular substance, I think the best games come from being on the same wavelength and that's hard to do if only half the table is worshipping Cayden Cailean.
I've played sober, soused, and stoned, and they're all fun in their own ways. The first table I joined was a Friday night game that often ran late and where everyone threw (more than) a few back. It lowered the inhibitions and led to a lot of ridiculous role playing, but not a ton of consistency in the rules or narrative. The second table I ever joined (playing Exalted -- gorgeous RPG for anyone looking for something new) was with a professional game designer. We played on the daytime weekends and entirely sober. The game narrative was tighter and less ridiculous. Both games were fun, in large part because everyone was on the same page about what the game experience was. More than a particular substance, I think the best games come from being on the same wavelength and that's hard to do if only half the table is worshipping Cayden Cailean.