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Game On! Best Energy Drinks for RPG Players (Tips & Tricks)

Game On! Best Energy Drinks for RPG Players (Tips & Tricks)

RPG stands for “Role Playing Games”, games where you get sucked into a new world, playing characters with awesome powers and doing things that you wouldn’t normally be able to do in real life.

But RPG sessions can get pretty tiring for players and the game master.

So let’s see how an energy drink can help you enhance your RPG experience.

How Does An Energy Drink Help Me While I’m Playing RPG?

Energy drinks are a great companion for long RPG gaming sessions because they provide you with a much-needed energy boost so that you’re more alert and can concentrate better.

Speaking in RPG terms, you can think of energy drinks as being like your mana or stamina potion. 

Just like how your in-game character will benefit from a mana or stamina potion whenever his/her strength is dwindling, you will definitely feel energized and able to continue gaming for a longer period of time once you’ve had an energy drink or two. 

Whether you’re a game master or player, there are lots of ways that an energy drink can help make your RPG experience a more enjoyable one.

As a Game Master

Energy drinks can really come in handy as you prepare for your next gaming session because they will help you concentrate better.  

As a game master, you have a really important role in moderating gameplay and player interactions. 

And when you’re actually in a game, reaching for an energy drink might help you stay alert so you can keep up with what all the players are up to. Indirectly, it will also increase your ability to improvise and think of ideas on the spot as the game progresses. 

As a Player

Playing an RPG requires you to be able to stay focused for several hours on end (sessions can last up to 6 hours). There’s lots of thinking required too, so having the energy to enhance your mental performance will certainly be useful.

Which RPGs Would Benefit Most From An Energy Drink?

No matter what RPG you play, an energy drink will make your gaming experience more enjoyable. Let me give you a few examples of how having an energy drink might help you if you’re playing some of these popular RPGs. 

Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)

By far the most famous RPG, Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) has been around for several generations. The game was created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and it was inspired by the Lord of the Rings universe.

Generally speaking, the duration of a D&D game can span anywhere from a quick two-hour one-shot to long campaigns that go on for weeks, months, and even years.

With each gaming session lasting between 3 to 6 hours on average, an energy drink will definitely help in maintaining your stamina even as the hours’ roll on by.

Pathfinder

An even stronger energy boost is required in games like Pathfinder, which is actually derived from D&D’s Third Edition.

Those who play Pathfinder or D&D Third Edition will know what I mean when I say there’s actually a more complicated system being used here. In other words, you’re going to need more brainpower to excel in the game than you would while playing D&D Fifth Edition.

In such gaming situations, an energy drink that’s higher in caffeine content would serve you well. However, you might want to hunt for an option that contains less sugar, or better still, none at all.

I say this because experiencing a sugar crash mid-game is the last thing you’d want to happen to you.

Call of Cthulhu

Jumpscares, medieval discoveries, and ancient artifacts. These are words that all describe this game, which is based on H.P. Lovecraft’s story of the same name, perfectly. 

As a player, you’ll be taking on a human persona and this is quite different from what you’d experience in the fantasy worlds of Pathfinder and D&D. 

Game characters can be really complex here so you’ll definitely need a little help remembering what your character is all about. Personally, I’d recommend a lighter energy drink when you’re playing Call of Cthulhu.

How Many Energy Drinks Should I Drink While Playing RPGs?

It may be tempting to keep a can of energy drink with you at all times and to just continuously sip at it throughout an RPG session. But it’s really not a good idea to be constantly drinking one.

That’s because both the caffeine and sugar content in energy drinks have the potential to cause you health problems if consumed in excess. 

So the question of how much you should drink while playing RPG can be answered based on the quantity of caffeine and sugar that’s reasonable for you to consume in a day. 

Another tip I’d like to offer here is that you should alternate between drinking water and energy drinks to prevent yourself from becoming too thirsty and drinking more energy drinks than you probably should.

Also, you don’t want to be running out mid-game too many times to go to the toilet or get a headache to the point where you can no longer continue being part of the game.

Just for your info, here are some side effects that you may encounter if you drink too many energy drinks:

  • headache
  • vomiting
  • stomach irritation
  • fatigue
  • sugar crashes

And that’s not even the full list of ailments you’ll be contending with. For a more elaborate discussion on what an energy drink can do to you if you have too much, check out this article I wrote on the side effects of energy drinks.

But don’t worry too much, as long as you’re drinking your energy drinks in moderation, you shouldn’t encounter any health issues. 

In order not to end up taking too much caffeine and sugar, your best bet would be to stick to drinking just one can of energy drink per day, or some brands might be fine to have a second one in a day.

When’s The Best Time To Have An Energy Drink For RPG?

When it comes to playing RPGs, the best time to have an energy drink is during the game itself.

This is because energy drinks will help you continuously replenish your energy throughout the game while helping you avoid unnecessary sugar crashes or a caffeine overdose – if you choose the right drink that is.

If you were to have a drink before the game, you might find yourself tired midway through the game as the effects of the energy drink may already be starting to wear off.

The best way to do this would be to crack open a can at the beginning of your game and take small sips throughout the game. Personally, I feel this will yield you the best results.

What Should I Look For In An Energy Drink?

Here are some factors you might want to consider when choosing an energy drink to complement your gaming lifestyle: 

  • Gaming habits
  • Caffeine content
  • Sugar content
  • Price point

Gaming Habits

The amount of time you spend in-game will determine what sort of energy drink you need.

If you often find yourself taking part in games that last several hours at a time, a stronger energy drink might be better for you since you will need an energy boost that lasts for a longer duration. 

For shorter gaming sessions that only go on for two hours or less, a lighter energy drink might actually be sufficient to serve your purposes as it will give you just the right amount of energy that you’ll need and you’ll have an easier recovery time right after you’re done with your RPG session. 

You could still make do with lighter energy drinks for long games, just that you’d need to drink more of them and find ways to stay hydrated in the meantime.

Caffeine Content

When you’re drinking energy drinks, this is what you’ll need to watch out for. Don’t let your caffeine consumption exceed 400mg within any single day. 

Remember what I said earlier about how the amount of caffeine you limit yourself to every day will help you determine how many energy drinks to have?

Well, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that 400mg of caffeine is the maximum amount that a healthy individual should consume in a day.

And remember, it’s not just the caffeine you’re getting from your energy drinks. Plenty of other things that you eat or drink daily contain caffeine too, and you’ll also need to take them into account.

If you need an energy drink that you can keep sipping throughout your RPG session, then you’ll need to go for something with less caffeine per fl. oz.

That way, you won’t exceed your maximum daily amount of caffeine even if you drink a large volume of it. 

But it’s really not just how much of an energy drink you drink that determines how alert you’ll be. You can just have a one really strong energy drink and that might do the trick. 

Then if you need a lighter dose of caffeine, later on, you can resort to tea or soda instead.

Sugar Content

Sugar is great as it provides you with an immediate burst of energy. However, I would advise against consuming too much sugar.

Remember I mentioned earlier about sugar crashes?

Well, they are no joke. 

Sugar crashes happen when the level of sugar in your blood becomes out of the ordinary due to excessive sugar consumption. 

This additional sugar in your body causes a spike of glucose in your blood, and your body produces a higher amount of insulin in an attempt to restore your sugar level back to normal.  

As a result, your blood sugar level now swings to an exceptionally low level, leaving you feeling even less energetic than before you consumed the sugar.

In order to avoid a sugar crash, follow the American Heart Association (AHA)’s guidelines on sugar and you should be alright.

SexMaximum daily intake
Men150kcal / 37.5g / 9 tsp
Women100kcal / 25g / 6 tsp
Recommended daily intake of sugar by sex.

Keep this table in mind when you’re choosing what energy drink to have and also when deciding how many of them you can safely drink within a day.

Just like with caffeine, you’ve got to remember to take into consideration other sources of sugar you’ve consumed during the day.

Price Point

The price of the energy drink you choose might become an issue, especially if you play RPG at least once a week or more.

If they are too pricey, you might have problems affording them after a while.

This is particularly so if you’re a student and operating on a limited budget.

There is actually an energy drink that’s really affordable and a good fit for any kind of RPG player, but I’ll get to that a little later.

What’s The Best Energy Drink for RPG Players?

There are plenty of energy drink options out there for you to choose from, of course, but here are four brands that I’ve shortlisted to help you get started if you’re not too familiar with which energy drink might be best suited for your RPG needs.

Check out this video to find out what others say are the best and worst energy drinks for gaming.

Red Bull

A can of Red Bull energy drink
Red Bull contains a moderate amount of caffeine.

Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine and 27g of sugar, which is a fairly moderate amount of caffeine, but too much sugar in my opinion.

Please note that the 27g of sugar does exceed the maximum daily limit for sugar that AHA has set for women, though it’s not by very much.

With only 80mg of caffeine in a can, you can allow yourself a little more leniency in how much you want to drink in a day.

You can learn more about the full list of ingredients for Red Bull in my other article here.

I would say that Red Bull is most likely the best for D&D 5th Edition because of its moderate caffeine and the fact that it has less sugar than some other brands

It should be able to do its job in keeping your stamina going for those long RPG sessions without damaging your health as long as you don’t go overboard with the number of cans you consume in a day.

In terms of pricing, I think it’s actually pretty reasonable. It will cost you around $2 a can, depending on where you find it.

Monster

Monster Energy Drink.
Monster Energy Drink.

Monster energy drink contains a whopping 179mg of caffeine and 54g of sugar in a 16 fl. oz can.

The sugar content exceeds the daily recommended limits suggested by the AHA for both men and women, so I really wouldn’t suggest drinking more than one can a day.

For the entire list of ingredients, feel free to check out my article on the ingredients of Monster.

Now, Monster would be what we consider a high-intensity energy drink that is good for a quick, strong burst of energy.

In terms of its RPG suitability, I’d say it’s most suited for Pathfinder, but if you’re playing D&D for many hours, it may also benefit you.

For Monster, I would recommend drinking the can in small amounts throughout gameplay rather than downing it all at once. This is to minimize the chances of a caffeine overdose or sugar crash.

With that much sugar in a can, it’s reasonable to expect that you’ll experience an energy slump a couple of hours after drinking a Monster.

Price-wise, it’s usually around $3 for a can, but prices vary from store to store. That’s a bit on the expensive side if you ask me, but for such a strong energy drink, you might find that it’s worth it.

Advocare Spark

A sachet of Mango Strawberry Advocare Spark energy powder
Advocare Spark is a powdered energy drink.

If you’re looking for something a little lighter, you should consider Advocare Spark, a powdered energy drink that is sold in slim little sachets, making it easy to carry around.

Advocare Spark contains 120mg of caffeine and is sugar-free. Yep, there are no risks of sugar crashes with this energy drink.

In terms of caffeine, you have a greater degree of flexibility here since Advocare Spark is sold in powder form. So you can literally control how strong you want your energy drink to be or you can dilute it further to suit your preferences. 

In fact, you could even combine the contents of a couple of sachets together to make a more potent energy drink too if you feel the need for it.

You can get more information about Advocare Spark’s ingredients in my other article where I cover everything in a lot of detail.

Advocare Spark might be best suited for Call of Cthulhu because of its versatility and the ability it gives you to fully control the quantity of liquid which you mix it with.

And with Call of Cthulhu’s constant jump scares, a lighter and more versatile energy drink is exactly what you probably need.

If you’re wondering how well this energy drink works, you can check out my Advocare Spark review post.

In terms of price, it costs around $2 a sachet, excluding shipping. That’s really not too bad for a lighter energy drink, but around double the price of my personal favourite energy drink…

REIZE (10 out of 10)

REIZE
Try REIZE now!

Those options were great, but I’d say that REIZE definitely takes the cake as the best energy drink for RPG players.

REIZE has a sensible amount of caffeine, which is only 50mg. Because of that, you can drink it constantly for those long sessions of D&D.

In fact, since the amount of caffeine is moderate, you can afford to drink a whole lot more of it by making your drink using a couple of sachets in one go. This will come in handy, especially when you need a stronger energy boost while playing games like Pathfinder.

But if you prefer a lighter option, that’s possible too, so REIZE is suitable for a game of Call of Cthulhu as well.

With other invigorating ingredients like 1000mg of taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins as part of the REIZE blend, you can count on being energized when you need it most.  

REIZE is completely sugar-free so you have one less thing to worry about. No sugar crashes or worries about calories. In fact, there are only 11 calories in each REIZE serving. 

Now comes the price. 

You’ll be happy to know that it’s only going to cost you around $1 per drink. And this INCLUDES shipping right to your doorstep. 

That’s phenomenal value for money.

Give REIZE a try for your RPG sessions. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. 

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