I never thought that I would be able to enjoy role-playing games, until I was introduced to the universe of D&D, the world of charismatic characters, dungeons, dragons, and surprises around every imaginary corner. My game is Dungeons and Dragons and I play it because it allows me to be who in real life I am not. In real life I am an introverted individual with little desire for heroic actions, yet in D&D I play a courageous character that has no flaws and no issues with self-esteem. Plus the combination of risk, attention to imaginary details and plethora of possible outcomes keeps me away from getting bored, stressed or unhappy. On top of all of that I can watch an entire world unfold before my eyes on a battle mat, carefully centered on my grand dining room table.
What makes this game so dining-room-table worthy? In the last few years D&D brand has gone over some major changed in design, usability and marketing. Today Dungeons and Dragons are made for people of all groups and ages. Rule books and accessories have a much more appealing design. Miniature figures range in colors, shapes and forms and can now be placed on ergonomic battle mats. Character sheets have been dramatically improved and can now be neatly updated on our computers. (Coast) Changes that took place over the last few years make the game easier to understand and to play. Even with all the extras D&D still requires simple things to make it fun- friends, dice, pencils, and most of all imagination. The essence of this game is the game play itself, but it is the fantasy of it all that makes it enticing.
A good set of 20d dice is the most important element of the game. Dice determine what steps characters take, how quick and when. Rolling the dice determines what chances your character has against the enemies and other dangers. The group of players needs to pick a Dungeon Master (DM), someone to be in charge of the adventures. DM controls monsters, narrates the story and acts as a referee (Heinsoo, Collins and Wyatt 8). Being a DM is like playing an imaginary omniscient ruler of the D&D universe. Player’s Handbook explains the rules of the game and helps to create characters based on their Race, Class, and Role (Heinsoo, Collins and Wyatt 14). A Character Sheet is also provided for adventurers to record information they might need. It includes everything from character’s name, to strengths it possesses, skills it uses, to what imaginary gold and equipment it can carry.
Imagination and the handbook help players to create strong characters with interesting backgrounds. One of the books on the D&D experiences mentions that “the dice may have a hand in your character’s present, but you control your character’s past” (Mazzanoble 20). Polishing and investing time into a character gets players more involved in the game play itself. Many little details make D&D the game, as it can be replayed, yet never repeated, over time and “perhaps the best most unique game-play element is that it’s non-competitive” (Mazzanoble 20).
Adventurers have to work as a team in order to survive the onslaught of monsters. D&D has two types of encounters, Combat and Noncombat, in some cases characters fight monsters, in others they use their other pre-set skills to get out of traps or figure out dungeon’s puzzles. You can try and prepare your character for the hardest of adventures, but at the end the dice still determine your character’s luck. (It is important to mention that DM rolls dice for monsters thus the probabilities of winning are equal on both sides.)
The game play can sound complicated but the truth is: it is not. The game mechanics are all linked to one major rule: “Decide what you want your character to do and tell the DM” (Heinsoo, Collins and Wyatt 11). The freedom to decide what your character will do next makes the game fun and so do various suggestions and impossible requests that are addressed to the DM during playtime. Team of adventurers continues on for hours and when adventure is over, the next one is just around the corner waiting for players to meet up again. On the plus side each time adventure is finished all characters present that day acquire experience points (XP) and gold. Over time characters evolve, by gaining experience points and gold, therefore being better equipped with spells, weapons, and greater armour for each following adventure.
D&D has returned to our Chapter’s bookshelves and to our dinner tables, because it is a fantastic way to spend an evening with friends and to exercise a mind. In case you are not ready for a full out D&D adventure you can start out small with D&D Miniatures Game sets and see if this type of adventure is for you.
Works Cited
Coast, Wizards of the. Dungeons and Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page-Tools. November 2009. 12 November 2009 <http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Tools.aspx>.
Heinsoo, R., A. Collins and J. Wyatt. Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook: Arcane, Divine, and Martial Heroes. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, Inc, 2008.
Mazzanoble, Shelly. Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress:A Girl’s Guide to the Dungeons and Dragons Game. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, Inc., 2007.
