Nathanael Mooney, Campus Carrier staff writer

For the past couple of years I have been consumed by the tabletop roleplaying game, Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). It is the highlight of my week and something I always look forward to, and I believe that this is something that everyone should experience at some point in their lives. 

Imagine all of the works of fiction that you have enjoyed in your life. Think of the compelling narratives, lovable characters, passionate villains and hilarious moments in them. D&D is not just a game but rather it is a way to take these stories and allow you and your friends to become the main characters. In D&D, your choices matter and the world responds to your actions as a player. This makes the settings feel alive and dynamic, and they fill the players with a determination to explore the world.

One of the most defining features of D&D is that imagination is the limit. If there is ever something you have wanted to do, you can make it happen. Want to wield the power of nature and summon an army of forest creatures? What about befriending a dragon to breathe fire on any of your enemies? Maybe you want to become a performer and have your name known wide and far across the land? The point is that any and all of those things can happen Imagination really is the only barrier. 

One of the most fun parts of D&D is rolling the dice. Every action is determined by rolling dice, most commonly the “D20” or a twenty sided dice. The dice have just as much influence over the story as the players do. Stories are told not only through talking and fighting, but by what the dice read. Generally, high rolls are considered a success and low rolls are considered a failure. The dice help to create conflict and build tension at the table, and when the stakes are high, there is no better feeling than rolling the legendary natural 20, also known as a critical success. Those are the moments when everyone at the table stands up and yells in excitement. Times like that create memories that will be cherished by anyone who was there. 

D&D is a group activity and sometimes requires that you play with strangers. This can be very intimidating for some and understandably so. Despite this, D&D is the perfect environment to get comfortable with meeting new people. As a roleplaying game, the players are generally in character and many D&D groups, including mine, are judgment free zones. This makes it so my players never have to feel embarrassed or like they did something wrong while in character. 

Another reason you should play D&D is because it is a great creative outlet. I believe creative outlets are beneficial to one’s mental wellbeing and help to allow one to express themselves. While the players are the ones who serve as characters and progress the story forward, the Dungeon Master or DM is the one who plays the role of narrator and curator of the world. All of the non-player elements are controlled by the DM and thus, the DM has limitless options for what kind of story to tell. For example, I run a game where my players are students at a magical university so every situation and encounter I create, I try to make fit in the setting. It is very helpful to be able to channel emotions into something productive and for many people that something is D&D.

Dungeons and Dragons will always hold a special place in both the hearts of my players and my own. The next time you feel a thirst for adventure and story and want to experience it with your friends, consider a game of D&D.