Recommended Ages: 10+
Length of a Game: 3 hrs+
Number of Players: 4-6 recommended
The original Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) was released by Gary Gygax in January 1974 (DMsGuild.com) and has slowly gained traction despite stigma of it’s players and content. Since that time there have been 6 editions that have attempted to improve gameplay and enhance the storytelling story with a number of board games and electronics games spun off from it’s titles.
Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) that uses dice of different sizes called polyhedral dice along with paper and pencils to tell a story of heroism, villany, good, evil, and explore a fantasy world limited only by the imagination of the players. If you want to play in a post-apocalyptic world, a fantastical world of high magic, or a space-age adventure – Dungeons and Dragons is there for you!
The Fifth Edition (5e) is the newest edition released in December 2014 (Wizards of the Coast) and simplifies the most recent rules, makes less rules, and puts storytelling back in the hands of the group.
Characters are generally made in advance and can be as complex or simple as you want to play. Of the players, one is called the Dungeon Master or DM. This player is responsible for coordinating the group, telling the story, and running all the characters that the rest of the players (hereafter called PCs) run. The rules for this game are simple to learn, especially if you have a more experienced DM playing as it’s their role to adjudicate successes and parse requests into game mechanics.
There are a number of published adventures that the company, Wizards of the Coast, produces available for purchase. Alternatively, you can make up a story using the Dungeon Master’s Guide and the Monster Manual. Players need access to a Player’s Handbook to create characters though there are a lot of free resources online through the D&D System Resource Document (SRD).
I am an avid D&D player and DM as I love helping players discover and explore new worlds while improving the players’ lives. D&D has been suggested to contribute to stronger communication skills, teamwork, puzzle solving, strategy, and perseverance. There is a meme that has circulated around indicating that if you get your kids into gaming, they don’t have money for drugs. I’d continue that the friendships and community that develop from this game are meaningful and help develop healthy relationships.
If you’re interested in playing, free groups can be found at organized events, or through websites like Meetup. As Where2Game continues to grow, we will make an easy way to find groups for every gaming community in Canada.
For more information, contact your local gaming venue or feel free to reach out to Where2Game.
where2game.wordpress.com 