I'm a Nerd About ... Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons came (back) into the public eye thanks in part to Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” but it’s been around since 1974. Now in its fifth edition, the game has experienced a renaissance.

Liliana Abramson ’24 got into Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) after watching the popular YouTube show “Critical Role.” “When I got to Rice, I missed my D&D group from home,” Abramson says. “I thought running a game would be a good way to connect with other people.” Throughout her daily interactions, from Jones O-Week sibs to other classmates, Abramson picked up interested players, confirming that she hasn’t met a lot of strangers in the process.

From the outside, D&D can seem like dice rolls, numbers and rules, but that is merely a framework for collaborative storytelling. Players create heroes and work through adventures, governed by a dungeon master. While pre-made adventure modules exist, Abramson says she prefers to “homebrew.” She knows a rough overall plot, but she mostly improvises. The nature of the game brings existing players closer together. “You learn new things about your friends, and you can connect with new people, even someone passing by. If you’re out there wearing a D&D T-shirt,” she says, “you have something in common immediately.”

At a school like Rice, it’s no surprise there are players across campus. Ian Mellor-Crummey ’17, one of those players, works for Rice’s Digital Media Commons. His experience with table-top role-playing games (TTRPG) started his freshman year of college when a group of friends in Wiess College wanted to put a campaign together for Pathfinder, a gaming system alternative to D&D. The group took turns running sessions while at Rice, and they still play using online resources like Roll20 even though they are now spread across the country.

“The best play style is where the game master and the players are creating the story together. There is something in TTRPGs that appeals to everyone, from math and statistics to roleplaying. Anyone who says they’re not interested probably hasn’t tried it.”

D&D doesn’t require a certain age, major, occupation or background. It’s groups of friends hanging out and making each other laugh.

Ready to Roll?

Check out DnDBeyond, Roll20, Foundry or Tabletop Simulator online.

Use free online resources like the Wizards of the Coast 5e Systems Reference Document.

Purchase “The Player’s Handbook” (Wizards of the Coast) at Amazon. Target carries Dungeon Master starter kits, which include copies of the handbook and character sheets.

— Ashley Kilday