Dungeons and Dragons and Books and Community!
- Elayna Gladstone
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
In an era of technology where smart devices are basically mandatory and a huge part of social interaction takes place in cyberspace, one tabletop role playing game (or TTRPG) has stood the test of time with its manuals, pen-and-paper sheets, and countless dice: Dungeons and Dragons!
You may be familiar with Dungeons and Dragons, or DnD, through numerous pop culture references. It’s been featured in TV shows like The Big Bang Theory and directly inspired the creation of the Netflix original hit Stranger Things, as well as the ever-popular book series Dungeon Crawler Carl and the Baldur’s Gate video game series. But what is it about DnD that has cemented its place as such a cultural icon?
The first commercial version of the Dungeons and Dragons game was published in 1973 and was originally created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Gygax and Arneson were inspired by popular tabletop war games that were based on real-life battles, along with fantasy works of fiction like The Hobbit. Their new game was innovative compared to its war-themed contemporaries, though, as players were tasked with playing as their own character and needed to use a more diverse set of dice rather than relying on the standard six-sided die for the entire game. Thanks to DnD, the genre of fantasy TTRPGs was born, clearing the path for future titles like Magic the Gathering and Warhammer.
Dungeons and Dragons games thrive in library settings because in order to play, you need two things that library is already built upon: books and community! DnD is played using player’s handbooks, monster manuals, and campaign modules – all of which are available through SCLends! Beaufort County Library branches offer meeting rooms that can be reserved for the purpose of playing TTRPGs for groups of five or more. And if you don’t have your own party of adventurers to play with? We have plenty of opportunities for Teens (Bluffton, Beaufort and Hilton Head) and Adults (Bluffton) to play at library-run DnD programs!
You may now be asking yourself: what’s the appeal of this game, anyway? What do players get out of DnD that can’t be accomplished just by reading a fantasy novel? This is an excellent question, and players of all ages typically cite these reasons:
Opportunities For Creativity
Players are able to design their own game characters from the ground up! This was especially innovative in 1973 when creating a video game avatar wasn’t yet an option. Players can choose from a variety of fantastical races, classes, weapons, and spells to create their own unique playing experience. The possibilities are limitless!
Collaborative Story Telling
DnD players must work together, along with their game runner (known as the Dungeon Master or DM), to progress through the game. Stories can take unexpected twists and turns, and no two campaigns (or stories) ever shake out the exact same way, which brings us to…
Creative Problem Solving
Players must come together to evaluate one and others’ strengths and weaknesses when faced with an in-game challenge. Challenges can be combat-based (who doesn’t love slaying a dragon?) or puzzle-based (riddles, anyone?), and players must think outside of the box to outsmart their in-game opponents. Of course, this can’t be accomplished without…
Teamwork Skills
A wizard can cast powerful spells, but has weak armor! A fighter might have strong fists of fury, but a low intelligence score! A ranger from deep in the forest probably doesn’t know much about monsters that dwell in the sea! How on earth would a Gnome know how to speak Draconic?! Because each character has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, players must work together to advance through the campaign.
These skills are not only critical to success in a game of DnD, but are also important to use in real life! Imagine playing a game that’s so fun and engaging that you don’t even notice it’s keeping your mind sharp and ready for anything! It’s no wonder this game has remained a cultural staple for over fifty years; it brings people together, contains endless possibilities for new stories, encourages creativity, and is (in my personal opinion) an extremely fun way to spend time with others.
Whether you’re a seasoned player, or just interested in giving the game a try, we hope to see you at the library checking out resources and connecting with local players!
To learn more about Dungeons and Dragons, check out these websites and articles:
