You walk up to a door filled with vines and dust on the ground and a big hairy tarantula awaits behind the door, but you don’t know that yet, and have to roll a dice to figure out what is behind. Do you fight it or do you run away, is how Ms. Hannah Ellenberger, one of the sponsors of dungeons and dragons club describes this imaginate tabletop role playing game.
Stepping out of reality is a dream for many. Dungeons and Dragons is a Tabletop Roleplaying Game (TTRPG) that allows players to embark on fantastical adventures in a collaborative storytelling format. “Dungeons and Dragons is a collaborative role playing game with immersive storytelling. It involves a group of people. There are things like dice but it’s also based on storytelling and creativity,” described co-sponsor Ms. Alisa Humphrey.
Ellenburger believes the game offers more than just entertainment. “But it’s mostly because I want kids to work on social skills in a different way. Kids get to have a safe place to be and to engage with each other in a structured way,” mentioned Ellenberger.
The club has attracted a diverse group of up to twenty students ranging from freshman to seniors who are all eager to dive into their characters and stories.
Freshman Kristina Hirsch said she got into it because, “my dad got me into D&D when I was very young and have continued playing it.”
Senior Owen Wildt said, “I’ve loved D&D for a while and I’ve played it for six or seven years and when I found out that there was one at school I was like, ‘Sweet, let me get on that.’”
The Dungeons and Dragons club will also have a Trick or Treat Street table set up like they have in past years where kids will have to roll to see what kind of candy they will receive. “Last year we had a table with all the different monsters and game pieces and everyone dressed up and I think we want to try to make it even more immersive and inclusive,” said Humphry. They hope to do something similar this Halloween season.
The Dungeons and Dragons at West is more than just an alluring storytelling game. It’s a community where students can learn, grow, and embark on epic adventures together. For those interested in joining, the club welcomes new members with open arms and a roll of the dice.
