Hey there fellow adventurer! You know, the mention of D&D always gets me hyped up—it’s like the reverse Fight Club, right? We just can’t resist talking about it! Aside from the many benefits and fun things that D&D can offer, I am just excited to share it to as many people as possible because I had a hard time looking for a D&D game a few years back. For years, I have searched in vain, and now I have found my community. I just want to share the love of the hobby to everyone.
The cool thing is, D&D is no longer hiding in the shadows; it’s gone mainstream! D&D has become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks in part to its portrayal in popular culture: the blockbuster D&D: Honor Among Thieves movie, The Legend of Vox Machina animated series in Amazon Prime, Stranger Things in Netflix, and some episodes in The Big Bang Theory have all helped to raise the profile of the game and introduce it to a wider audience.
Wait! Before I go down telling why D&D is awesome, let me just introduce what D&D is. D&D, or Dungeons and Dragons, is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG), considered as the granddaddy of the likes of Dragon Age (it is already in the name), Diablo and Skyrim. One of the key aspects of D&D is its emphasis on imagination, creativity, and cooperative storytelling.
We have a Dungeon Master that sets the stage: the scene, the environment and the interactable non-player characters. You as players will describe what you want to do and you sometimes roll dice to see if you are successful. Players have the freedom to create their own characters, develop their backstories, and make decisions that drive the narrative forward (or just circle around, and talk to every NPC, Hahaha!). D&D allows players to embark on epic adventures, explore fantastical worlds, and face exciting challenges.
Playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) can be a fun and educational experience for both children and adults alike. This role-playing game combines creativity, storytelling, math, critical thinking, and social-emotional skills without the use of screens. According to a recent article, here are some reasons why you should consider playing D&D:
- Creativity and storytelling: D&D revolves around a campaign, which is essentially a story. Players work together as a team to complete the campaign. The Dungeon Master (DM) guides the group through the adventure and can create a story tailored to the players’ interests. This aspect of the game allows players to use their imagination and express themselves creatively. Ah, the memories of my Curse of Strahd campaign are still vivid. I weaved pop culture and horror movie vibes into our games. The Death House? Well, I molded it after the eerie Overlook Hotel from The Shining. And guess who took center stage as the inspiration for Count Strahd von Zarovich? None other than Tom Ellis’s Lucifer from the TV series Lucifer. I am sure there are many other stories of players and DMs alike exercising and developing their creativity and storytelling.
- Vocabulary development and active listening: D&D can help players improve their vocabulary and active listening skills. You’re thrown into a campaign, essentially a gripping story, where your character’s development hinges on understanding the game’s lingo. On the DM side, words do more than just slice into things and this has inspired me to make sure my own vocabulary at the table is varied and engaging: carve, hack, sever and lacerate. On the player side, active listening is key—recalling past events is crucial to your success. (Pro-tip: if you want to be the DM’s favorite player, take down notes!)
- Teamwork and solving problems: D&D requires players to work together to make decisions and take actions. Every player has a unique set of skills that contribute to the team’s success. This encourages teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. You know, I stumbled upon this Reddit post sharing tips on sneaking D&D into your resume. One gem said something like, “Met with coworkers for twice-weekly creativity and conflict resolution exercises.” Now, it might have been a playful jab, but there’s a nugget of truth in there.
Flashback to my early D&D days with DM Paul—I’d often wander off alone in dungeons (yeah, I know, you never split the party, but hey, I was young and naive). Over time, though, I shifted gears, embracing support and healer roles. It became less about my solo adventures and more about watching my teammates shine. Funny how that mirrors my approach in the corporate and real world—I’m all about lifting others up and basking in their success. It’s like my own version of rolling the dice in the game of life.
- Social-emotional learning skills: Playing D&D can help children develop their social-emotional learning skills, including self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. It allows players to learn from conflict, take on different roles, and build empathy for their fellow players. According to a Forbes article, “For many therapists, the benefits of D&D are obvious because it is by definition role playing, character development, and conflict resolution, which are all major tenets of cognitive behavior therapy, “a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving.””
- Math: D&D requires players to use basic math skills constantly. Rolling a 20-sided die determines many things in the game. While the math is not too advanced, players must constantly use math skills in the game’s context, which can help improve their math abilities. I have a funny story about this. In the same Curse of Strahd campaign, our valiant heroes holding the fort at the bottom of a hill, while the pesky enemies are basking in the glory atop a hill. Now, here comes the twist—we whip out the Pythagorean Theorem to figure out the hypotenuse and determine if our spells can reach those baddies. Now, my players? Utterly flabbergasted. Calculations in the midst of a mystical quest? Unheard of! But you know what? They ended up loving it. Why, you ask? Well, for one, it injected a dose of realism into the game. And two, we got to use the Pythagorean Theorem outside the confines of a classroom.
I hope that these 5 reasons really hit home and make you want to dive into D&D for the first time. And hey, if you’re already rolling the dice in the world of D&D, I hope these reasons highlight the awesome benefits that come with the game – all while having a blast!
D&D is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year; it’s like a fine wine, getting better with time. Thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and Stranger Things, it’s experiencing a renaissance. So, grab those dice, sharpen that pencil, and join the adventure today!