Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), a tabletop, role playing game has been a fantasy genre staple since its creation in the 1970s. The game has been played by students across the country, including at Grand Valley State University. At the University, D&D Club draws in a lively community of both experienced and new players that enjoy the game’s storytelling.
In D&D, players form small groups and work collaboratively to create characters who fulfill different roles within a fantasy setting. Characters are assigned many attributes and skills throughout multiple game sessions, which are also referred to campaigns. Campaigns are usually organized and moderated by a Dungeon Master (DM). DMs are responsible for inventing the plotlines and events that players will encounter. They also encourage players to think of solutions and actions their characters can take to overcome trials.
Ethan Dibling, a sophomore at GVSU, explained that DMs are seen as a guide for players to follow.
“We (DMs) don’t stop you from doing things unless it completely breaks the reality of the game, but it very rarely reaches that point,” Dibling said. “You can think of a DM as a dam controlling the flow of water. We keep the story flowing at a rate at which it can be understood and interacted with.”
Rachel Miller, the group’s membership officer, feels that D&D and other role playing games are about creating a world of your own.
“D&D is one kind of tabletop, role playing game, which as a whole are games made collaboratively by a group of players,” said Miller. “(The players) follow a set of rules that allow for creative storytelling. The first time someone sits down to play D&D, they realize that anything is possible, and the game is a freeing space to experiment and have fun.”
The club was created at GVSU in 2020, and has been home to a steady group of core members, as well as a regular influx of new players. Sessions usually occur in multiple rooms of the Kirkhof Center, offering spacious conditions for the large number of campaigns that take place at the same time. This also lends itself to the collaborative nature of the game that allows unfamiliar participants to ask questions and get to know the other players.
“D&D Club is an inclusive environment where anyone can come to hang out and play a cool game for a few hours,” Miller said. “We want everyone to have fun in community with each other, and introduce everyone to tabletop role playing through D&D.”
The group also has a strong online presence in order to better foster community among its members. According to Miller, the E-Board of D&D Club hosts a variety of events through Discord, in addition to during meetings. Miller noted the group runs mock auctions for magical items over Discord, and that they hosted a dice raffle for Valentine’s Day.
Through weekly meetings and online activities, D&D Club brings a unique angle to the structure of a student organization. The community of tabletop game enthusiasts has an appeal that many students find engaging and enjoyable. The group meets weekly from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Fridays.
