Most of what I write about on this site has to do with comic books and video games. I love these things for a lot of reasons: the stories they tell, the characters I can relate to, the new wonderful worlds I can get lost in, and the interests that I can share with my friends. Games and stories offer the chance to really escape the world and enjoy a new adventure, often with those you love. In the 70s and 80s, one of the major ways that people enjoyed such escapism was a little tabletop game called Dungeons and Dragons, or D&D for short. This game allowed people to take on the role of new characters with fantastical backstories and abilities, and it allowed groups of friends and family to embark on an adventure together where they could solve puzzles, fight bad guys, and win the day! While D&D fell out of the cultural zeitgeist for a while–it was often treated as Example A of deep geekiness for a while–it has experienced something of a Renaissance in the last decade, and I for one could not be happier.
Like many video games today, D&D is a game that has gone through many different forms and versions. Just like Overwatch gets new updates and patches (I’m sure 1.43 is the one to bring me back to the game), D&D received a recent update with the new 5th Edition, or 5E for short, in 2014. This one was met with massive success thanks to its simplification of several arduous mechanics and its emphasis on role play and character experience. This update brought several new players into the game, and it also rekindled a lot of older players’ love for the classic RPG as well. One of the things that came from this new edition and its consequent popularity was the development of D&D podcasts, videos, and livestreams. Players would record or stream themselves playing a new 5E adventure, and these recordings would build interest in the game and introduce more people to the idea of tabletop RPGs. There are several fantastic D&D-casts out there–my personal favorite is Dice Funk with games journalist Laura Kate Dale–two of the largest and most influential ones by far have been Critical Role, starring nerd icon Matthew Mercer and a host of other voice actors, and HarmonQuest, starring Dan Harmon (creator of Community and Rick & Morty) with several celebrity guest stars. These platforms have popularized the game massively, and they have made it much more accessible and approachable for game fans in general.
D&D has also gotten a big boost in popularity from TV and celebrity media. Stranger Things premiered with the main cast playing a D&D campaign, and The Big Bang Theory (though it isn’t my cup of tea) featured an episode in which such celebrities as William Shatner and Joe Manganiello playing a quick adventure. Actor Vin Diesel has talked about his long love for the tabletop RPG as well as Stephen Colbert, Kevin Smith, and even Marilyn Manson. What can I say, talented people love Dungeons and Dragons!
So what is it about the game that has made it so popular recently? Some have speculated that it’s a natural part of the culture gap: decades tend to have resurgences of things from about 30-40 years ago, and a game that had its golden age in the 80s is no different. There has also been some socio-religious theories that have pointed to the decline of religious traditionalism as a reason for the game’s embrace given the “Satanic Panic” surrounding D&D in the 70s and 80s. But I think the game has grown popular again for a much simpler reason: people want a way to escape. Let’s face it, we are constantly bombarded with news and controversy through social media every single day. Times are hard, people are hateful, and sometimes you just want to get away for a little while. D&D offers a form of escapism that not only allows a break from the madness of today but also offers the chance to enjoy that break with people you care about. I have met some of my best friends through D&D campaigns at school, and a majority of inside jokes that I share with my roommate, fiance, and other loved ones come from “that one session of D&D” or a character I role played the crap out of. It’s great to escape the world for a bit, and something that allows us to escape the world with people we love and respect is a no-brainer.
If you’re interested in playing D&D, there really is no better place to start than the recent 5E update. You’d be surprised who all in your life already knows the game, so don’t be afraid to ask that nerdy friend of yours if he or she already attend a game night. Or you can reach out to your local comic book store or games club for information about open groups and starter campaigns; many of the game books are available at libraries. And you can always reach out to your friendly Fandom Correspondents! I’ve both played and DM’d my share of campaigns, and I’d be happy to chat about the game or ways to start up a group with you any time! It’s a new decade; embrace your inner fantasy character!
