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Dungeons and Dragons is the name amongst names of Roleplay Games. It has been around for a staggering 50 years and is about to experience its first update in 10 years.
With this in mind it is time to identify the reasons that your brain is telling you that you can’t play Dungeons and Dragons, along with the reasons that you shouldn’t listen to them!
1) “That’s too complicated for me”: Trust me it’s not. That was my first thought and my friends said “Don’t worry, Dungeons and Dragons is easy”. I sat and watched them play a session and immediately wanted in. Certainly, you need a person to run the game and ideally this is someone that is familiar with the rules and willing to put the time in to prepare your story. This person is the Dungeon Master and they will facilitate the game to your ability. I have since played games of Dungeons and Dragons with my children and my youngest, aged 11, has picked up most of the rules and knows how the game works. If this “it’s too complicated” is a reason you’ve not given Dungeons and Dragon’s a try yet, relax you’ll be fine.
2) “I’m not into all ‘that stuff’”: Okay so a reason so vague immediately could actually be true. If by ‘that stuff’ you mean games then fair enough and I’d question why you’re reading a blog on a gaming website. If ‘that stuff’ refers to the “Dungeons” and “Dragons” I have played games of Dungeons and Dragons that had elements of World War 1 in them as well as games that were set in a sci-fi universe. I’ll admit you might benefit from having a Dungeon Master that really knows their stuff and there might be better suited RPG options to choose from. However, you really can mould Dungeons and Dragons to your needs. I have literally played with someone who designed Captain America by building spells etc to replicate his abilities. The only limit is your imagination (or you can rip off a character you like )
3) “I bet it’s expensive”: How you play and experience Dungeons and Dragons is up to the group and especially the Dungeon Master (DM). I have successfully played Dungeons and Dragons with a few pieces of paper and a bag of dice in what players refer to as “theatre of the mind”. Similarly, I have played a game with miniatures, magnetic 3D floor plans that stick to the table and build a picture of what is happening. Both have appeal and the very best Dungeon Masters might weave a story using a variety of formats. They might create a narrative tale with nothing but a few pictures but play through detailed scenarios with a floor plan and miniatures/manipulatives when the time is right.
4) “I don’t have anyone to play with”: Okay so this could be true. However, social media and your local friendly gaming shop are your allies here. They may have settled groups that will accept new players. They may even have groups looking for players. You might find that they run learn to play sessions where an experienced DM will lead groups for new players.
So if this reason applies to you try searching for your local gaming shop and check out their social media.
5) “I’m busy”: Most Dungeons and Dragons groups run once a month, some even less. You’ll probably find that you’re giving up a weekend or an evening. You can easily fit a session into 2-3 hours. In my experience a scheduled monthly game session has a positive impact on my mental health. I meet friends and enjoy some food and drinks. The structure of the game really helps with my social anxiety, you immediately have something to talk about and a focus that you can keep your mind on to help ease that worry. So, whilst you may be busy, I would argue that such a positive experience is worth making time for.
I hope that my list has convinced those of you on the fence to give Dungeons and Dragons a try. I played my first game of Dungeons and Dragons in 2018 and, lockdowns excluded, have been participating in games ever since. I can confirm that all of the reasons listed above were things that might have crossed my mind at various points. I would definitely say that number 1 was my main concern, however, that was quickly dismissed once I’d started rolling dice and having a great time. So, if you want to try and play D and D do not let these barriers stop you.