Exploring Dungeons & Dragons at Your Library
In 1974, game designers Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson released Dungeons & Dragons, a fantasy tabletop role-playing game that would continue to be played and enjoyed by gamers of all types for the next forty-four years. There is a good chance you have heard of Dungeons & Dragons in one form or another. Perhaps you remember it from Steven Spielberg’s E.T., have seen it played in any number of television shows such as Stranger Things, The Big Bang Theory, or Freaks and Geeks, or heard Weezer sing about it in “In the Garage.” Maybe you watched the cartoon series from the ‘80s or read a book that spawned from one of Dungeons & Dragons’ many and varied settings. Maybe you were around during the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and remember the game’s supposed connection with the occult. And maybe you were lucky enough to have played it. If you haven’t played – don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time!
What is Dungeons & Dragons?
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop role-playing game where players control and act out their characters, going on adventures, taking part in battles, and growing stronger as they gain experience. The Dungeon Master (DM) controls the world that the players’ characters are a part of and works as a referee, keeping track of the rules and progression throughout each game. D&D is a combination of Choose Your Own Adventure books, board games, and the act of shared storytelling. Although D&D is best known for its fantasy setting and elements (think Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Warcraft, etc.) other genres, such as horror, science fiction, and apocalyptic, have been explored.
How is it played?
Unlike many games with opposing sides, and therefore winners and losers, D&D is a collaborative effort between players (“the party”) and the Dungeon Master to move the plot forward. Game play is simple: players describe their characters’ actions; the DM determines if these actions are possible depending on the circumstance and the characters’ ability scores; dice may or may not be rolled; the actions are acted out; and the game moves forward.
If you’re asking yourself, “Dice? Acting out my character? Ability scores?” and think this all sounds a little overwhelming – don’t worry! All you need to play is the rulebook, a set of polyhedral dice (i.e., dice with different number sides, like four, ten, twelve, twenty, etc.), and paper and pencils. After you have gathered all of that, read the rules, create your character, and start your adventure!
There are also a number of other accessories you can use in your game, such as miniature figures to represent players’ characters, monsters, and scenery; and published adventures on which to send your characters. Remember that all you really need are the rules, dice, and your imagination.
Dungeons & Dragons at the Library
Over the past few years I’ve been seeing more and more public libraries hosting Dungeons & Dragons programs for their patrons. And that is a great thing. Not only does D&D provide a good time for those playing, but it also encourages creativity and social interaction. It promotes reading, writing, and basic mathematics. Hosting the game is also a relatively inexpensive program. After purchasing the core rule books (yes, there are technically three of them) and some dice you have everything you need to get started and continue playing for years to come. You could even get by with the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set, which will run you no more than fifteen dollars. Most importantly, there is no set age range for play. A session of D&D can be designed for children, teens and young adults, adults, or any mix of all three groups.
Want to learn more about the history of D&D?
Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: A Visual History by Michael Witwer
Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons &Dragons and the People Who Play It by David M. Ewalt
Rise of the Dungeon Master: Gary Gygax and the Creation of D&D by David Kushner
Learn how to run and play DD
Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master’s Guide: Roleplaying Game Core Rules by James Wyatt
Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook: Arcane, Divine, and Martial Heroes (Roleplaying Game Core Rules) by Rob Heinsoo
Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual: Roleplaying Game Core Rules by Mike Mearls
Don’t feel like playing but still want to enjoy the fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons?
Tales of Dungeons and Dragons by Peter Haining
Dragons of the Hourglass Mage by Margaret Weis
The ABCs of D&D by Ivan Van Norman
Dungeons &Dragons certainly isn’t the only tabletop role-playing game out there, but it may be the biggest and most well-known. If you are interested in the idea of role-playing games but aren’t a fan of the fantasy genre feel free to check out others like Call of Cthulhu and Delta Green (horror), Travelers (sci-fi), or Aces and Eights (western).
Interested in playing and have some questions? Or already a player and want to share your character with everyone? Leave us a comment and let us know what’s on your mind.
What is Dungeons & Dragons?
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop role-playing game where players control and act out their characters, going on adventures, taking part in battles, and growing stronger as they gain experience. The Dungeon Master (DM) controls the world that the players’ characters are a part of and works as a referee, keeping track of the rules and progression throughout each game. D&D is a combination of Choose Your Own Adventure books, board games, and the act of shared storytelling. Although D&D is best known for its fantasy setting and elements (think Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Warcraft, etc.) other genres, such as horror, science fiction, and apocalyptic, have been explored.
How is it played?
Unlike many games with opposing sides, and therefore winners and losers, D&D is a collaborative effort between players (“the party”) and the Dungeon Master to move the plot forward. Game play is simple: players describe their characters’ actions; the DM determines if these actions are possible depending on the circumstance and the characters’ ability scores; dice may or may not be rolled; the actions are acted out; and the game moves forward.
If you’re asking yourself, “Dice? Acting out my character? Ability scores?” and think this all sounds a little overwhelming – don’t worry! All you need to play is the rulebook, a set of polyhedral dice (i.e., dice with different number sides, like four, ten, twelve, twenty, etc.), and paper and pencils. After you have gathered all of that, read the rules, create your character, and start your adventure!
There are also a number of other accessories you can use in your game, such as miniature figures to represent players’ characters, monsters, and scenery; and published adventures on which to send your characters. Remember that all you really need are the rules, dice, and your imagination.
Dungeons & Dragons at the Library
Over the past few years I’ve been seeing more and more public libraries hosting Dungeons & Dragons programs for their patrons. And that is a great thing. Not only does D&D provide a good time for those playing, but it also encourages creativity and social interaction. It promotes reading, writing, and basic mathematics. Hosting the game is also a relatively inexpensive program. After purchasing the core rule books (yes, there are technically three of them) and some dice you have everything you need to get started and continue playing for years to come. You could even get by with the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set, which will run you no more than fifteen dollars. Most importantly, there is no set age range for play. A session of D&D can be designed for children, teens and young adults, adults, or any mix of all three groups.
Want to learn more about the history of D&D?
Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: A Visual History by Michael Witwer
Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons &Dragons and the People Who Play It by David M. Ewalt
Rise of the Dungeon Master: Gary Gygax and the Creation of D&D by David Kushner
Learn how to run and play DD
Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master’s Guide: Roleplaying Game Core Rules by James Wyatt
Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook: Arcane, Divine, and Martial Heroes (Roleplaying Game Core Rules) by Rob Heinsoo
Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual: Roleplaying Game Core Rules by Mike Mearls
Don’t feel like playing but still want to enjoy the fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons?
Tales of Dungeons and Dragons by Peter Haining
Dragons of the Hourglass Mage by Margaret Weis
The ABCs of D&D by Ivan Van Norman
Dungeons &Dragons certainly isn’t the only tabletop role-playing game out there, but it may be the biggest and most well-known. If you are interested in the idea of role-playing games but aren’t a fan of the fantasy genre feel free to check out others like Call of Cthulhu and Delta Green (horror), Travelers (sci-fi), or Aces and Eights (western).
Interested in playing and have some questions? Or already a player and want to share your character with everyone? Leave us a comment and let us know what’s on your mind.
— Christopher Y., Twin Rivers Branch
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