Dungeons and Dragons and Me
đ I was recently invited to join an in-person Dungeons & Dragons campaignâusing real paper character sheets and dice! We've just had our Session Zero and started creating our characters, and I am absolutely thrilled.
Whatâs funny is that even as an adult, this is my first time playing D&D in person, rolling actual dice. While Iâm familiar with some of the D&D loreâIâve read books and understand the basics like creating characters, the six core abilities (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma), proficiency points, modifiers, armor classes, skill checks, and saving throwsâIâve never had the opportunity to experience the game âold schoolâ with pen, paper, and dice.
When I was a teenager, I thought D&D was the coolest thing ever. I desperately wanted to play, but I grew up with a very sheltered upbringing. My parents wouldnât allow me to go to friendsâ houses, let alone join a group to play. Sleepovers? Never.
And back in the '90s, especially in Brazil, D&D groups were pretty much a boysâ club. That made it even harder for me to join any in-person games. My parents definitely wouldnât have approved of me playing with a group of boys.
But thankfully, there was the Internet! I discovered MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons), text-based online games powered by imagination and simple commands. Many of them were inspired by D&D and were the precursors to todayâs MMORPGs.
Thatâs how I started playing a MUD called Realms of Despair (which is still active to this day!!). I played for years and loved it! I made online friends, and we joined forces to go on quests and adventures. The community back then was incredibly supportive and respectful. It was entirely anonymous, which made me feel safe, and I had so much fun developing my characters. It was also one of the ways I kept practicing English in Brazil (reading and writing a lot!).
Later, I dove into D&D-inspired video game series like:
- Neverwinter Nights
- Baldurâs Gate
- Temple of Elemental Evil
- Dragon Age
Iâve replayed these games countless times, creating new characters with different classes and species each time.
Interestingly, my partnerâthe love of my lifeâis also a D&D fan! We met at university, and he was the first person I could openly nerd out about D&D with. We exchanged gamebooks like The Shamutanti Hills by Steve Jackson, which are single-player role-playing adventures where you make choices that affect the storyâs outcome. Theyâre super fun!
Ironically, though, Iâve never played D&D with my partner. He had his own group of childhood friends, and their sessions were always full. Then, adult life made it even harder to find time or a group to play with. So, I stuck to my video games, D&D novels, and sharing my love for the game with him.
And now, after all these years, Iâm finally playing D&D for real!
Our group has seven members: me, my partner, three friends from work (one of whom is the Dungeon Master), and two new friends who know the DM.
Thatâs itâjust a little tale about my long journey with Dungeons & Dragons. đ
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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.