Hello Hercampus readers! There’s a power outage on campus and sitting in the dark made me think about another analog thing- Dungeons and Dragons!
If you don’t know what that is because it’s not 1986 and you aren’t constantly trying to rescue your friend from the Upside-Down, Dungeons and Dragons is a Tabletop role-playing game where a group of people get together to assemble a party of adventurers and go on quests. Things can change with a roll of the dice, and any sort of magical creature could pop out at any moment.
For all the variables that go into the game- outcomes are often decided by a twenty-sided die- you’d think that an anxious person would hate it! Tiny pieces of plastic with numbers on them decide your fate for you, and you really can’t control how they land. On the surface, it’s a nightmare. However, D&D has changed the way I approach my anxiety.
For a few hours every week, I don’t have to worry about essays or deadlines, I just have to make sure that my Dwarf Bard doesn’t get set on fire by the Dragonborn he’s trying to seduce. (All of those words will make sense to three people.) While not realistic or sensible in any way, I can channel some personal anxiety into the fictional path in front of me. Instead of stressing about my future, I can stress about fighting a Mountain Troll, and feel the same relief after a successful endeavor. Also- if I can fight Trolls and seduce Dragons, I can totally apply for that job.
If you’re interested in D&D but don’t have time to play, check out this SUPER COOL Podcast! Presented by Practical Folks, DnDnD is a dinner party role-playing podcast full of excitement, adventure, and awesome food! It’s available on iTunes and wherever you listen