…and a little bit of Roll

The group dynamics for any roll playing group can make or break any adventure. The people you play with, the interactions, the banter, and the group vibe can draw in new interested members, or turn people away. It is three to four hours of jokes, mayhem, and encouraging each other to do the most ridiculously stupid things possible.

The group I have played with has been filled with deep belly laughs and nights spent discussing the best Start Wars fan movies. (hint: “Troops” tends to be a favorite of the group) I say that as a magic user who doesn’t know how to control the magic. That is important to know because I have charmed, blasted, or put to sleep everyone at one point or another. All the the grand cheers of the group. When everyone in the party is yelling “CAST FIREBALL,” in closed quarters, what is a man (or dragonborn) supposed to do? Now, while all their avatars are on fire, the group cheers. That is followed by a 45 minute in depth conversation about back blast effect. That, my friends, is a fun party.

I conceptually know how spells are supposed to work, but it’s not until I fire one off do we actually see how it works. Who’s in the area of affect for sleep spell? A party member who is now asleep as the group of Beholders isn’t effected at all. This may be something a spell caster would want to know. The group points and laughs, instead of getting angry and tossing me from the table because we lost a battle.

Seriously, there is nothing serious about our group, and there shouldn’t be. We play fast a lose with “the rules” and sometimes we pay the price. Other times everything works out fine. Either way we are getting a good laugh out of the whole thing. That is the point, laugh with friends, use imagination, and associate with friends of different stripes.

A little bit of Rock

Using D&D Beyond has been an incredible leap forward from pencil, paper and calculator that has long sustained the management of role playing games. It’s so easy it seems to be almost cheating. Where is the hours of math based formulas being calculated and recalculated like we are mathematicians on the Apollo program? What happened the THACO, (I don’t even remember what THACO stands for, but it was vital roll playing information 30 years ago.) D&D Beyond does all the calculations, tracks all the spells, changes all the modifiers, and also serves as an air fryer. And if you act now we will through in this +1 shammie at no additional cost. Follow the link below.

Balthazar, the blue dragon soon joined the party that had already been formed. This crew happened to be running Dragon Hoard Campaign, which is the “Ocean’s Eleven” of Fearun. I wanted to be the Goerge Clooney of the group, but I associate more with the Eddie Jemmison of the crew. Go ahead, google it. You will thank me later.

Plot summary: four groups are on the hunt for a large gold hoard that has been hidden somewhere in the sprawling metropolis of Waterdeep. Each group has its secret agenda to use the money for PURE EVIL! We are in a race against time to find the treasure, and save all the races of Fearun.

What is great about each campaign is how different they can be. One time your group can be crawling around the sewers of a large city getting the tabaxi’s fur coat covered in shit. The next adventure could be through the deep rain forest exploring of treasure, also getting the tabaxi’s fur coat covered in shit. Now, besides the poor tabaxi constantly covered in dung, the adventures are wide ranging, exciting, or mysterious. The game can range from a hack and slash battle campaign to an investigation, much like Dragon Heist.

Ride the Lightening

While I read through the description of Dragonborn I was intrigued by the fact of being an amalgamation of person/dragon. I imagine the Dragonborn are like the lizard people who control our planet. (Disclaimer: I do not believe that lizard people control the earth. This was an attempt at humor that will be spun into how I am a conspiracy theorist) I mean how cool will it be to have dragon wings, breathe fire, have scaly skin and intimidate anyone who wants to steal my gold. Maybe I am exaggerated just a bit, but the idea tickled me.

And plus also when I studied the sorcerers and discovered draconic bloodline, now with even more burn! It was like having bacon cheeseburger with extra bacon. I can be a dragon, with even more dragon! I also like the mechanics of sorcerer where one is born with magical abilities. Harry Potter is a sorcerer in the D&D universe, but “You’re a sorcerer, Harry.” Just doesn’t have the seem ring. A wizard must learn spells, carry scrolls, and are smart. Sorcerers have their spell casting abilities based off their charisma? Sooooo the prettier one is, the better their magic? I don’t make the rules, I just follow them.

While selecting the dragon race, I got to pick the color and breath weapon of my new found pet/destroyer/scaly snuggle buddy. I know in any adventure there will be a fair share of creatures from hell, and creatures from hell are resistant to fire. I decided on a blue dragon with lightening breathe.

Say Hi to Balthazar or The Zapper

I named him Balthazar, because its a very dragony name. While some of the other dragonborn look majestic, strong, and battle hardened. Balthazar looks more like a Grima Wormtongue and Gorn hybrid. (I need to ensure I drop all the nerd knowledge to build my nerd cred) I still love this image because he isn’t exactly the one charging into battle, but holds back and has more indirect influence over the party.

Also, his walk up song is Thunderstruck by AC/DC.

Identity Crisis

The first, and some would argue, most essential piece of any role playing game is character creation. This is where a player creates their avatar for the game or campaign. A person chooses the race (elf, dwarf, human, minoch, grinch, Lego minifigure), class (warrior, wizard, rogue, musician, wanker) and attributes (how strong, smart or good looking the avatar is). All games have a manual that serves as the Bible for character creation, describing the different races, classes and attributes a person can build their character around. In Dungeons and Dragons that book is call the Players Manual.

I have always played Dungeon’s & Dragons, mostly it has the closest link to Tolkien mythology. I love the elfs, dwarves, and halflings of Middle Earth, or Fearun as in D&D lore. In character creation, a person gets to build the avatar they will embody over the adventure, and when creating a character one must consider their role in the Party. Will you be the meat shield who absorbs the hits while dealing massive amounts of damage to your enemies? How about the sneaky scout who finds and disables traps and locates the goblin horde before they find out. Or the charismatic warlock who is the social butterfly but also has dangerous spells. Every party needs a diverse group who has different skills but can come together for the greater good.

Side tangent: wouldn’t this description make “Seven Samurai” a D&D adventure? Seven distinct Samurai join together to protect a town from bandits. The only thing it is missing is old man showing up in a pub wearing a cape and looking for help. Well, that kinda happened.

Since this was my reintroduction to the worlds greatest role playing game, I wanted something I had not played before. I did the research, read the stats, and found something new: Dragonborn!

Roll Out!

It wasn’t until many discussions with counselors did I begin to believe I could do what I enjoyed in life instead of what was expected. it was about that time I decided to open myself to enjoying life, and that, for me, included doing some serious gaming.

I sold my wife a false bill of goods to 15 years ago with the ideas I was a gun tooting, football playing, hunting/sports enthusiast. To be fair, I am all those things. I knew she was not interested in dating a “gamer, “ and in all critical measures, I was never a gamer. Since Super Mario Brothers, I can count on one hand video games I played consistently to achieve any passable skill at being somewhat decent at. Actually, I can count on one finger, 2006 Madden for Sony Gameboy. I had A LOT of free time in Mississippi in 2010 and the SAN DIEGO Chargers were Super Bowl Champions for 12 consecutive seasons. (When QB Drew Brees, RB, HOF, GOAT, Ladanian Tomlison, Vincent Jackson, AND Shawne Merriman are on one team, nothing can go wrong) I did not disclose during our courtship that I may enjoy playing a round or 2 of video games or gathering good for a old fashion tabletop RPG. I was dating a very attractive woman who might actually like me. Sure it was not the honest version of myself, but who is the completely honest version of themselves when trying to enter a relationship. (Side note: I also straight up lied to her about my age. I could, and did, shave 5 years off my actual age. Imagine the conversation when I finally admitted I was an old man) The honest version emerged a few years into the relationship. Try to imagine disclosing to your significant other that you have a nerdtastic secret. So I did what every good man does to his wife, I snuck around played D&D in secret.

Eventually I had to come clean that I was meeting with a gaming group once a week to roll dice and pretend to be wizards. She was understanding, kind, and encouraging for the interests in my life and genuinely wanted me to pursue interests I enjoyed. As my youngest always says: “FUN FACT” Partners want you to be happy. This was completely a novel concept to me coming from a highly religious family who uses guilt as a love language. Don’t get me wrong she ridicules me mercilessly for my nerdy tendencies, my nerdy group and my constant stream of nerdy paraphernalia. That is what happens between to people when they feel safe in a relationship. I make fun of her, let me think, …….still thinking…… i got nothing. She is way too cool to ridicule.

I crawled back to my buddies group again and they welcomed me with open arms. This particular group has been meeting for about two years with fairly consistent participation. I got to know the crew, and it was a definitely band of misfits, so i fit right in. Even though the DM and I had known each other for years, I was finally meeting his band of lovable misfits. I learned good DM can assemble a strong following based on a cult of personality, and my buddy was succeeding in gathering his own rabid following.

I also learned they were about to embark on another journey.

I bid you a Merry Midwinter and Nerdy New Year

I wanted to take time to thank all my followers and wish everyone grand Midwinter festivities. As of this post, I have one subscriber. I also believe I subscribed to my own blog. Now, I am well aware this is the third post of my blogumentary, so i can live with the fact that I am my only fan. I may go my whole life being my only follower and I can find peace with that fact. But in with the festivities!

….and I, JACK, the polearm master
cast shield!!!!

Ready Player Zero

The interesting aspect of D & D is that it is a unique social event that presents challenges players of video or online games may not always contend with. Video gamers can pick up a controller, throw on the headset, and begin destroying worlds to their hearts content at any point that strikes their fancy. A player may not need to find a party, arrange schedules, meeting place, or negotiate time limits. They might interact with whoever happens to be online at that time, or solo a campaign without relying on another person. While I enjoy multiple gaming platforms, there is something special about the social interaction, group strategy, and harnessing multiple talents that attracts me to table top RPG’s.

For my gaming experience, I needed to first find like minded group of individuals, create a time where all could gather, collect the needed resources, and keep this momentum rolling for as long as possible. The easiest way to accomplish this was to find an already established group and force myself upon them. (I am good at forcing myself on people. Like Erkle.) My chance came when I randomly heard a co-worker mention beginning a new campaign for his already thriving party. I heard this through the thin cubicle wall that divided our desks. My ears perked while my curiosity was tantalized. I walked over and cooley leaned on the wall and asked, “So, uhhh, you play D & D?” He proceeded to state things I never would admit in public. How he met on the reg with three to five other gaming aficionado’s. How table top RPG’s had been a life long passion that he never grew out of. But the most interesting aspect for me was he served as the Dungeon Master.

The Dungeon (or Game) master is the ultimate leader of the gaming session. The DM establishes rules, sets the scenario, and plays the villains a party will fight throughout their journey. They are god of our world.

My buddy graciously invited me along for an evening of gaming. Like a jack-wagon, I attended one session. I never went back.

The stigma that had kept me away for so long started creeping back into my mind. What would coworkers think if they found out? What would my friends think? What would my spouse think? Dungeon and Dragons is something to be done between the ages of 10-15, during the 1980’s, and only in the basement hidden away from main society. (see Stranger Things for examples. I would also like to mention I do own Scoops Ahoy costume for emergency cosplay needs. It’s a thing. Trust me.) Adults don’t play games for recreation. We hunt, watch sports, play golf, make furniture out of wood and other appropriate adulting ventures to impress our adult counterparts. (Please see my blogs on all the aforementioned hobbies and interests as I also participate in every single one of them. Except furniture building. I could never content with the great Nick Offerman in furniture building.) Gaming was something I could never admit to any other human, plant, or inanimate object that I participated in.

So I crawled back into my hole of self denial and stayed there until life came knocking.

And so the great journey began….or continued….or begins anew

Welcome to Durgan’s Dungeon. Follow a father as he journeys through the new experience of the roll playing world and builds stories from the Forgotten Realms with his kids and his new adventure buddies.

I AM DURGAN!! Durgan the Dangerous, the Destroyer, Helm’s Hammer of Justice, freer of child slaves and defender of the realms. I was once Durgan the Bold, smashing my way through dungeons and saving kingdoms from infinite danger. During the time I spent in the educational institutions my party and I adventured through far off lands. We sailed the high seas, slayed Mind Flayers, defeating great orc invaders.  But, as all stories go, I met a fair maiden, had a few goblins, and established a fine homestead.

Now, I am Durgan the Beardless. Part father, part husband, provider for house goblins, and picker up of poop. I have an amazing time being a father. It’s like I created my own playmates that can’t escape. I do all the sportsing, animated movies, and LEGO building every father could stand. Yet I missed the imaginative, creative play that came from a group getting together in an imaginary world, solving otherworldly problems. I was ashamed of the desire to game, and I don’t know why it was embarrassing or a character defect, but I would not admit my hearts desire to roll some polyhedrals through an imaginary and magical world.

Then, one day, I had an epiphany. Some of the best lessons are learned through role playing. How do we conquer this situation as a team, each using our unique skills and abilitities? We learn to take turns, through initiative. Math and writing are a huge component of managing any character. (Character moves 30 feet and each block is 5 feet. How far are you moving?) How do we emotionally deal with defeat, or death of a beloved character, or temptation to do evil. These were all just small pieces that my children could learn through the world of Fearun. It is the ultimate game/play situation, and I, as the Game Master, would be their guide, mentor and teacher.

Anyone who has played knows one simply doesn’t step into being the game master. I joined a local game and began playing again. The thing is I can read the rules, but until you put a majority of the party to sleep accidently do you learn what the consequences are for area effects spells, or what can you contain in a bag of holding. 

I have learned much from more experienced players, but so much more from our GM. Setting the story, leading the kids into wild adventures with dragons and sorcerers but their take away was the super cute bunny they happened to befriend by rolling a natural 20? I believe I am building fond memories while teaching writing, math and sharing disguised as “play time with papa.”

           And so it begins, our new adventuring days where cities and simple villages must be saved. I may be older and need to stretch out a little more, but what is life without a little adventure. This blog follows the journey from the viewpoint of new player and a new GM. The follies, the fun and the adventure had along the way. Welcome to Durgan’s Dungeon, I am now Durgan the beardless.