D&D

I'm sure you've heard of Dungeons and Dragons, also known as D&D, and I think it is definitely worth talking about a little. A few months ago, my brother linked me to a podcast about D&D sponsored by Wizards of the Coast, the company behind the game. The podcast consists entirely of audio recorded during sessions of D&D. Notably, the podcast features Gabe and Tycho of Penny Arcade, and maybe less notably, Scott Kurtz of PvPonline. It is a pretty entertaining podcast if you are interested in playing, or even just curious about what it's like.

I have not actually played, but Alec and I are working on getting a game going, but it takes a pretty sizable amount of planning, and we are lacking some objects that are critical to making the game happen.

I am really excited to start playing. It is a pretty unique opportunity to bond with a group of friends, as well as a rare chance to indulge in some very involved make-believe. I think many people are pensive about exploring D&D and D&D-type games because of the social stigma surrounding them since they were demonized in the media in the 90s. Also, they are stereotypically pretty much the nerdiest things in the world. Another obstacle facing people interested in playing is the prohibitive amount of materials necessary to play, though recently Wizards released something called the Red Box which is essentially a starter-kit for one to five people. I think there is a pretty good chance I will end up purchasing it, though I would still need to pick up a lot of die.

I will let you know how it all goes when college applications are no longer taking up every weekend. In the meantime, if you have the time, do check out the podcast, and start from Series 1, Episode 1, near the bottom of the page. Link

-Daniel