I wrote a paper on Dungeons and Dragons a few months ago and decided you folks might enjoy reading it, so here it is.
The Daydreams We Share
The gentle hills of Falcronus have, since ancient times, been peaceful, welcoming lands. Farmers happily tilled the fields of their fathers until the day their sons earned the right to live as men. Under the vigilant guard of the Purest Edge Sentinels, and the kind rule of the Line of Darious, Falconus was prosperous and stable. However, The halcyon days are passing, and the shadows grow long. Roving bands of brutal creaters: Goblins, Trolls, Orcs, and Kobolds, harry the countryside, stealing lands for themselves and warring among each other. The Purest Edge seems dull and dumb, but why? Eyes full of fear look to Zalion castle and the line of Darious, yet the castle walls conceal much. In these days of terror, three young souls burn with with passionate resolve. Though each very different, they will band together and stand against the night. They are collage students from missouri, and they just ordered pizza.
It’s Tuesday night, and like every other tuesday night im sitting on the floor in my brothers apartment. Around me sits friends and family, papers and book strewn between us. Work, school, and family duty covers our lives like a the clouds of a thunderhead. Each darkened sky is unique to the person, but amidst the churning gray, light pours through the same patch of heaven in each of our lives; Tuesday night. On this special night we four get together and share a dream of fantasy; Slay wicked kings, free the oppressed, journey to lands unexplored, all from the comfort of the living room carpet. Our minds transport us there, and “Dungeons and Dragons” provides the passport.
“Dungeons and Dragons” (here forth referred to as DnD) is, at it’s most basic form, a collection of books. These tomes offer guidelines and suggestions designed to help the imaginative quantify the substance and working of their fanciful dreams. Just as the real world is governed by unalterable physical law, imagined realities must be shaped by unwavering truths so that those involved will suspend their disbelieve and accept it as plausible, no matter how impossible it is. Those “fanciful dreams” thus become an existence as likely as our own.
There are two basic roles in DnD; they are that of Dungeon Master and Player. The Dungeon Master is a crafter of reality. He conjures a world of fantasy full of people, places, and items from the endless depths of his own creativity. His job is to not only create worlds, but to control and describe them. He is writer, director, and actor of his own productions. However, these dramatic mindscapes do not exist for the sake of themselves, but for the Players to traverse. Players in a game of DnD each control one character of their own making. This character is their avatar in the Dungeon Masters imagined reality. A Players character often has a persona that very different that of the player. DnD gives them the chance to live the life of who you wish you were, accomplish inhuman feats and bask in the glory, honor, and riches that come as reward. It gives you the chance to remake yourself completely and live a life without fear. Dungeon Masters and Players use verbal communication to convey what their intellects divine. Players speaking for and describing the actions of their character, the Dungeon Master painting a picture of the world around them and acting the parts of every non-player character involved. It does wonders for ones verbal skills.
The Dungeon Master of our Tuesday night sessions is my only brother, Josh. He has been playing DnD more then any of the Players. When he was taking classes in Mississippi, he played weekly with friends there. The rest of the group has either learned how to play just a few months ago or hasn't played actively in years. This time as a Player there gave him the experience one needs to be able to assume the difficult role Dungeon Master. Being an author of worlds means that he has to prepare for each weeks session before hand. “I spend about 3-4 hours each week getting ready”, he told me once. “I first come up with a vague, general story arc, then, starting from the beginning, I work my way through, filling in the details”. One of a Dungeons Masters duties is to plan who and where the Players fight. After the conclusion of a particularly close fight, i asked him, half in jest, “Did you plan for those guys to kill us?” “Of course not”, he replied, “I make them just hard enough to make me wonder whether or not you’ll win. I make just hard enough for your chance of winning and losing as about equal. That way the fight is up to you to win.” A session with Josh as the Dungeon Master will invariably be filled with neat idea’s and things you hadn't thought of. He always does his best to come up with original ideas, making his sessions interesting experiences.
Since Josh plays the role of Dungeon Master, the rest of us participate as players, each with our own unique characters. I play a man named Felix Horatio. A Bard of some renown, he’s a charming rapscallion who’s blade is as quick as his wit. Armed with his voice, his sword, and his mind, he’s a person of note regardless of the situation. Felix is the leader of the group, but not in the way one would normally think. The stereotypical heroic leader is a brave and idealistic warrior who leads his allies from the front, his battle cry ringing in the ears of his enemies. Felix, on the other hand, leads through suggestion rather then example. He uses his vast collection of arcane tricks to disrupt, confuse, and weaken the enemy whilst his magical music heals and strengthens his friends. By choosing what and where to strengthen/ weaken he directs the flow and pace of battle as he sees fit. Out side of battle, his sliver tongue and outgoing nature affords him the position of party representative, giving him allot of clout when it comes to decisions affecting the group. I made Felix like this because I love to use dramatic and poetic speech. Making a character that does the same thing seemed like a good idea. I also like having allot of authority over what the group does. I’m something of a perfectionist when it comes to my gaming, so to in order to insure the group took the best course of action (that style allows), I took steps to gain authority. In the end, Felix is a distorted reflection of myself. In him are a few of my defining traits exaggerated to the point that they dominate his nature. It offers me a chance to both explore and make fun of myself.
Mason Rhodes is a Visual art Student just out of high school. He has the pleasure of playing the Noble Sir Kasamir. Kasimir is a Paladin, a Holy Knight. Part Samurai, part clergyman, Kasimir relies on his swordsmanship to win the day, his healing spells to save his friends, and his code of honor to guide his path. The Knight errant wields a rather plain looking Japanese katana and wears a ratty, tattered cloak that hides his form, an accouterment he casts off dynamically at the start of every fight, revealing the radiant armor beneath. “Japanese swords have a clean, sharp look to them.” Mason explains. ”Besides, Paladin always use western swords; I wanted him to be unique. I also wanted to give him that inner calm and honorable feel samurai have. The cloak is for dramatic effect. It’s his way of throwing down the gauntlet, switching him from observer to champion in the blink of an eye.” When not rending cultists in twain and healing his allies, Kasimir enjoys meditating in solitude and practicing a kind of slow motion swordsmanship in order to perfect his forms.
Our final player is the lovely and talented Britany Howell. She just happens to be Masons fiancé and a visual art major herself. Priscilla, her character, has been described to me by her as “and ideal version” of herself. Dressed in black leather and wielding an Odachi (an extra long japanese sword), she makes her way as a mercenary and pilot. Of the three, Priscilla is the least gregarious and treats the rest of the group rather coldly. As Britany tells it, “Her father left her and her mother when she was young. Consequently, she doesn't much like men. I wanted her to be independent and even handed. Part of this was making it clear she wasn't going to be anyone's love interest.” Arguably the best straight up fighter in the group, It’s not uncommon for her to kill multiple foes with a single swipe of her oversized blade. Despite her rather chilling response to him, Felix’s indomitable spirit refuses to be crushed and he, to this day, still tries his best to charm the dark haired beauty. Kasamir seems to know better.
Next tuesday will come, and when it does our adventure will resume, not a second passing in the hills of falcronus though a week had past since last we where there. I will again take up the blade and sing a song of valor and glory, Kasamir’s eyes will flash with resolve as he throws off his cape, and Priscila will again enter the fray, her deadly sword dancing with glee. We’ll probably order pizza again too, though with prom this saturday, my funds might be stretched. What is for sure is that we will get together and share a daydream and laugh.
Reply
