The Magic (Pun Intended) of Dungeons and Dragons

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears -

So I can tell you about the magic that is Dungeons and Dragons. (Pun absolutely intended)

Before you click away, thinking, "That's a nerd thing. I don't care about that" - first, yeah, fair point. It's definitely a nerd thing, but it's also much more than that.

(All the many benefits of playing DnD can be found here, and this post is very much inspired by the article, so go read! It's worth the time; I promise.)

DnD is about community and friendship. It's about storytelling and empathy. It's about open and honest communication. It's a about problem solving and creativity. It's about getting to be the person you really want to be, if only for a few hours. (Or the person you really don't want to be; I've heard being evil characters is quite fun) And it's even a little about thwarting evil plots, making the townsfolk swoon, and slaying the occasional monster - even dragon.

Less than a year ago, I considered DnD the final step in my slow descent into full nerddom. Now, it's the highlight of my week. I get to spend time every single week with some of my closest friends, who all live in different cities, some in different states, as we work together to frustrate our beloved Dungeon Master with our shenanigans and sometimes slightly-too-clever solutions to the problems she spends so much time imagining and building for us.

Aren't we all just wandering around, seeking to create meaningful bonds with the people we love, while doing the things that we love? For me and so many others, we do it through a little game called Dungeons and Dragons.

In fact, DnD and other RPGs are used in both schools and therapy sessions as a tool to improve socializing and as a way to provide a safe space to work through a variety of mental health issues, including depression and schizophrenia. According to research, if the game is run by a GM who understands the needs of their players and the potential consequences of running unhealthy games, children and young adults benefit from playing the game (source: W.A. Hawkes-Robinson).

As someone with a social anxiety disorder, I can definitively vouch for its positive impact on my own life and mental health. Playing a character who speaks her mind and genuinely seeks good in the world has helped me to both stand up for myself a little more and to try to see the world through a lens of empathy.

Consider giving DnD a chance. No matter who you are or how old you are, it's worth playing, even just once, to see if you like it. It's both deliciously nerdy and singularly fulfilling, and I guarantee you'll have some fun along the way.

And now I've gotta go, friends. I actually have to prep my spells for a session we're playing in an hour.