ROSEMONT, In Mr. Anker’s classroom, lies a club where heroes battle against ferocious monsters, take on quests, and enjoy the greatest roleplaying game in the world: Dungeons & Dragons (Otherwise known as D&D). This club meets every Tuesday at lunch in room 3101; no experience is necessary.
Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game centered around a Dungeon Master (A DM) who runs a campaign (all of the adventures) and tells the story of what the characters are doing. In D&D, you roll dice, decide your character’s actions, and wait with bated breath as the DM continues telling the story. In the game, you can use different classes and races to build your character; each class has distinct strengths and weaknesses. Some classes are (but are not limited to) Rogue, Paladin, Fighter, and Bard.
The atmosphere in the room is very talkative (which is understandable; they are playing a role-playing game, after all), though the club is still in the beginning stages. Desks are being moved around to make spaces for the different campaigns, and Mr. Anker oversees all the kids. When interviewed about his experience with the club, he states, “I was not inspired to make this club. One day about five years ago, some kid came up to me and asked if they could start a D&D club. I said ‘Sure,’ and I’ve been hosting the club ever since.” When asked if he knew how to play, he responded, “No, I don’t know how the game works.” Mr. Anker only hosts the club and makes sure the students don’t go crazy, which is completely fine.
When club members Avery and Kevin were interviewed, they replied, “D&D seems fun, and it allows you to be rampant and do stupid stuff. Basically, it just allows you to do stuff you can’t do in real life.” says Avery. Many people play D&D for this reason; they can do things they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do in the real world. When interviewed, Kevin states, “The game’s fun and this club is a good place for people to enjoy the game.” This shows that the club is a safe space for people to play D&D every week and a good way to be introduced to the game. Many people who have never played D&D joined the club and found out they liked it. This club is not only a safe place for people to play the game but also a place to discover a new game that interests them.
The Dungeons and Dragons Club is where monsters are slain, treasure is found, and heroes undertake amazing adventures. This makes it one of the most unique and interesting clubs available at Rosemont Middle School.
