Mar 10, 2015 D&D and me
As a parent, I talk to a lot of friends, relatives, and peers about how they take their kids to this lesson or that activity every day after school or on weekends. Sports, scouts, music lessons, art classes, or whatever–when looking back at my childhood, I realize that didn’t do any of that stuff!
From fourth or fifth grade through junior high when we weren’t reading comic books, all my brother and our best friends did was play Dungeons & Dragons. On weekends and during summers, we’d go from house to house spending a night or two, staying up late, and working our way through campaigns. It wasn’t cool at all–totally uncool in fact–and that was fine with us.
And back in the early ’80s there were articles in newspapers describing fanatics that would embark on “real” campaigns in sewers and get killed, as well as televangelists on TV describing how role-playing games led to Satan worship. Luckily, our parents knew that was all bullshit. We never went crazy in any way, unless you count getting hopped up on Dr. Pepper and listening to Doctor Demento compilations or the Heavy Metal soundtrack as we rolled up characters.
Looking back, the games did a lot to develop our patience and ability to communicate and operate as a team. We got pretty good at using graph paper. The time spent doodling turned out to be invaluable, as well, and same goes for the vocabulary we picked up that would provide an instant bond with other guys who played D&D (I know there are like-minded women out there, too, but have yet to meet one). If you have ever had heated conversations with complete strangers about natural twenties, psionics, brain moles, or gelatinous cubes, you know what I mean.
The era came to an end when we reached our teens. That’s when the Apple ][+ took over and games like Ultima and Wizardry hinted at the future of RPG. It’s also when friends started getting driver’s licenses, and we began going to shows. The Clash, The Ramones, The Cure, The Cramps–it would take decades before High on Fire arrived, completing the circle back to D&D.
My crew has upgraded the snacks and beverages and it’s harder to get together now that we have families, but playing D&D is exactly the same as when we were kids. Just a bunch of us dorks sitting around a table, rolling dice and blabbing. And at my house, it’s music on vinyl only and no smart phones allowed for full effect. After we finish our latest campaign, let me know if you want in on the next one!
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