In the beginning of the ongoing pandemic, I got really into Dungeons and Dragons (DnD). I first learned about how to play by watching Critical Role. I got some books in the library about it, and then decided to buy a couple DnD books.
My brother Aaron made sure I learned how to play, not just watch, DnD. And I’m really grateful to him for that. Sometimes I think the characters we play, the masks we put on, can be a way to access a deeper understanding of ourselves.
He made a place online where he could play with friends far away, and me. Some of us were more experienced than others. Then I played in person for awhile.
So I spent 10 months playing Dungeons and Dragons last year. And I spent a few more months before that playing DnD in 2021 and 2022.
I tried to find a new group this year but ended up not really being that interested in it. I don’t really watch it or play it anymore because 4 hours is a looooong time to spend in a game. I do like watching shorter games in Dropout‘s Dimension20 show though.
So, how do you make a character?
There are different classes in DnD, including Barbarian, Fighter, Rogue, Wizard, Cleric, Druid, Warlock, Sorcerer, and Bard. There are also different races, like Ooze, Elf, Fairy, Half giant, Tiefling, Dragonborn, Halfling, Goblin, Orc, Half-Orc, even human.
A lot of people play the characters that most resemble them, or characters that embody an ideal version of themselves.
I played different characters, like a Tiefling Rogue, a Tiefling Druid, an Autumn Eladrin sort of Steampunk inventor, and at the last game, a Halfing Bard.
I really like Tieflings. Tieflings are something I identify with because they are often cast out, made to feel different and unwelcome for resembling devils. A devil can mate with a human in DnD, which can result in a tiefling. But also, a person can make a deal with a devil and then their first child resembles a devil, aka a Tiefling. They are born in innocence and love, and they don’t have control over how they appear. They have to learn to exist in a world that suspects them, sees them as inherently evil, whether or not they actually are. They are a reminder of things people would rather forget, or look away from.
I also really like Bards.
Why are fundraisers like Bards?
Bards are good with words. In a party that mainly focuses on fighting, they can feel kind of useless because words aren’t much use in a fight.
But if you have a campaign where people are interested in character development as well, that’s where Bards can really shine.
Bards are hard to play, because they can kind of do everything. They can
- Steal like a rogue,
- Slip in and out of the shadows like a rogue
- Play music and charm people,
- They can viciously mock people as well, to defend the group
- Cast spells
- Make everyone feel good.
Bards definitely resemble fundraisers in this way.
Fundraisers can be the center of attention, create a party, slip into the background and let others take the spotlight. They can make everyone feel good.
Are Fundraisers like Troubadours?
Bards are modeled, in my opinion, on 13th century Troubadours! There is a theory that these folks were Cathars in disguise, masking goddess worship under the guise of courtly love, wandering around the south of France, worshipping an ancient goddess, thumbing their noses at the dominant Christian misogynist culture. They gave women the most freedom for independent action and potentially worshipped Mary Magdalene as another name for the goddess.
They sang songs that subtly changed people’s minds, and undercut the dominant culture’s narrative. Their words made them powerful, which is why they were viciously hunted into hiding.
And again, this reminds me of fundraisers, because we use our words to persuade, to charm, to appeal to people’s interests to get them to do the right thing. We often fight for equality for women, and deal with attacks for that same activity.
We can use our words to write compelling letters, grants, website copy, and more to make people take action. Fundraisers can wake people out of their stupor of inertia. We can give people hope.
I used to be kind of dismissive of games. When i was little, I was told that my worth was in what I could do for other people, and if the activity was frivolous, like a game, it wasn’t worth my time. So this was absolutely not true, games serve a purpose and a role in our lives that is so important.
But then the pandemic happened, and I could not be out there doing things for my family. I started to feel deep grief, for the first time in my life. I started to learn more about my inner world. Games gave me an outlet that I’d never had before, to try to imagine a different life for myself.
If you’re curious about playing DnD, you might like Dropout’s Dimension20 as a place to start, or check out critical role? or find a new group?