HEROIC adventures, fantastical worlds, and heartwarming connections: these are just some of the things you get to experience in Dungeons and Dragons, a tabletop roleplaying game created back in 1974 by game designers Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson.

At present, this game is owned by a company called the Wizards of the Coast and has come a long way since it was first created. There is now software that allows you to turn your battle maps into reality, for example, as well as assets that help your players better visualize the battles within your game. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. 

Dungeons and Dragons – or DND for short – is a term that’s scattered throughout various forms of pop culture. You may have heard it while binge-watching Big Bang Theory one night, or Stranger Things, or even when you saw the trailer for Paramount Pictures’ film, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. 

But perhaps, like many Filipinos, you still aren’t sure of what exactly the game is. Maybe to you, it’s just some board game wherein people make up fantasy scenarios. 

In a small cafe along the streets of Dapitan, a group can usually be found playing the game on one of the tables. Though those within the vicinity may not understand the meanings of the terms they were throwing around – what the hell is a Dungeon Master or a Nat20?– this doesn’t matter much to the players.

To some, their conversation simply blends in with all the others going on within that cafe. But to others, it stands out; there is a passion in their voices unlike any other, prominent as they commandeer fantasy characters, and interspersed with bouts of laughter every now and then.

It doesn’t at all seem like the serious, boring game some envision it to be. If anything, you might even find yourself wanting to join in on the fun.

DND in the Philippines

20-year-old James Karr Punzalan, a 3rd-year student at the Far Eastern University, has been a Dungeon Master for the past three years. As a Dungeon Master, he is in charge of creating the game that everyone plays in. They are the ones who write the stories and lead the rest of the players on their journey.

In the words of Punzalan, a Dungeon Master (DM) is the world itself.

It’s a world not many of his peers are familiar with, he said. 

“DND in the Philippines – or Asia in general – is not well-known, unlike in the West,” Punzalan said. 

He noted, though, that there has been a boom in the game’s popularity during the pandemic. 

Suddenly, everyone was online, looking for something to do with all their spare time. Through Discord servers and Facebook groups, DND quickly managed to find a place online. 

Punzalan first found out about this game in 2017, though like many, he only started playing when COVID hit. 

There are two kinds of people in the game: the Dungeon or Game Master, and the players that venture into the world the Dungeon Master has created, he said. Though there isn’t a specific number of players needed for a game, the ideal number for it is around four to six, he said. 

He explained how the game goes: “Basically, you go through this journey – this story that has been set for the world – and there are fights to be had, puzzles to be solved, and the key to it is roleplaying. The interaction between everyone in the group is the core highlight of DND itself.”  

Currently, he plays with his group called Wooden D20, which makes videos and hosts a podcast about their adventures together in a world they’ve named Hestria. 

Let your imagination roam free

With all that’s been said about DND thus far, it’s not hard to see the appeal in the game, especially if you’re a fan of fantasy films like Lord of the Rings or games like Baldur’s Gate, but what’s stood out most about it for Punzalan is this: it’s a great avenue for creativity. 

When it comes to the story that you and your fellow players follow in DND, there are books that you can buy or get online that have ready-made stories in them. These supplements were created by Wizards of the Coast themselves. 

Here, everything is laid out for you, even the pacing of the story. It’s a great tool for Dungeon Masters, especially for those new to the game. 

For those more experienced, though, they have the freedom to homebrew their games. What is this, exactly? Creating your world from scratch. 

Punzalan explained that with homebrew games, you can get inspiration from anything under the sun, whether it be video games, novels, films, or whatever else so that you can create a unique experience for you and your players. 

What Punzalan loves about DND is that it allows him to create this wonderful world as a Dungeon Master, which is further enriched by the people he plays with, as well. 

About his players, Punzalan stated: “When you play DND, you don’t think of yourself. You embody your character. And being a Dungeon Master – seeing their standpoints, their views, how their attitudes change – is such an amazing feeling.”

There have been a lot of hilarious moments since Punzalan and his group first started playing together, as well as several heart-wrenching ones scattered in between. As a Dungeon Master, he feels there are times when his players write their sessions for him, because of all the interesting narratives and perspectives that they offer him.

He even noted that there were times when people cried during a game because of the death of one of their comrades, further proving that DND pulls certain emotions out of people – many of which they never even knew had been lurking within them in the first place.

“DND as a whole takes a lot of time to set up… it takes a lot of hours to create your world, your characters, their stories,” he said. 

“DND as a whole is [an] experience, it’s not just people playing make-believe. These are people who transport their realities into this amazing, fantastical world,” he added.  

Join the adventure

If you think that DND is something you might be interested in, Punzalan said there are many DND groups across social media sites like Facebook and Discord that you may join. 

One such group that he recommends is the D&D Adventurers League PH Facebook group, where you can meet people who will provide you with the books and basics needed to get started in the game. 

“People within the DND community are very accommodating, they will guide you and help you through it all to enjoy this hobby,” he said.

You can also learn how to play through research online, like searching for videos on YouTube about the rules of the game or by looking through the internet for free modules or sources.

If you’re more of a hands-on person, Punzalan recommends following the Greasy Snitches, a group that often puts together face-to-face DND conventions and gatherings. 

For those new to the game, Punzalan said one of the best things about this hobby is that it costs virtually nothing. All the sources you need, you can get online or borrow from others in the community. 

Some things that you do need, though, are these:

1. A character 

Punzalan explained that as a player, your job is to create a character, as well as a background or a story for them that explains why they are the way they are. At present, DND players use what’s called the 5th edition character sheet when making them. 

As you create your character, some of the basics you need to consider are the race your character is going to be, such as elf,  dwarf, or gnome.

And then you need to decide their class – if you would prefer for them to be a fighter or a support healer, such as a cleric. All these things and more, you can read in the player’s handbook. 

He also recommends looking at sources online to better get a grasp of the different races, as well as the different classes they can be. 

And if you ever get lost, don’t worry, because your DM will be there with you in your character creation every step of the way. You can ask them for advice on whether or not the character fits in the campaign created by the DM, or what you can alter to improve the character. 

This is why Punzalan sees the DM as the lifeline in a group: They are usually the ones that have been playing the longest and can give insight as to whether or not your character meshes well with everyone else’s.

2. A lot of time

Though this hobby doesn’t require a lot of money, it does require quite a bit of your time, and admittedly there are times when it may be difficult to juggle a campaign together with academics and / or work. In the DND community, this is what Punzalan refers to as a “game killer.” 

For campaigns themselves – which are a string of sessions all continuing with the same group of people – these can last for years. Sessions vary in length, but the regular length for Punzalan and his party is around four hours. 

For some, it can last up to eight hours, or even more if the game is particularly intense. The longest session that’s been recorded so far was around 100 to 110 hours in total. 

This depends, though, on the DM, and how long they feel the journey should be. 

Thankfully enough, Punzalan and his group have managed to come up with a schedule that works for all of them, though he does admit that it may be easier for them because they’re still in college. If you’re already working, finding time for it may grow to become a bit more difficult. 

“You do need some time on your hands to do this; I wouldn’t say it would take up most of your time, [though,]” Punzalan said. 

“Again, this is a hobby. You don’t have to treat this like work. [With] working around a balance with [the game,] work, and academics, DND should be seen as a reward,” he added.  

Punzalan recommends setting your DND sessions at the end of a week of heavy studying or working, so that this way, you’re able to look forward to a day where you can just escape reality and focus on becoming whoever you want to be within the game. 

3. A wild imagination

One common misconception often associated with DND is that you just roll the dice – your D20 – and see what happens. But the reality is far from it. 

As a player, there are some books you must read, such as supplements and the player’s handbook. There are a number of technicalities associated with the game, but something also important is the creativity and imagination that you bring into it all. 

As a fantasy game, anything can happen within the world of DND. You need to be prepared to face whatever’s thrown your way, no matter how out-of-this-world it may all be.

At the end of the day, yes, DND is a game of chance. It’s through your D20 that the flow of the story is decided. But it is the players and the DM who write that story, bringing new life into it as each part unfolds.