When I tell people, I play Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), I typically get strange looks. But occasionally the expressions I receive are ones of excitement and curiosity. Either way when I follow up with my next statement, telling them that I literally learned to read so that I could play. Everyone gives me a surprised expression, and I love it! D&D has been my outlet for pretty much my entire life. I have played every edition (and I do mean EVERY), and I have seen it treated poorly by society and experience not so great updates to its rules (*cough 4th edition cough*). But no matter what it has faced, it has always held a special place in my heart. And that has everything to do with my Uncle and the first adventure he took me on.
Out of Character Backstory
At the ages of 3 and 4 I don’t recall tons of detailed memories. However, I do remember seeing both my dad and uncle playing various D&D adventures with their friends. I can still visually see all these guys gathered around a table and weaving incredible and funny stories together. And I remember being completely fascinated by all of it. I also recall constantly asking if I could play with them and their friends and being asked, “Can you read?” To which I would say, “No.” At which point they would say, “When you can read you can play.”
Fast forward a year or two, to the age of 5 and I am finally in school doing my absolute best to learn words. All of it for the sole purpose of being able to sit down and play with the “big people”. Finding myself excited each and every time I successfully mastered more words. With each new word I’d say to myself, soon I can finally play!
Being Handed the Tomes
That summer I went to visit my uncle and within 2 minutes of seeing him I began asking to play D&D. This time when he asked me that question, I finally was ready to say “Yes!” To which he responded by handing me three books (2nd edition Advanced D&D Players handbook, DM’s Guide, and Monster Manual).
Instead of being scared at what seemed like huge books, I immediately jumped into the pages trying my hardest to make sense of the rules and images held within. I looked at the books for a good hour or two before my uncle could see how serious I was about playing. And So he made the decision to sit me down and help me make my first adventurer and set out on the quest that would make me a fan for the rest of my life!
My First Hero
My first character was a young, scrawny 10-year-old human boy with blonde hair named Torin. He had been orphaned and later found by a powerful wizard, who was kind to Torin and began training him in the art of magic. Torin was a wizard’s apprentice, and like me, he was full of curiosity about the world around him and so would often sneak out of the tower to explore the surrounding forest.
Torin’s First Adventure
Torin had snuck out many times before and had never really encountered any real danger. But this time things were different. Torin, while casting simple spells and playing with the woodland creatures in the forest heard a scream nearby. After a pause and a quick search I had Torin head out to investigate. He immediately found a couple goblins attacking a small family of farmers.
Though his master had been clear that Torin should always stay out of dangerous conflicts because he didn’t believe the boy was ready for the real dangers out there. Torin found he couldn’t ignore their need for help and ignored his master’s wishes. Torin immediately went into casting a spell and a moment later my character’s magic missile hit one of the goblins killing it. The other turned and fled into the forest. The family thanked Torin and told him that more were deeper in the forest and had set up a base in a cave. So Torin made the decision to hunt down these goblins and help protect the travelers.
The Goblin’s Cave and Their “King”
Torin quickly set off after the goblin that escaped and with a couple lucky rolls, (and probably some kindness from my uncle’s end) He was able to find the cave where the small creature had fled too.
As my uncle spent a few minutes to describe how the entrance was being guarded by two goblins. I decided to sneak down near the camp. Then I quickly took one of them down while the other was patrolling the perimeter. Upon its return I quickly snuff out its life with another well placed magic missile. With the outer defenses cleared I pulled out a scroll of invisibility (that I had recently “borrowed” from my character’s Master) and activated it.
After using the scroll, I moved deeper into the cavern, quickly finding a room filled with 3 more guards and a larger one sitting in a poorly crafted throne. After I watched for a few moments, my uncle explained to me how the one in the chair was yelling around at the others. This clearly established to my young mind that he was the self-proclaimed king.
Even as a 5 year old I understood that I couldn’t just walk in and fight 4 goblins, and honestly I remember how I considered the idea of running away, but then a spark lit up in me and I decided that I would take a huge risk and try to kill the king. If it worked I hoped it would be enough to scare the rest into fleeing. According to my information my uncle had given me earlier, Torin had learned in his studies that goblins while nasty were also scared when their lives felt threatened.
I told my uncle my plan, and to my surprise he didn’t object or tell me to flee. I worked my way up invisibly to the throne and after a deep breath and a lot of dice rattling in my hand, i rolled the dice stab the goblin with my dagger. As I rolled for the attack, I let out a sigh or relief as we calculated the THAC0 (To Hit Armor Class 0) and i discovered that it was successful! Yes in my small mind it was awesome, and no I didn’t roll a natural 20. But I did max out my damage on my damage roll, which was enough to kill the would be goblin king!
The End of The Goblin King
My uncle then proceeded to describe the scene, “Upon stabbing the goblin he yells out in pain and Torin’s invisibility magic begins to fade away just as the other goblins turned spears ready to attack. But seeing their king stumble from his throne and collapse dead on the floor at the hands of a mere child sends then into panic! They turn and flee leaving behind everything they had stolen!”
I immediately began to laugh and jump with joy feeling like a true hero for the first time in my young life…
In Conclusion
Games like Dungeons and Dragons can inspire people in many different ways. I honestly believe that my creativity, math skills, and social skills, stim in a lot of ways from the adventures that I went on with other people. And the enjoyment it can bring is something that sticks with you.
Even now I can remember waves of emotions that filled my little heart as I pictured the scenes unfolding throughout the story and the excitement I had when those last goblins turned tail and ran from Torin! It was one of the greatest adventures I have ever had, even still to this day. It may not have been the most epic tale, but for my 5-year-old self, it was the first time that I felt like I could be a hero and make a real difference (even if it was just in a game). It was the first time I had been allowed to make my own choices on my own, without dictation. And I was allowed to follow it all the way through to the end results. Which to me is a feeling I will never forget!
Perhaps the only thing better than that fight was the griffin egg I found and later hatched. A griffin who would one day be the only thing between Torin, his companions, and a full party wipe by an adult red dragon. But that story is for a different day…
