(Special Entry) Dueling in Dungeons

geekologymag
Mar 14, 2015
3 min read

By Hassan Mohamud

David Fiege, 46, masterfully directs the ongoing Dungeons & Dragons adventure game before him as the Dungeon Master, politely reminding his table of four players to have their character sheets written up with the correct stats and pointing out which of the many dies are to be rolled during their respective turns. The Player’s Handbook is always at his side as he formulates the imaginary story the players he oversees must traverse, constantly referring to it for the rules and regulations of Dungeons & Dragons current fifth edition.

Fiege has been playing the game since he was 13. Like other diehard players, it offers him more than just a challenge, it offers him a sense of community. “I got into it through my group of friends, who I am in still touch with to this day,” he said. “In our younger days we would play more frequently, but now we get together at least once a year.”

Not only is the game a way to build friendships for Fiege, but also gives him a chance to get out the house and do something more interactive than sit in front of a computer. Dungeons & Dragons requires alot of time to be dedicated to it, time that some may not have as their lives progress and responsibilites begin to pile up.

Bjarne Ling, 26, who works behind the counter at the Dueling Grounds shop these free Dungeons & Dragons games nights are held at, agrees that the game leads to a sense community. He is particularly amazed at the positive response the mainstream has had in regards to games, from children all the way to seniors.

“There are so many different kinds of games now. People have games on their phones and even on Facebook…but they’re mostly bad,” he said. “The key is that it’s a gateway that’ll get people to eventually start seeking games of higher quality…Dungeons & Dragons is the one game that you have true freedom, so long as you have an imagination.”

He went on to talk about how big some of the communities of people who come together to play this game often get, where like his place of work everyone who comes in is recognized and greeted by name.

“Everyone here knows each other,” he said. “And they don’t always get along, but regardless of age, background, or beliefs, they still come together to enjoy something that they all love.”

At the Silver Snail games/comics shop near Yonge Street, Stewart Blatherwick, who helps organize the encounters events, recounted the early challenges he faced back at the Snail’s old location on Queen Street West.

“They weren’t open as late and running encounters nights for as long as some of the other places was much harder,” he said.

“When I first took over the gaming section of the Snail, it was one of the things I really wanted to pursue,” he said. “I liked the encounters program…its greatest benefit is that it’s a drop in/drop out easy-to-join event where pre-made characters are given to those who don’t have their own and it’s just a really good way of drawing people in.”

Blatherwick believes one of the most valuable things to consider is that the regulars at these events know there is always a place for them to sit down and find a group of people to play Dungeons and Dragons with.

Fiege is pleased with the growth that has been taking place at Dueling Grounds since he started playing there last year, and even speculated on further development.

“Back when I first started here, there were only two tables of about 10 people,” he said. “Tonight we had four tables ranging from four to eight people each and that’s just players, not DMs. If things go the way they are, we may need a fifth table.”