You and your coterie huddle under a rocky overhand. Thundering footsteps crack the ground above you, and smokey ash rains down over the cliff’s edge. Eight head-sized claws curl over the rock as the winged beast lowers its head. In a moment of quick thinking, the warlock of your group quietly casts a cloaking spell over your circle of friends. As the dragon’s eyes lower into the opening, the spell conceals you all. It raises its head back into the light of dawn before taking off. Its wings create clouds of dust, and you cough. Your friend covers your mouth, but it’s too late. The cloaking spell wears off, and the dragon turns around, landing right in front of the opening. Its jaws separate, and a wall of acidic flames wave over the group. You die. You’re brought back to the table with your friends. The Dungeon Master smirks and sets down the paper, looking around at the upset faces of your friend group. He chuckles, letting his hands rest on the table before breathing out, “..wanna try again?”
Dungeons and Dragons, or DnD, is a magical roleplaying game originating as a book written by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in 1974. Today, millions of people all over the world join together to play DnD in small circles, larger communities, and even in conventions capable of holding hundreds of people. The club at Bellefonte High is no different. The club is supervised by English teacher, Mrs. Maddox, but is otherwise student-ran.
“[The club members] keep four different campaigns running, so as soon as the campaign members get to club, they jump back into what they were doing last time,” says Mrs Maddox, “The student administrator, Collin Mishock, was elected at the end of the previous year. He organizes everything, and is the first line of defense against any disputes between people. People can apply to be a DM or a person in charge.”
DnD club meets twice a month, always on a Friday. They gather in the school’s library, and play on physical sets. The beginning of the year was dedicated to the introduction of DnD for the new members, but the club is now using their time to play.
“They start the year with character and skill creation. The first two to three meetings introduce what DND is and explain the background, character making, and introduce DMs. It’s a good way for the first-time members to get a feel of how the club works.”
The adventurous role-play of Dungeons and Dragons is always a fun time, and the opportunity to enter a community and play games is open for every student at the high school. The members of the club are always willing to invite people in, make new friends, or show people the ropes to the game. So whether you’re a shape-shifting Tiefling or a blacksmith dwelling Orc, don’t hesitate to drop by and try your luck with the dice.