I Had to Grow Up Before I Could Play Dungeons & Dragons

Fog is setting in. Knifey McStab, Charlotte, and Marla have their hands full against a horde of zombies. Having retreated in a previous turn, I wan’t close enough to help my allies by stabbing a zombie with my rapier. Digging deep into my repertoire, I grabbed some tinder off the dry ground and use magic to create four makeshift torches. Before ending my turn, I launch them towards the heat of battle, allowing my party to finish the fight with a clear view of our opposition. As icing on the cake, I kick on the Auto-Tune to sing the song that a bard would when lighting the battlefield for their comrades.

This past weekend, I had an amazing time playing and streaming Dungeons & Dragons for the first time. Thank you Jason, Kris, Rachel, Mat, and Jon for sharing this experience with me. Though it’s literally taken us years to set this session up, my journey to get here goes way further back.

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Acceptance and Empathy in Gaming Culture

Towards the end of the Pikmin 3 massacre (R.I.P.), a conversation between Rachel of Double Jump fame and I triggered a rant about acceptance and empathy in games. With a bit more of both, I think the greater discourse around games could be a much more positive experience for all. Don’t have a magic wand to make that change in the world overnight, but I’ll try my best to be respectful of other people’s opinions, having healthy discussions around differing views without resorting to personal attacks, and prevent myself from acting as a gatekeeper to others.