Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop roleplaying game that allows players to live out their fantasies as wizards, dwarfs and much more. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson designed the game, which was first published in 1974. At AUA, students formed a club in 2019 to organize D&D games.
One of the first students to join D&D club was Shaghik Gevorgyan, an EC student, who was excited to see it at AUA’s club fair. “I decided to jump straight into it and try being a dungeon master,” said Shaghik. After spending six months on her first campaign, she recalled what she had learned. “I made mistakes all the time, but it fast-tracked what experience I would have gotten if I was just a player,” added Shaghik.
Dungeon masters, also known as game masters, play a crucial role in shaping the narrative of a D&D campaign. Shaghik’s experience as a game master offers her insight into how players interact with each other and the scenarios they encounter. She tries to give players different ways to explore their characters, from puzzles to mysteries.
Longer D&D campaigns and single session games showcase the various lengths a game master can go to prepare a campaign. “I planned one campaign 10 sessions ahead with about 10 different things they could possibly do at any point,” shared Shaghik. She highlights her notebook full of notes as a sign of her exhausting work to plan out everything. For single session games, she usually has more freedom to explore her options. “However, I also ask players what parts of the game they find fun, and then I incorporate what they say,” added Shaghik.
What was self-evident for Shaghik was D&D players living out their fantasies through their characters. “It’s fun to do magic and be cool, strong and smart,” said Shaghik.
Varoujan Hampartsoumian, an ES senior, joined D&D club during his freshman year, and it was more about finding friends and supporting his friend who founded the club. “D&D was a catalyst for our friendships,” said Varoujan.
“If it wasn’t for D&D club, I don’t think I would’ve been as close with my friends.” Varoujan emphasizes the strong bonds he formed with others and the inside jokes they now share.
Varoujan initially did not care about roleplaying. He changed his mind when he realized how to embrace his characters. “You have to be comfortable acting weird and letting your anxiety fade away as your mind tricks you into being your character,” added Varoujan.
Varoujan played his first D&D game as a bard—a support class that plays music and focuses on helping other players. He shared one of his favorite moments when his friend tried to escape a horde of skeletons and zombies by jumping over them. However, his friend was attacked and Varoujan had to save him. “I remember everyone thinking my friend was crazy, and we were all panicking,” added Varoujan. That level of immersion transformed the moment into an unforgettable one.
During that same game, Varoujan was tested to perform certain roleplaying moments. “I had to sing, and I had stage fright,” said Varoujan. His fear influenced his ability to play, but he adapted and the game became more interesting as he had to consider more than only combat situations.
D&D and the roleplaying challenges it offers to players like Varoujan produced strong bonds that he will never forget. Varoujan said, “The moments my friends and I will always remember are our roleplaying moments.”
