D&D Isn’t Just For Nerds

When you hear the words Dungeons and Dragons, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Probably a group of chubby neckbearded twenty-somethings huddled around a gameboard in someone’s mom’s dimly lit basement, clutching bags of dice while a skinny guy dressed as a wizard “ominously” describes a dungeon with some dragons, right? Well, in some instances you would definitely be right in imagining that, but the vast majority of people that play D&D don’t fit into that imagined archetype.

If we’re going strictly by appearances, then I’m a prime example of someone who doesn’t look like they’d be into D&D (We’ll discount the fact that I am actually a massive nerd since that’s counterintuitive to the point I’m trying to make). I am a metalhead that dresses the part, with black being my favorite color, the vast majority of my shirts having some form of skull on them, and lots of stainless steel jewelry. It’s like Gene Simmons playing World of Warcraft: You just wouldn’t expect it.  

However, if I’m not a good enough example for you, there are several celebrities that play or have played D&D. For example, icons like Stephen Colbert, Vin Diesel, Patton Oswalt, and Marilyn Manson (heck yeah!) all have had their fair share of roleplay and dice rolls. I guarantee that when you think of a nerd Vin Diesel does not spring to mind, and if you Google a picture of 90’s metal icon Marilyn Manson you’ll agree he doesn’t fit the geek mold that’s been established for D&D players.

Just because D&D isn’t just for “nerds,” it definitely doesn’t mean it’s for everybody. The game does require an interest in character creation, such as designing a backstory for your character that may or may not be drawn from as the campaign progresses. It also requires basic math skills and the ability to discern between different types of dice (which is harder than it sounds). And if one really wants to play D&D, roleplay is required. That doesn’t necessarily mean dancing around while singing in a funny voice (unless you play a bard and are into that). It can be as simple as just adopting a dialect or an attitude particular to your character’s attributes.

Honestly, from my personal experience Dungeons and Dragons is really fun, and shouldn’t just be pigeonholed and stereotyped to just nerds. All it takes is trying something to find out you enjoy it, and D&D is no different. Nerd or not, it’s a good time.