We might finally be back outside, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping the rise of Dungeons & Dragons. Steadily growing in popularity over the last couple of years, the tabletop game has continued to thrive and grow over lockdown. The ubiquitously geeky game was naturally aided by the globe going into isolation, leading to an increase in people trying new things from home, with many playing with their families or friends playing together through video chat.
In recent years, mainstream fantasy enterainment—TV shows like Stranger Things and Game Of Thrones, video games like Skyrim, The Witcher and Ghost Of Tsushima—has simultaneously led to an increase in interest and hype around IRL gaming experiences in a similar vein. Basically, being a geek is cooler than it’s ever been.
So, what’s Dungeons & Dragons really all about?
Well, it involves a group of people sitting around a table and pretending to be warriors, mages and elves as they embark on self-constructed quests and decide the outcome of battles and a number of other climactic events through rolls of the dice. One player is the Dungeon Master (aka DM), who uses the game’s instruction books and campaign guides to structure the adventure through their own storytelling and rules. The games are intimate, inherently immersive and occasionally mathematical, with the combination of polyhedral dice and your own imagination allowing for a level of limitless freedom, real-life human contact and role-playing that other games rarely give.
It might shock you to hear that over 50 million people have now played Dungeons & Dragons to date. But it’s not just the old heads playing it: #dnd has over 4 billion video views on TikTok, with people aged 20-24 now the biggest demographic playing D&D. And while the game has been stereotyped as being a male hobby in the past, the split between men and women (60% men, 40% women, with the latter share increasing) shows how that is changing. The game is also extremely popular with LGBTQ+ gamers, with a lot of very successful POC-led streamer and podcast groups—such as Rivals of Waterdeep and Three Black Halflings—booming in popularity.
To find out more about D&D and its new wave of appeal, COMPLEX linked up with Elise Rose—a digital artist, photographer and DJ based in London. We sat in on a game between Elise and her friends and fellow D&D fans Kanika, Andy and Zac to discover how, and why, this tabletop game is connecting with them and millions more, like never before.
To learn more about Dungeons & Dragons, to access game resources or to connect with the community, head to the official D&D wesbite.
Elise (Digital Artist, Photographer & DJ)
How did you first get into Dungeons & Dragons?
I’ve been into D&D for a few years now. I’ve always been into RPGs, medieval fantasy games, cosplay etc, and a lot of my art centres around avatar creation and escapism, so I think it was only a matter of time before I discovered D&D.
What was your impression of D&D before you’d ever played it, and how has that changed since you’ve been playing?
For a while, I thought D&D would be fun to play. It’s easy to think that it’s a game for a very specific demographic, but I guess I learnt from cosplay and LARP (live-action role-play) that people from literally every background and walk of life are interested in fantasy, so it would probably be a similar case for D&D. When you see it being played online on more of a global scale, you can see it’s the case for D&D too. It just the way the media portrays these kinds of storytelling.
What does a typical game look like for you, and has lockdown changed this at all?
A typical game is very different for me, as the games are online and I’m just watching [laughs]. As my friends who play are currently based in different cities, I hadn’t had a chance to play IRL until now with Zac, Andy and Kanika. I think lockdown prevented us from coming together to play sooner, but now that I’ve played, I’m down to play again soon.
What makes a really good game of D&D, for you?
It’s really fun when the Dungeon Master (DM) goes in with making you feel immersed, like putting on different accents and playing medieval music. We had Bardcore playing most recently, which was pretty hilarious and fits the vibe.
How do you go about crafting your personal character? How do they reflect the real you?
I’ve always gravitated towards the underdog in stories and games, so that’s been a big part of the character I create. I definitely think that element of characters resonates with the real me, so I wanted to be a big part of the character’s backstory.
Is there a particular book, movie, show or fantasy world you feel like you’re in when you’re playing D&D?
It depends on the vibe of the story, really. Whenever I play any fantasy game, I always end up either talking like an extra in Game Of Thrones or Radioactive Man in The Simpsons.
What is your favourite type of adventure, and why?
Adventures where silly things happen, or crazy twists that you wouldn’t expect.
What is your favourite race/class to play, and why? And if you could invent a new one, what would it be?
I’ve always been into elves in fantasy stories and games, and thought their magic and archery skills were pretty cool. Last time I played as a half-high elf/half-wood elf that’s not accepted by its high elf family but wanders the world befriending other races to bring them together to fight what she believes to be a big future quest… I later realised this was basically the story of Jon Snow [laughs]. I’d love to create an elf/human hybrid.
What’s the most memorable or unique way a DM has kicked off a campaign?
This most recent one with Andy, Zac and Kanika is probably the most memorable, as it’s the first one I’ve played that’s not online. All the characters were chilling at an inn when a crazy pig with a wand in his mouth bursts in and smashes everything. I wasn’t expecting that!
What magic item or skill does your character have that you’d like to bring into your real life?
‘Mage Hand’ [a spectral floating hand] is underrated, and can be pretty hilarious.
Which famous cultural figure do you think could potentially make the ultimate DM?
I think Tyler, The Creator would come up with a pretty creative and funny story.
Do you have any D&D tips or tricks you can share?
I’m a newbie to physically playing it myself! But if you’re new, I’d say it’s good to do a bit of prep; maybe print out a sheet of the details of your character’s spells and attacks—so it’s easier to think about what to do next—then you can concentrate more on the story and having a laugh.
What do you love most about Dungeons & Dragons?
The creativity and freedom that comes with creating characters and navigating them through chaotic stories with your mates.
What words of encouragement would you give to someone who hasn’t played Dungeons & Dragons before, but is thinking of trying it?
Just go for it, and remember to come into it with an open mind and see how you feel about it. Chances are you’ll have a good time and make good memories with old and new friends.
Zac (Healthcare Assistant)
How did you first get into Dungeons & Dragons?
I first played D&D online, on Roll20, with a group of friends back in 2013. We’d all heard of the game and wanted to try it out, so we found a DM and got playing. We were all gamers and role-players and were vaguely aware of tabletop games, so it was a natural fit.
What was your impression of D&D before you’d ever played it, and how has that changed since you’ve been playing?
That D&D had a rigidly-set world and lore, whereas now I understand it much more to be a framework to build your own world and games around.
What does a typical game look like for you, and has lockdown changed this at all?
I normally play online at Roll20, and lockdown has changed this by ending. Now everyone’s working again, I don’t have three weekly games on the go. Why can’t everyone be at home doing nothing again! Times are variable; I’ve played with people all over the world so would sometimes play at antisocial hours.
What makes a really good game of D&D, for you?
The players—not the characters—have similar goals, in terms of the kind of game they’d like to play. It’s good when everyone wants to have a serious role-playing game, or a silly game, or a murder hobo combat game, but having one of each in the same party can leave the gameplay a little fragmented. I like a game where the character leads my choices as a player, and not the other way round.
How do you go about crafting your personal character? How do they reflect the real you?
Concept, then personality, then history. Something that can be summed up in a sentence, like “ex-witch hunter rogue”, or “unkillable tank wizard”, then I decide how I’ll realise that in terms of character options—like class and race—then through all that, the personality starts to emerge and once that’s all a bit more fleshed out, I’ll root them into the setting. Every character has a facet of me, consciously or unconsciously. It may me be working through something in real life, or me just wanting to be something cool.
Is there a particular book, movie, show or fantasy world you feel like you’re in when you’re playing D&D?
I’d pick Eberron. It’s a D&D setting that is all magic and technology—think airships, automatons, pulp noir—it’s the best! It has loads of great novels and D&D books set in it.
What is your favourite type of adventure, and why?
Something grim and dark, because it appeals to the goth that forever lives inside of me.
What is your favourite race/class to play, and why? And if you could invent a new one, what would it be?
Longtooth Shifter/Beast Barbarian! Full werewolf fantasy, or anything with a few levels of hexblade! A new class would have to include some kind of plague druid, turning into a swarm of bugs and spreading disease everywhere.
What’s the most memorable or unique way a DM has kicked off a campaign?
The whole party were prisoners in jail, suspicious and strange to each other, and we had to break out and find a way to work together in order to avoid arrest.
What magic item or skill does your character have that you’d like to bring into your real life?
On the one hand, a Bag of Holding to carry all the stuff I have. On the other hand, I would definitely lose the Bag of Holding and all of my stuff.
Which famous cultural figure do you think could potentially make the ultimate DM?
David Bowie—he would do all the voices.
Do you have any D&D tips or tricks you can share?
It’s a collaborative game. You’ll have the most fun when everyone at the table is having fun!
What do you love most about Dungeons & Dragons?
Crit fails.
What words of encouragement would you give to someone who hasn’t played Dungeons & Dragons before, but is thinking of trying it?
Games are everywhere online; D&D is easy to play and you don’t have to commit to sitting at a table in public with strangers if that’s too much for you. Go join a game right now!
Kanika (Creative & Gamer)
How did you first get into Dungeons & Dragons?
I started playing D&D during the first lockdown. My friend, Katie, asked a group of us—who had never played before—if we wanted to try it. As I had exhausted all the other lockdown activities, like making banana bread, creating a sourdough starter and downloading TikTok, I said yes.
What was your impression of D&D before you’d ever played it, and how has that changed since you’ve been playing?
I initially didn’t know anything about it. I used to think of basements filled with nerdy white men, memorising pages and pages of information about their character. I also thought there would be strict rules and lots to remember. Since playing, I’ve realised that the preconceptions I had were false. It’s super easy to learn to play—no one takes it too seriously, and it is surprisingly imaginative.
What does a typical game look like for you, and has lockdown changed this at all?
There are five players in total—me, Rowan, Ani, Gus and Lizzie—and we play in the living room/Rowan’s bedroom, as this is London and landlords see the living room as an extra bedroom. Katie is the DM and we play roughly once a week. As lockdown intensified, we had to play a few sessions over video chat.
What makes a really good game of D&D, for you?
A good game involves a surprising twist and equally powered enemies. I like when a DM has prepared for any outcome and has designed a fascinating but coherent plot. It’s also very funny when the DM puts on accents for the different characters.
How do you go about crafting your personal character? How do they reflect the real you?
I tend to randomise their character traits and then figure out their backstory. I think having interesting and distinct characters makes the plot interesting; my characters don’t reflect my personality or experiences, but I’m sure there are some subconscious overlaps.
Is there a particular book, movie, show or fantasy world you feel like you’re in when you’re playing D&D?
When playing, I think about the BBC TV series Merlin. However, it depends on the campaign, music and atmosphere created by the DM. You can see what media has influenced the DM through the settings and situations.
What is your favourite type of adventure, and why?
Any adventure that involves weird and wacky creatures. I like not knowing what to expect and encountering new situations. My first campaign involved battling a giant crab, which was very amusing.
What is your favourite race/class to play, and why? And if you could invent a new one, what would it be?
I love juxtaposing the race with the class, such as making a tiny but mighty gnome warlock who can cast powerful spells but not climb over a wall unassisted. I’m not sure what I would create… Perhaps a metahuman—basically a human with superpowers—for an X-Men vibe.
What’s the most memorable or unique way a DM has kicked off a campaign?
In one campaign, all the characters were peacefully sleeping when a group of enemies burst into the room. It was a very chaotic start because all the characters were in their pyjamas and had no weapons. It felt like there was an actual possibility of dying, which is usually quite hard to do in D&D.
What magic item or skill does your character have that you’d like to bring into your real life?
Two words: Teleportation Circle.
Which famous cultural figure do you think could potentially make the ultimate DM?
Lil Nas X would be amazing. Jordan Peele is a close second.
Do you have any D&D tips or tricks you can share?
Always ask yourself, “What would I do in this situation and what would my character do?” Go with the latter.
What do you love most about Dungeons & Dragons?
Aside from having fun with my friends, it’s great to have an activity that uses creativity, imagination and improvisation. It’s also a great way to spend a few hours immersed in a new world and not in front of my phone screen.
What words of encouragement would you give to someone who hasn’t played Dungeons & Dragons before, but is thinking of trying it?
There’s nothing to lose, so give it a go! If you dislike it, then you never have to play again. But, if you love it, then you’ve found a new hobby, friendship group and community. Also, remember that the main aim is to have fun! Don’t think too much about if you’re playing the “right” or “wrong” way.
Andy (Product Manager)
How did you first get into Dungeons & Dragons?
I first started playing over New Year 2020. A group of friends wanted a different way to spend New Year; we’d all realised that we’d been looking into the game separately for a while, so it seemed like a great way to try something new.
What was your impression of D&D before you’d ever played it, and how has that changed since you’ve been playing?
Before starting, it seemed like quite a lot of hard work and learning, and maybe a bit dry. Since starting to play— I’ve been a DM for pretty much the whole time I’ve been playing—it’s definitely a lot of work, but it’s also really good fun to work out how to tell stories, draw maps and think of new ways to challenge the other players.
What does a typical game look like for you, and has lockdown changed this at all?
I’ve been able to play a mix of both in person and online games. Using tools like Roll20 and Talespire have meant that playing remotely is easy, once you learn the tools, but with webcams and chat it’s not very different to playing in person. When we play in person, I generally print out maps—or use a TV screen to show digital maps—everyone sits round and uses their own tokens and character figurines. In-person gaming tends to take a bit more effort in setting up, but the vibe doing it in person is great. Everyone at my table tends to use real dice, whether online or in person. You can always use digital dice, but there’s something that feels much nicer about rolling real dice.
What makes a really good game of D&D, for you?
A good game of D&D gets everyone sharing, and generally laughing. Stories can sometimes be dark or scary, but being able to have a good laugh about what’s happening to your characters is the best bit of it all. It’s amazing how quickly weird little things become in-jokes and things to laugh about. During my most recent game, a player chose to be a life cleric in service to a god of home, comfort and fresh baked bread—the god was quickly named by the table as Hovis.
How do you go about crafting your personal character? How do they reflect the real you?
I’m trapped as a Forever DM. I’ve only been able to play a character once. I tend to play with setting up characters to learn new rules and in the hope I’ll one day get to play. My characters all tend to have a magic component to them, and I try to do something a little unexpected with their backstory, but I’m not sure I have many common themes to make them like me.
Is there a particular book, movie, show or fantasy world you feel like you’re in when you’re playing D&D?
My games of D&D always put me in mind of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels. Stories and challenges can be dark, challenging, even troubling, but there’s a thread of silliness in the background, which is always great when trying to explore a world full of treasure chests that might eat you and bronze dragons that just want a good chat.
What is your favourite type of adventure, and why?
I love an old-fashioned, end-of-the-world quest, with plenty of risk if the players can’t resolve the problem and lots of impact on the world around them to make the players feel like they’ve got something to lose.
What is your favourite race/class to play, and why? And if you could invent a new one, what would it be?
I haven’t been able to play as a PC very much, but I love druids—both for their flexibility when playing and for the links to nature and the world—plus who wouldn’t like to have the option to turn into a bear or a dinosaur in the middle of the street?
What’s the most memorable or unique way a DM has kicked off a campaign?
A pig with a ‘wand of speak’ to animals bursts through a tavern door; it’s a gnome that’s been turned into a pig, and is desperately seeking help. I loved it so much that I still use it to kick off one shots.
What magic item or skill does your character have that you’d like to bring into your real life?
I’d love to have the druid’s ability to turn into an animal. I can’t think of a nicer way to get around town than turning into a bird.
Do you have any D&D tips or tricks you can share?
There’s a huge amount of digital resources available for D&D. Don’t limit yourself to physical books when you can use tools like D&D Beyond to search for rules, ideas and content. Building a character sheet can be a bit tricky, especially for a new player. Using digital versions can do a lot of leg work for you and save a lot of confusion, as well as working out some of the less well-known rules.
What do you love most about Dungeons & Dragons?
The way it brings people together. All you need is a bit of imagination and the ability to work with your friends.
What words of encouragement would you give to someone who hasn’t played Dungeons & Dragons before, but is thinking of trying it?
Try not to be intimidated by the amount of content. The players handbook is 300-plus pages, which can make it feel impossible to get started. The rules you need to be able to start playing could fit onto one side of paper. Start off with the basics—and a DM who’s done a bit more reading, if you can find one—and add in rules as you go. It’s your game and your world, and as long as everyone’s having fun, it doesn’t matter if you’re not following every rule in the book.
To find out more about Dungeons & Dragons, to access game resources or to connect with the community, head to the official D&D wesbite.
