it’s fun.
at the end of the day, that’s what it boils down to. It’s truly that simple. I love dnd because I have fun while playing it. So what is it about playing dnd that’s so fun? Let’s break it down.
Before I get into what makes dnd fun, let me quickly explain what dnd is:
Dnd stands for “dungeons and dragons” which is a brand of table top role playing game (ttrpg). Some ttrpg folks hate that I do this, but when I say “dnd” i’m almost always using the term as a synonym for “ttrpg.” In fact, I often use them interchangeably. is that technically correct? No – But I also call facial tissues “Kleenex” and I think people who try to argue about that are being pedantic. Same thing when I use the term dnd. Okay, with that out of the way, what is dnd?
dnd is a collaborative storytelling game with a defined set of rules for the way the players interact with the story they’re telling together. Players will always be taking on the “persona” of a specific character (or multiple characters) and Often, ttrpgs use dice for determining the outcomes of actions the players are attempting in the story.
Is dnd more complex than that? well, the rules for particular types of ttrpgs can be – for sure. some rulesets are HUNDREDS of pages long (nerd!). But at the core, that’s what dnd is. So with that out of the way, lets talk about what it is that I think makes dnd so fun:
It’s social
The #1 reason I enjoy playing dnd is because it’s a perfect opportunity to spend time with other people. I like board games for a similar reason. I’m a huge fan of board games – but one board game style I’ve never liked are the solo games. It’s antithetical to my primary reason to playing. in general, dnd involves playing with (at a minimum) 2 players – but most of the time you’re in a group of about 4 to 6 people.
Hanging out with people is generally a fun thing to do. And when you’re hanging out with people in an organized setting doing an activity that everyone enjoys, the fun can be amplified. Now, some people don’t mesh well. that’s just life. personalities clash, humor lands different, etc. I think that in general if you’ve got a group of people that you like being around in your party, then you’ve got more than 50% of the secret to having fun unlocked.
it’s creative
Not all people think of themselves as particularly creative. and in the same way, dnd probably isn’t for everyone. I’ve led my fair share of games as a DM (the person that guides the story along during the session and does most of the preparing for the game) and I can tell you from personal experience that it’s possible some people’s brains just aren’t cut out for games where there’s a heavy role-playing (improvised pretending) requirement. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways that the creativity-challenged could have fun playing dnd. but it does mean that if you’re the type of person that says “I’m terrible at thinking creatively or having an imaginative mind” well – you’re probably going to struggle a bit.
but for the rest of us, creativity and imagination are incredibly fun aspects of the human experience. there’s a reason why artists commit their lives to honing their craft, or musicians spend countless hours perfecting their control over an instrument. expression is a genuinely fun thing to experience, and for many of us, we don’t get the chance to experience the expression of creativity or imagination in our everyday lives. dnd gives the perfect excuse to unlock that guarded part of your mind that hasn’t seen the light of day since elementary school.
It’s emotional
This one probably isn’t something you would have expected. Dnd can be a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, it can involve heart-wrenching stories of betrayal or loss. for others, Valiant uplifting narratives of good overcoming evil. While it typically doesn’t show up at new-player tables, deep emotional threads are common around the dnd table and are a huge part of the reason that dnd players the world over love gathering together to tell stories.
For me though, there’s a another emotion that I’m seeking out at almost every table I’m a part of: mirth. That’s right, some good ol’ fashioned laughter. goofs. gags. bits. You name it, my tables have probably experienced it. IT’s so easy for me to let loose and be silly around a table where a bunch of adults are playing pretend. the absurdity of that reality alone breaks down a lot of barriers to taking ourselves too seriously. I play dnd because it’s fun. There are some people who play for other reasons. For me, about the most fun that I can have is sitting around a table with a group of friends laughing until i’m streaming tears because someone yelled “MY STUFF!” – sorry, I guess you had to be there. being there – that brings me to my next point
it’s accessible
in general, most dnd systems are free to play some basic version of their rules. By far the most popular version of dnd is the namesake “Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition” lovingly/loathingly called by nerds the world over as “5e”.
Dnd can be played with zero financial investment. Grab a sheet of paper, use a dice roller on your phone, read through a ruleset and get playing. It’s also incredibly accessible in terms of the platforms you can play on. Discord offers tons of opportunities to play with friends or strangers through video calls or even by playing through text only. whatever your situation, you can find a game to play in that doesn’t require anything of you other than your willingness to play and the time commitment to make it happen.
fun. the ultimate benchmark
I’ve been dming for a long time now. I’ve led a lot of sessions over the years. The one thing I’ve learned and harp on for all of my tables is this: dnd should be fun. the moment we’re not having fun around the table is the moment that we should stop doing what we’re doing.
there is no “purpose” (for most people) to playing dnd other than to engage in a leisure activity that’s enjoyable. long campaigns can begin to feel like a burden – especially when life gets in the way of commitments you made to a particular bi-weekly night 3 years ago. I know – I’ve been there.
dnd should be fun. If it’s not fun, cut your losses, do something else. go outside – touch grass.