When it was first created, Dungeons & Dragons was a niche and unpopular game. Fast forward about 50 years and several editions later, and D&D is known by many, but a ton of people have still never played it. Whether that’s due to a lack of knowledge, not having anyone to play it with, or not having any materials, you don’t have to worry about any of that anymore if you join the new D&D club at Lodi High School. Even if you’ve never even heard of it, you’re more than welcome to join. The club is run by Mr. Heimerman and Mr. Birkholz in room 1102 in the English wing. They play between 3:13 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, but if you join Mr. Heimerman’s intervention, he or one of the club members can help you create a character.

When asked what students should know about the club, Mr. Heimerman said, “I would like them to know that it is a fun outlet for their creativity, that it is the type of game that has something that should appeal to everyone if they find the right people to play with. The club is for all interested students. No experience necessary. Anyone who wants to have fun and socialize with other students is welcome to join.”

Mr. Birkholz said students can expect “a welcoming environment where you can have fun with friends while learning about the game.” He thinks students should join the club because, “it gives students a chance to kind of express themselves through different characters; it gives them a chance to expand their world view by seeing the world through somebody else’s eyes, and it gives them a great chance to meet new people in the school.”

“I’m just really excited about how many students have joined the club and to see how the club develops over the next year,” Birkholz added. “It’s really exciting to see D&D come to a place where people are more open to want to play it.”

For those who don’t know, D&D is a tabletop role-playing game, or TTRPG for short. It takes you through fantasy worlds and stories and into dungeons that are full of interesting items and encounters. It’s a game that’s full of adventure, and you can do almost anything your heart desires.

The students in the club are excited about it too. Kristiana Hinzmann wanted to say, “I think my favorite part is making characters. I just really like using my imagination to make characters.” Another student, Atlas Anderson, when asked what their favorite part of the club is, said, “Probably just the whole campaign and how we have a big group of people getting together to play D&D and have fun.”

As a closing note, Hinzmann said, “I’ve had a lot of fun, and I think if more people knew about it, they would join. Some people want to play; they just need a push to actually play.”