In the midst of the satanic panic of the 80s, Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) seemed like a threat to humanity. A roleplaying game filled with spellcasting and devilry, D&D shook many conservative circles who believed it to be devil worship. Nowadays, the mindset of D&D being evil has simmered out and many now accept it as a creative hobby instead of a destructive vice.
D&D is a collaborative tabletop roleplaying game that uses dice as a randomizer to leave some of the game up to chance. The game was created in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson and has five different editions with differing rules and playable characters. The Milford High School D&D club, started in the 2023-24 school year, uses the fifth and latest edition, released in 2014. The club’s adventuring parties are large with around five to nine players at each table while three to five players are typically recommended. The Dungeon Master (DM) runs the campaigns, directing players towards certain actions and helping advance the story. The club meets multiple times per week, typically Tuesdays and Thursdays, with meetings taking around two hours. They use a mixture of online and physical resources, such as online character sheets and using the Smartboard and dice for combat.
The Milford D&D club is heavily student-led, with the primary leader (or DM) being Milford sophomore Aiden Vanning, who runs the sessions using preset campaigns from D&D manuals. He began playing in middle school, fluctuating between being a player or a DM. Vanning is one of the founding members of the club, which he wanted to create since middle school. “I’ve really liked D&D since like sixth or seventh grade,” stated Vanning. “As soon as I got here I started trying to do it.”
Last year Vanning was able to manage meetings himself, but due to the rapid increase in members this year, Lorenzo-Tuan Avelone, a senior at MHS, is stepping in to be an assistant DM while also partially being a player. While Avelone is stepping in to be assistant DM, his true calling comes from being a player. “My favorite part of being a player is the aspect of creativity as well as generally goofing off,” he noted. He has played D&D since freshman year and enjoys the D&D club because it allows him to connect with people in different grade levels.
The club is sponsored by Kaylene Robbins, a World History and Senior Government teacher at MHS. Robbins had no prior experience with D&D, but when her students approached her and asked her to be the club sponsor, she agreed. “I’ve been wanting to start something like that,” Robbins stated. “I think it’s a neat opportunity for a lot of kids to be together and have fun.” The club provides those interested in D&D with a place to be introduced to the game, especially because it requires multiple people to play.
To join the club, new members just need to show up to meetings. From there, they’re instructed on how to create a character and put into one of the groups. The next meeting will be held in room 313 on Nov. 7. The club is a fantastic and welcoming environment for those who are interested in gaming, gold, and glory.