Tuks Gaming Society creating fantastic worlds on campus

The Tuks Gaming Society is back on campus for regular Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) games this semester, after two years of playing exclusively online. Though D&D and other tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) can be played online, half of the fun is in creating a collaborative, fantastical story with others around the same table.The society is offering anyone who wants to get involved the chance to delighty in a nerdy hobby. Combining improvisational acting, dice rolling and a lot of imagination, D&D allows players to step into a fantasy world and create a collaborative narrative (whether that be in a single session game or a campaign consisting of an extended story told over many gaming sessions). The DM (Dungeon Master, also known as the Game Master) takes on the role of creating a world in which the player’s characters can explore, fight epic battles and create chaos. The element of dice rolling to determine the players’ success adds a level of unpredictability that makes every game exciting. The game is growing exponentially in popularity thanks to online streams such as Critical Role and Dimension 20, as well as TV series like Stranger Things showcasing the hobby.

According to Marco Vermuelen, the chairperson of Tuks Gaming Society, 180 members signed up to the society at the beginning of the year, which indicates both the growing interest in D&D and the bonds that can be built through the game. It is a great activity to meet new people on campus, make friends and stretch one’s imagination in a setting that fosters fun and creativity. In fact, it is often creative approaches to the game that yield the most memorable results. Though many familiar with D&D may think of it as a game to ‘win’, the storyline within a game can in fact be flexible enough to create unexpected moments. For instance, many obstacles found in the game can be overcome through peaceful methods, provided the player’s characters have the skills to do so. A recent example from one of the society’s sessions involved a troll on the run from a horde of goblins. The players, instead of simply seeing the troll as a threat, decided to try to save the troll. This created a far more engaging and unexpected narrative moment than wouldn’t have occurred if they had chosen to engage in combat instead.

Tuks Gaming Society currently runs its games on Tuesdays and Fridays in the Graduate Centre, room 2 from 17:00 to 22:00. The games are structured in a way that allows new players to drop in and out of the games depending on which sessions they can attend. So, anyone who wishes to try out a game also does not need to commit to playing in an extended story campaign.

The society also has plans to receive sponsorships which will give them access to more resources, including dice sets and handbooks that expand the D&D world. They also have a Discord server for society members to socialise and strategise between games, as well as numerous other video games and board games on offer. Anyone with a creative streak and a love of all things gaming will feel most welcome.