Save one D20 at a time

I was in high school the last time I played Dungeon & Dragons. The dungeon master was a goth boy and was someone who would not make eye contact with girls unless he had +3 charisma but had his own dice. I spent two rounds and was eaten in gelatinous cubes, deciding that my imagination was probably suitable for creative writing. So I can imagine my surprise when I learn that in twin cities the Dungeon & Dragons community is not only thriving, but also thriving in something similar to the grassroots movement. And instead of “Go to Comic-Con and talk about the Elves,” was this something deeper, more vibrant and dare to be innovative? The Minneapolis-based organizations are called Dragons, Dungeons and Drinks. It was founded by Renny, a daytime relationship therapist and fantasy world builder. Rennie is joined by Marcus Sheiler, a marketing manager whose straight, white cisgender resume usually makes him co-owner of a odd, central game group. But here's the plot twist. It works. They've created more than game nights. It agrees that the only line where the problem is drawn on the map is the sanctuary, and that everyone fights the dragons rather than each other. Dragons, Dungeon & Drink Games are queer people who have not played board games since “Candyland” gathered together and became adventurers, nerds, introverts, extroverts, and people who have not become adventurers, nerds, introverts, extroverts, fun, noisy, welcoming experiences. It is the space that Renny describes as “queer-coded,” and for those unfamiliar, it means that the values ​​of the LGBTQ+ community are embedded in the structure – radical inclusion, empathy, and safety. Marcus rang out in terms I'd never heard before, but I quickly loved it: radical diversity. It's not diversity as a performance or checkbox, but the numbers are impressive in its commitment to building a space where everyone, especially those that have historically been excluded, may belong. What began as four events a year has grown into a thriving network of over 1,500 adventurers. They host normal adventures, happy hour runs, board game nights, and even plain family programming at the Twin City Pride Culture Arts Center. And yes, they bring D&D to people – at the ghost mall, at the Pride Festival, last month they held their first adventure in Duluth. Their five-year plan? It will expand its community-driven D&D hub to Chicago and then expand to 1,000 miles of America. It's ambitious, but Frodo also left Shire.