Dungeons and Dragons is known as the first commercially available pen and paper roleplay game in recent history. And that isn’t disputed by anyone. Warhammer 40K was created as a science fiction version of the famous game. Pathfinder took inspiration from Edition 3.5 of Dungeons and Dragons, and is often called “Dungeons and Dragons 3.75.” Heritage just so happens to have its own club dedicated to this game.
Dungeons and Dragons has been around for a while, since 1974, when Gary Gygax first released a boxed set of the Dungeons and Dragons 1st Edition. But now, it’s grown to its 5th Edition, with people discovering it for the first time in a variety of ways thanks to its wide-spread popularity.
“I came about with an already made love and interest with the roleplaying and storytelling, all put into action at an invite of a friend to make a character,” states Charlotte Sherwood ‘29. Sherwood is a Dungeon Master, a person who creates and tells the story in the campaign. She has played a major role in creating the monsters players will fight during their adventures.
But Dungeons and Dragons isn’t just popular because of its widespread fanbase. It’s also because of the flexibility with storytelling and creation Dungeon Masters can attain when building stories. While there are highs and lows, Dungeon Master Hudson Eaby ‘29 shares his enjoyment of his position within the class. “I control the story, and it’s my job to warp it so it’s fun for the players. No matter what, it’s always fun at the end of the day.” Eaby’s campaign may be the smaller of the two main club campaigns, but he doesn’t seem to mind that distinction at all.
Players are also instrumental in the success of a campaign within the club and with the game as a whole. Those who enjoy the game are most commonly players, with their excitement and zeal for the game contributing to its growth and expansion as we come into 2026. But it’s always advice that inspires more people to join and increases popularity. Cole Ferguson ‘29, a player in the campaign “Iascan Legends” run by Dungeon Masters Kota Acimovic ‘29 and Charlotte Sherwood, shares some parting words for anyone hoping to join the club. “Have fun, just pay attention, be creative, don’t limit your ideas, and you’ll get the hang of it.”