Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), the iconic tabletop role-playing game (RPG), has surged in popularity since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic; Archie Williams is no exception. Originally invented in 1974, D&D typically consists of three to six players who take on roles as protagonists in a story, and use their abilities to solve various problems presented by a Dungeon Master (DM), the leader and crafter of the game. While many pre-written adventures exist, DM’s are encouraged to make their own “homebrew” worlds, or campaigns, which often span multiple sessions, and utilize rulebooks to keep gameplay fair and consistent.

Often, the situations that players are presented with require them to roll dice, leaving the result up to chance. Archie Williams senior Ford Cocciolo has been playing D&D since sixth grade, and finds this aspect of the game especially intriguing.

“I think the aspect of chance and the dice is really cool, because you aren’t really making the story yourself. Sometimes a lot of it just comes to you. So it’s kind of like watching a movie in that way, where the dice create things instead of you having to be creative yourself,” Ford said.

Archie Williams D&D players seeking community frequent Revolution 9, a game store located in Fairfax that hosts a D&D club on Fridays. Former Archie Williams student Amin al-Jamal has been playing at Revolution 9 since 2008, and has seen a series of different generations of players cycle throughout the years.

“As I got into high school, middle schoolers started to come, and when they were in high school, I was in community college, and then they cycled out. And then a [final] generation started when they were in middle school, and they brought their friends. The weird ecological way that the system replaces itself is very surprising to see,” al-Jamal said.

Many D&D players played similar tabletop games before they began playing D&D, including Ford.

“I made up story games with my friends and made up characters and told stories with each other. I’ve been doing that since first grade, but we didn’t [use] dice”, Ford said.

Al-Jamal has been developing a game unrelated to D&D since the Revolution 9 club began and has been playing it there since its creation.

“When I was about 15, [my friends and I] began to write games… The first game that we really began to put our juices into was Galaxy Raiders, and every couple of years there has been a new version, and now we’re on the sixth version of the game… The game has been played and iterated upon by over 100 people,” al-Jamal said.

D&D was the first ever commercially available RPG and has remained a cornerstone of the genre. For many, the game’s legacy is part of its appeal, such as White Hill Middle School seventh grader and Revolution 9 club member Bo Barnhart.

“[D&D is] a classic. It’s just so big, and it was the first RPG. It’s been around since 1974,” Bo said.

D&D has seen an immense increase in popularity over the past several years. In 2020 alone, it saw sales increase by 33 percent, according to CNBC. This can be attributed to a shift in pop culture, as several shows, including That ‘70s Show and The Big Bang Theory, have either alluded to the game or have mentioned it directly. The popular show Stranger Things prominently features D&D in its storyline, and many of the supernatural elements reference those found in the realm of D&D. This cultural embrace is something al-Jamal has seen firsthand.

“Around 2013 to 2014, this brewing, kind of geek culture broke through mainstream. And basically, pop culture and celebrities became dominated by nerd things. Basically everyone admitted to themselves that they were into Star Wars, and so on,” al-Jamal said.

The rise of online tools like Roll20 and D&D Beyond has further fueled this renewed interest. They have allowed players to run campaigns, or series of game sessions, virtually. These platforms not only allow D&D to be more streamlined and accessible, but also expand access to the game and further its popularity.

Prior to the new geek culture, al-Jamal recalls playing D&D in a much different environment in his childhood.

“I do remember [D&D] being a super niche thing, and even other nerds were not really comfortable with RPGs. I would go into Game Club [at Archie Williams], and most people would be playing games like Magic: The Gathering, chess, Monopoly, and other more tactical games. Whenever I wanted to play an RPG, only like two or three people would be game for it, and it was a struggle to keep it alive,” al-Jamal said.

While al-Jamal once found that the community consisted of a specific group, Ford now finds the community to be incredibly diverse. They believe that D&D allows players to express alternate identities.

“D&D is a form of escape, so it attracts all kinds of people who are looking for that, but also you can really be anyone if you are in a D&D world. I know a lot of people who are stereotypically in different cliques at school who all play D&D together. I’m always surprised by people who play D&D,” Ford said.

As D&D continues to grow in popularity, the community at Archie Williams shows no signs of slowing down. Students and veterans alike remain committed to building worlds, rolling dice, and crafting unforgettable stories.