What inspired you to start the monthly youth D&D sessions at the Center?
I love tabletop gaming and thought it would be fun to run a game at the Center – I definitely wasn’t expecting it to turn into a years-long program, but I’m so happy it did. It didn’t take long to see how D&D can be really useful for nurturing social skills, critical thinking, and providing opportunities for gender affirming play. Also, it’s really fun!
What’s your favorite part of leading a game for young players, and do they need to come knowing how to play?
By the best part of leading these games is that I truly never know what the players are going to do. I come in with a plan, and suddenly it gets turned completely upside down. Players definitely don’t need any previous experience to join the games. Each game is an individual story, so it’s easy to jump into, and I scale the difficulty to match each individual player’s level and ability. I’m always happy to pause and explain the rules, and I’ve made simplified character sheets for brand new players.
What’s the funniest or most unexpected thing that’s happened during a session?
During a vampire pirate-themed game, one player grapped a horse for their miniature and committed to being a talking horse for the entire game that had been enchanted. They committed so well to the roleplay and accepted all the difficult skill checks I gave them. I think the horse even got the final blow against the big bad vampire captain.
Another moment that comes to mind is a player summoning a very large shark in a very small hallway without thinking of the consequences.
If your personality had a D&D character stat, which one would be your highest?
Charisma would be my highest, and Constitution would be my lowest. I can hold my own in a room full of people, but if someone in that room has a cold, I’m gonna catch it.
Outside of D&D, what’s something that brings you joy?
Creative writing! I love writing my own stories and also love writing game modules for D&D. I think my experience with D&D has definitely made me a better writer.
