I feel like I should celebrate D&D’s birthday. Not just buy whatever “50th Anniversary Special Edition” books and tchotchkes the trademark’s present owner will put out; but really celebrate it, personally, with other people.
I’m just a little bit older than the game itself. I first played it when I was around 8 or 9, I think, when a friend of mine handed me a character and then demonstrated that he, as DM, had absolute control over me. The first edition I owned for myself was Moldvay Basic. When I was 10, I started my school’s D&D club (we met once). I didn’t play every year since, but the game has had a lasting influence on me. A fascination with ancient, classical and Medieval history; a love of reading and writing; a facility for complex systems of rules (helps with everything from dealing with technology to doing taxes); and the development of some social skills in an otherwise very shy guy. Not to mention countless hours of imaginative fun, and some lifelong friendships.
How will I celebrate D&D’s 50th?? I don’t know yet! I need to brainstorm.
Ideas Of Various Quality & Practicality:
- Put on a big Medieval dinner party for my friends
- Run a nostalgic adventure featuring iconic D&D monsters and dungeon tropes
- “An owlbear, a beholder and a gelatinous cube walk into a bar.”
- Dedicate the year to teaching new players how to play (including how to DM)
- Finally publish one of my adventures, or game worlds, or some of my writings on how to be a better DM
- …
Outside The Red Box 