LLP Leads Students through D&D Campaign

Community, Creativity and the Campaign!
By Dakota DiBenedetto
LLP Student Intern

Over the last year, the Departmnent of Languages, Literature, and Philosophy has led students on a fantastic quest.  Faculty adviser, Dr. Shane Gomes, initiated a Dungeons and Dragons campaign last Fall, and group has been campaigning ever since. 

Dungeons and Dragons, or D&D, is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game created and designed by Dave Gygax and Dave Arneson. A group of players tell a story, guiding players through dangerous quests such as exploring castles, defeating monsters, and discovering treasure. The popularized game has been seen on TV shows like Big Bang Theory, Stranger Things and Gravity Falls.

TSU Grad student Tarisha Moncrief is an ethusiastic D&D club member. Her alter, Mizuki, is "a sun elf

with beguiler as the race." The character specializes in manipulation, deception as the character is beautiful but not trustworthy.  Through Mizuki, and empowering imagination, Moncrief is able to explore a persona outside of her true character.  

In an interview, we spoke about the nature of D&D, how to play the game, the nerd stereotype, and the accuracy of depiction (or lack thereof) in entertainment. 

What does a typical Dungeons and Dragons game look like for the club?

 A typical campaign starts off with creating a character that classifies into race, class, and alignment. There are 9 alignments, 10 races, and 13 classes, says the 2024 update Players Handbook. Moncrief explains, “there are different types of campaigns you can go on single, multiplayer, hero, and villain quests, it all depends on what the group of players want to do.” The game master plans the campaign meaning they tell the story or journey that is taken.

What got you into playing Dungeons and Dragons?

 “I have always been interested in D&D." It all started with her interest in anime which was used as a branch that got her started in D&D later joining the club.

What is the longest Dungeons and Dragons campaign you have partook in?

 The longest campaign Moncrief has played was for six hours non-stop, although it can go longer. However, since the club meets from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. the maximum the club has played is two hours; they often have to stop and continue playing at the next meeting.

Have you been able to meet new people since joining the club?

 Majority of the people who play D&D are introverted, so this has helped people become more outspoken and come together. It is a good way to meet new people and interact with others that play the game. The game is relaxing and fun which is a good way to not be yourself during the game which is the point of the game.

Learn more about LLP's D&D campaign by reaching out to Faculty Adviser Dr. Shane Gomes.
Click here for "Full Interview with Tarisha Moncrief"