Welcome to the wonderful world of D&D, a fantastic game and hobby that's been a part of popular culture since 1974. Currently in its 5th edition, and having spawned numerous tropes, shows, movies and more, its a game that captures the imagination. As you may have guessed, my character is called
Verrik the Vile, a wizard of considerable infamy among my D&D group, and it is through the lens of this character that I plan on sharing my hobby.
I chose this hobby quite simply because it is one of my favorites. Until very recently, I was part of a group with several other players and would play every Thursday (other obligtions notwithstanding). It's something I've always found to be a lot of fun and has a significant amount of content to explore, so I figured it would be a good fit for this project.
The Game
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop role-playing game where players collaborate to create and explore a fictional world, guided by a structured rule system and the roll of dice—most notably the 20-sided die, or "d20," which determines the success of actions like combat moves or skill checks. The game is overseen by a Dungeon Master (DM), who serves as both narrator and referee, describing immersive settings such as ancient castles, sprawling forests, or shadowy dungeons, and crafting challenges like battling monsters or solving puzzles.
Each player crafts a unique character with distinct traits, skills, and abilities, brought to life through role-playing and decision-making. My character, Verrik the Vile, a wizard of considerable infamy at our table, emerged from a one-shot session in which we each got the chance to give our usual characters a malevolent twist, exploring roles far darker than our typical heroics in a thrilling competition to claim the title of true villain.
The DM's final reveal crowned Verrik as the sinister mastermind of the campagin. Since then, he's evolved into a recurring antagonist in our campaigns, a fan favorite for his flamboyant villainy and creative homebrew spells, classes, and items, which our DM eagerly helps me develop.
D&D's flexibility shines here: it provides core rules in books like the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide, while encouraging creativity through homebrew content—custom additions like Verrik's creations—making every game a blend of storytelling, strategy, and personal flair, adaptable to any kind of play.3