The Virtual Record of My Opinionated Rantings

What is passion? Is it a fleeting thing that overwhelms the senses and fills the self with a sense of euphoria and obsession, or could it be a result of one embracing a topic as a result of an intense appreciation for it? Is it something else entirely? Regardless of what scholars will define it as, we all have at least one. I, for one, have many, ranging from politics to kittens to theatre, but I believe the one I will share with the vast host of individuals the Internet consists of is my passion for Dungeons and Dragons.

Dungeons and Dragons, henceforth referred to as “D&D” is a pencil-and-paper role playing game that made its debut in 1974. Despite the poor reputation it has acquired for supposedly being an occult practice and for being a home to smelly 30-year-old men in their mother’s basements, it’s really a harmless way for nerds to express themselves creatively and showcase their ability to on-up one another through “Munchkin-ing,” or exploiting loopholes found in the rules to make a character overpowered. Also note that of my gaming group all of them smell fine, none of them over 25 live in their mothers basement, and only one of them is actually 30. As proof, here is a picture of my old gaming group.

I shouldn't delve too deeply into rules and lingo without at least explaining what the game is. In a D&D session, a group of four to six players is led by a GM, or Game Master. The players each portray a character who is some sort of heroic, while the GM controls all of the adversaries or plot-essential characters who assist by contributing pieces of knowledge or equipment. The players embark on quests in which they earn “XP,” or experience points which help them to make their characters more powerful. There are battles whose outcomes are determined by rolls of the dice.

I could write about the technical aspects or the stereotypes until I get carpal tunnel, but I believe this video will give you the best idea of what D&D is…or at least how most people imagine it.

That is my passion, as nerdy as it may be. On the up side, I’m one of very few girls involved, which means that I am subconsciously favored by most GMs. In short, this means that I am less likely to die or fail at anything I attempt simply by the grace of my nature.

Dungeons and Dragons: It’s a beautiful thing.

I do believe that this is what we as a generation lovingly refer to as a "blog." Here, my assumed audience, is where you will find my opinions and thoughts as they are being recorded for my class on the Media. I will try to keep this as interesting as I can in the hopes of gathering an audience that extends past my professor.

Hello.
I'm Victoria, Tori, or Hey You.
I think, therefore I am.
I imagine, therefore I am free.

Enjoy your stay in my mind!