Dungeons and Dragons

Life is a story you create. Come and join us to create some new stories with problem solving, creative solutions and out of the box thinking. Just like getting to know new people at an event where everyone pretends to be someone else. Is that brilliance or madness? Or just an excuse to have some fun? Either way, it will be a relaxed experience to end this academic year and kick off summer.

Joining forces with YoungRug we are going to play Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). You may know it from Stranger Things, Critical Role, Baldr’s Gate or the movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. 

Dungeons & Dragons is a cooperative tabletop role-playing game where the players create characters, explore imagined worlds, and weave a shared story. One player, the Dungeon Master (DM), describes scenes, controls monsters, and interprets rules, while everyone else role-plays their own characters who solve puzzles, bargain with allies, and battle foes. Play unfolds through conversation, choice, and rolling dice that add excitement and unpredictability.

That DM might say: “You enter the alley, but you don’t see the figure you were chasing. You do see a few big wooden crates on the left side. A few meters further into the alley you see a pile of tarp to the right; or perhaps it is a tent of sorts? Behind that you see a rickety ladder that leads into an open window. -Clang- you hear a loud bang and now see at the end of the alley a door that banged shut and is now slowly swinging open again. … What do you do”

Who Should Attend?

This session is for everyone who would like to meet some colleagues around the university. But specifically for those who feel comfortable with having fun in public while seriously talking about slaying monsters or vanquishing the bandit captain. Check the character descriptions below if this sounds like a game for you.

We’re hoping to accommodate 40 players, spread over 10 tables. For that we’re also still looking for 3 extra DM’s

Experience and preparation

No prior knowledge or experience playing D&D or other role playing games is required. However, you are expected to have read (not necessarily understood) the game material before the start of the game. The game material will be sent a week before the session and will comprise of your character sheet and a page or 2 with some basic rules and terminology. You mainly need to understand what things your character is good at. Then during the game you can just say what your character does, and the DM can help you with which dice to roll to see if your character succeeds.

Schedule

It will be at Thursday 10th of july 12:30 - 17:00 at the Smitsborg at Zernike 

12:30 - 13:00 Walk-in and ask questions about your character sheet

13:00 - 17:30 Playing the game

17:30 - ... [optional] dinner at your own cost at a restaurant near the city center

Character Descriptions

Fighter (easy rules)

Character Summary: The Battle-Hardened Wall (Half-Orc Fighter, Level 2)

You are a strong, heavily-armored warrior — built to take hits and protect others. With your sword, shield, and chain mail, you're like a walking fortress. You don’t think fast or speak fancy, but in a fight, you’re the one charging in first and standing your ground when everyone else backs off.

Your job is simple: hit things hard and make sure your allies stay safe. You can swing a longsword or throw axes if the enemy is at a distance. You also know how to grapple enemies — stopping them from running away. You’re physically tough and can take a lot of damage before going down.

You have special tricks to stay in the fight:

• Second Wind lets you heal yourself once when you’re hurt.

• Action Surge lets you do twice as much in one turn.

• You can even protect nearby allies by blocking damage with your shield as a reaction.

Before and after combat things always need mending. Your experience allows you to mend any small tear or break. 

In short: You’re not fast or clever, but you’re strong, brave, and incredibly hard to take down. Your presence in battle gives your team the time and space to win.

Rogue (easy rules)

Character Summary: The Sneaky Little Bastard (Human Rogue, Level 2)

You are a sly, nimble rogue — a master of sneaking, stealing, and stabbing. You're fast, clever, and people rarely notice you until it's too late. You're great at moving silently, hiding in the shadows, and picking pockets or locks. You’re especially good at slipping into places you don’t belong and taking what isn’t yours — preferably without being seen.

In a fight, you're not a heavy hitter, but you're precise. You strike where it hurts, especially when enemies are distracted or don’t see you coming. That’s when you use a Sneak Attack for extra damage. You’re deadly with a dagger up close or a blowdart from a distance. You can also move quickly or disappear into cover using a free action.

Outside of combat, you excel at noticing hidden things and avoiding traps. People tend to distrust you, and you don’t make friends easily — you’re not charming, and there's just something about you that rubs others the wrong way.

In short: You’re not the strongest or most lovable, but you’re sharp, fast, and always one step ahead — the perfect rogue for getting in, getting out, and leaving others wondering what just happened.

Druid (advanced rules)

Character Summary: The Nature-Wise Guardian (Dwarven Druid, Level 2)

You are a druid — a wise protector of nature, healer of the wounded, and master of natural magic. Though you can’t read regular books, you read people well and understand the world better than most. You can also understand druidic signs. You fight not with brute strength or speed, but with clever magic and natural power.

In combat, you can strike with a wooden staff or use Thorn Whip to lash enemies from a distance and pull them closer. You can also gently push enemies with a magical Gust of Wind. When an ally gets hurt you can take some of that damage onto yourself. When things get serious, you can cast limited, but powerful spells like Ice Knife, which explodes and harms groups of enemies — even if you miss! Or quickly heal a friend using Healing Word. 

Your greatest trick: you can transform into an animal. Become a rat to sneak, a spider to climb, or a wolf to fight with teeth and fury. This change lasts for an hour or until you're hurt too much.

During your years in the forest you learned a few rituals that allow you to speak with animals, detect poison in food, or clear said poison.

In short: You’re a flexible problem-solver. You adapt to every challenge — by spell, shape, or instinct — and your wisdom keeps your group alive and moving forward.

Bard (slightly advanced rules)

Character Summary: The Flashy Fool (Elven Bard, Level 2)
You are a smooth-talking elven bard — part performer, part trickster, part magical headache. You fight with a rapier in one hand and a sharp insult in the other. You’re clever, confident, and probably convinced you’re the most important person in the room (you might be right).

In a fight, you're not built for brute strength, but you shine in style and support. You can hurt enemies with a cutting remark (Vicious Mockery), distract them with illusions, or charm them into thinking you're their best friend. You can even shout encouragement mid-battle to boost your allies with Bardic Inspiration — magical motivation, basically.

You carry a lute (because of course you do), wear flashy armor, and always have a plan — even if it’s half-baked. Outside of combat, you're great at talking your way out of trouble, blending into different roles with a disguise kit, or spinning stories so convincing people forget what they asked.

You're not the wisest person. You're oblivious to the world around you, since it's so much less interesting than… well, you. When it comes to flair, fast talk, and faking it until you make it, you’re the one everyone wants around — especially when things get weird.