I recently had the opportunity to attend a showing of the play “She Kills Monsters” performed by a nearby college group.
“She Kills Monsters” is a play written by Qui Nguyen that explores the world of fantasy role-playing games. This play tells the story of a young woman, Agnes Evans, who is dealing with the death of her teenage sister Tilly. Agnes attempts to learn more about her younger sister and understand her fascination with D&D by using her sister’s D&D journals. By playing the adventure written by her sister, Agnes gains an understanding of Tilly that she never had during her life.
I found the play to be very enjoyable and thought provoking. “She Kills Monsters” raises many questions about why people play role-playing games.
RPGs are wonderfully creative outlets for social interaction However, as touched on in the play “She Kills Monsters”, one of the biggest draw to playing D&D is that it allows us all to escape the limits of our physical world and explore different aspects of ourselves.
My Observations
In the years I have played RPGs, I have noted that the choices and actions taken by each PC often reflects some aspect of their personality.
In the real world, we seldom have the chance to safely experiment with different parts of our personality. In an RPG, a player can design a character that is not tied to their physical limitations.
I have found that my players often pick characters that reflect the best version of themselves. In playing D&D, young Rose the Ranger chooses to become the Protector of the Small – savior to small animals. In real life, Rose is studying biology and wants to work with endangered species. Over the years, her apartment has been filled with numerous small animals she cares for. Many were rescues that she saved and nursed back to health. These wonderful qualities of Rose shine when she plays D&D.
Sasle the Pirate is introverted and somewhat shy in real life. In the fantasy world of D&D, another version of Sasle comes through. Her character lights up whenever there is a chance to save an innocent who is being held captive. Her desire to free others from captivity can be seen in real life once you know where to look. I have seen the dedicated love she has for her spouse and family, as she does all she can to help them in times of sickness and trouble.
But what about those PCs that are not always so noble?
A Chance to Explore and Grow
For other players, RPGs are a safe venue to explore both good and bad attributes. Some PCs act greedy, rushing in to grab the treasure, and letting the innocent suffer. Others are in it for a good fight. But this is not always a direct reflection of the person playing the character.
My dear cousin Desvada is a devoted father and teacher with many demands on his time. In real life, he has limited opportunities to spend time for himself as he is frequently parenting or mentoring students.
But in an RPG, you don’t have to always be selfless. I see Desvada’s character take off and leave his party behind. “Don’t split the party” they say. But for Desvada’s character, this is a chance to go off and look for knowledge. He can do what he wants to do without worrying about everyone else.
Over the years, I have seen other characters such as Ragarr the Minotaur obsessed with the quest for treasure. To heck with saving the damsel and being a hero! He just wants the thrill of combat and to see what magic item he’ll find in the next hoard.
Perhaps over the years, Ragarr’s PC will change as he explores other characteristics. Maybe he will become bored with combat and try his claw at something different.
Everything is possible in your imagination!
My Personal Growth
When I first started playing D&D 30-some years ago, I often chose to play a ranger. I felt safest standing back and letting other rush to the battle. I would hide behind a tree and help out where I could, afraid to get into the thick of things.
As I got older, I learned to take more chances and not be afraid to step to the front. I encountered my worst fears in real life and learned I could survive anything. There were worse fates than losing HP.
So over time I decided to step to the front and try my hand at being a bard. I wanted to inspire others by sharing the lessons I had learned. After becoming a bard as a player in my D&D adventures, I had the courage to become a bard in real life.
This is what lead me to write these stories I am sharing now!
Choose Your Role Wisely!
When I’m done playing a D&D session, I feel so alive. The experience in the campaign feels so real, even though I know we are all just playing roles. But these roles give us the opportunity to become more.
My friends, it really is true that life is an adventure story and we are the stars. We can all choose to play heroes. Playing D&D gives us the opportunity to take a chance, to grow, and to be the best version of ourselves.
What does your PC tell about you?
Bitzy the Bard
“Life is an adventure story and you are the star. Choose to play a hero!”
