Every Monday after school, Mr. Hendershot’s room 130 is filled with the sounds of conversation and laughter as people and friends gather to enjoy the hobby of tabletop role-playing, the poster child of the genre being Dungeons and Dragons. What even is this game, how do you play, and how do you get into the hobby? These questions, and more, will be answered below in this deep-dive into the club, its past, and its present.
Club History
D&D Club was rife with activity in the 2023-2024 school year, with several groups playing and numerous members. However, many of those members were Seniors, and so graduated, leaving behind an empty shell of what the club once was. The following year, a small group of Sophomores joined the club and were the only members. During this year, they had virtually no publicity or advertising, leading interested people into believing that it no longer existed. However, during Club Rush of the 2025-2026 school year, they had a successful campaign resulting in over a dozen more people joining, bringing the total membership count to over twenty, surpassing its membership in the 23-24 school year. Many of these people remain as regular members of the club to this day.
How Do You Play?
The basic structure of the actual game of D&D is relatively simple: one person is the Dungeon Master (DM), and they are the one who runs the game. Everyone else is a player, each controlling their own character in the world of the game. The game is played like a conversation: the players express what they want their fictional character(s) to do, and the DM decides what happens using a combination of dice rolls, game rules, and/or their raw judgement. The DM doesn’t play any singular characters: they play as every living thing in the fictional world and is the one who dictates what happens outside of the player’s control. What separates this from simply “playing pretend” is the existence of concrete rules and the random chance introduced by dice.
You don’t simply “win” here; the true victory is in the stories created and the enjoyment had. What else are games for, if not for fun?
Who Can Join?
The club is always open to new members. Simply stop by Mr. Hendershot’s room on Mondays after school to join in on the excitement.
What is the Most Exciting Part of the Club?
According to the Club President and several active DMs, the opportunity to hang out with friends (and make new ones), share and exercise your creativity, and the freedom to make your own story are all exciting parts of the club.
What Should Members Take Away From the Club?
The ability to communicate and collaborate (this is a cooperative game, after all), and learning to put yourself out there and work with a team in a non-serious environment are all skills members naturally gain from participating. According to another member, learning that this is a safe and fun place to express yourself and your creativity.
Final Takeaways
D&D Club is a fantastic opportunity for people looking to express their creativity, find new friends, make fun memories, and try out the hobby. If you are one of those people, you can go to Mr. Hendershot’s Room 130 after school on Mondays to join in on the excitement!
