A Message from Dungeon Master Ben.

Thank you for your interest! I truly appreciate when people want to give Dungeons & Dragons a chance. Each game and group are often very different, and the kind of experience I present will also be different. I run games on the evenings of Tuesdays and Fridays.

On Fridays I present a game with more complex interactions. This means the story has a mixture of action, adventure, mystery, puzzles, social observations and moral dilemmas. Some people really like this kind of story, other people don’t. On Tuesdays I present a simpler set of options. This means the story still has action, adventure and some social observations and moral dilemmas. But it won’t have as much mystery or puzzles. If people want a game where they have clearer choices in front of them and not as much uncertainty, I recommend this evening to try things out. Some people really like the clear decisions and faster pace, other people get bored by it and want more mystery.

Let me be clear: Both games will involve making choices and solving problems. Both games will have one-of-a-kind characters that make decisions based on their opinions.

The players should usually make decisions that will benefit:

• a group
• people the group members care about
• and societies the group members belong to or want to protect.

I encourage heroic characters who want to do good! One reality we have to consider is that it is for autistic young people. More than anything else, it needs to be a safe space and comfortable place for people with different support needs.

I expect the Tuesday group will have autistic young people who need help with focus and explanation. If a new person doesn’t think they would feel comfortable around others who need that help, then I want to explain that from the start. I also know that some people feel very comfortable when helping others as group members, specifically with focus or explanation. These can be great friends or allies. It’s part of the magic of what D&D can bring. For these people, I strongly encourage them to try whatever game they can join! If they cannot, however, it may mean they have to wait for a different group. It may mean that they give Tuesday a try anyway. If they try and don’t feel comfortable, then they just have to let me know. I will respect that.

I hope this helps to understand something about the kind of games I run and if you think it something you can do now or at a later time. Have courage, adventurer!

Thanks, Ben Warner

Young Adult Support Group Coordinator
Dungeons and Dragons (DND) Group Coordinator