Shall we play a game?

In which my co-author and I entice chat GPT to play Dungeons & Dragons. 

Here's what we wrote for Wired Magazine.

Geeking out about D&D

Sure D&D is fun ... But is it good for you? Over on the DiceGeeks podcast, I discuss this and share stories of growing up playing D&D and its benefits with host Matt Davids. 

Best games against social isolation

I was asked by the Boston Globe to recommend my favorite games --- board and card games, charades-type games, and role-playing games --- to play in person with your quarantine crew or online via video conference. In the story, I recommend Cards against Humanity, Dungeons & Dragons, and Pandemic.

Here are some of my picks that didn't make it into the story:

Dungeon Mayhem: fantasy-based card battle game, family-friendly, multi-player

Pass the Pigs: "dice" game -- like Yahtzee but with pigs, family-friendly, multi-player

"In the manner of": charades-type game, family-friendly, gets you up and moving

Here's the full story.

Some teenagers play football ... others slay dragons.

Some teenagers play football ... others slay dragons. Morified meets Dungeons & Dragons in this new podcast. Take a listen! [I come on at about the 15 min. mark]

http://getmortified.com/episode/179-dungeons-dragons-and-totally-awkward-diaries/

Me, the New York Times and D&D

I wrote this feature story for the New York Times Books section "In a Chaotic World, Dungeons & Dragons Is Resurgent: The role-playing game has made a surprising return to mainstream culture." (published online Nov. 13, 2019; on print Nov. 15). 

Quiz: Trump Administration Dismissal/Resignation or Monster Defeated in My Last D&D Campaign

 

1. Kirstjen Nielsen

2. Demogorgon

3. Manafort

4. Manticore

5. Shulkin

6. Reince Priebus

7. Gibbering Mouther

8. Gorka

9. Owlbear

10. Omaroso

11. Zinke

12. Mimic

13. Mattis

14. Githyanki

15. Scaramucci

16. Tarrasque

17. Slaad

18. Fleitz

19. Rex Tillerson

20. Displacer Beast

[Answers: Trump Dismissal/Resignation: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 19; D&D Monster: 2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17, 20]

© Ethan Gilsdorf

In The Adventure Zone

I was thrilled to be part of this event to launch The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins, the graphic novel adapted from The Adventure Zone comedy and adventure podcast (based loosely on D&D). Brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy, and father Clint McElroy, were in Boston at the Wilbur Theater July 19th, 2018, and I was there to interview them/moderate their on stage antics. Thanks for inviting me!

 

I celebrated the 1980s

I was thrilled to be part of NEON RetroFest in Warwick (Providence) on Aug 24.

 The Providence Journal previewed the event here. 

We played Galaga and Star Castle, and drank Mountain Dew. I talked about "How D&D Changed the World." Peter Bebergal and I nerded out about the 1980s at our "INTELLI-VISION: THE PETER AND ETHAN PUBLIC ACCESS TV SHOW" event-- here's our intro video. Rad!

I wrote about Dungeons & Dragons for the Ted Ideas site

Over at ted.ideas.com website, I wrote "How playing Dungeons & Dragons has helped me be more connected, creative and compassionate" --- in it, I talk about how agency, power, and the imagination can come from fantasy role-playing games. 

Stranger Things have happened

I re-enacted a day from the 1980s, in celebration of the new season of Stranger Things. Read the story here.

Josh Reynold's photo shoot that captured my day below.

I talk D&D on Geek Lyfe

I had a chance to chat about D&D, my book, and other nerdy stuff like if, in the not too distant future, tabletop gaming could disappear completely. Read it here.

The '80s, 'D&D' And Pre-Tech Nostalgia Return In 'Stranger Things'

Why is "Stranger Things," the original Netflix sci-fi series full of 1980s nostalgia, synthesized music, kids on bikes and "Dungeons & Dragons," so popular? How do the references to other 1980s films influence the reception of the TV series? I appeared on WBUR's Radio Boston to discuss. Listen to the archived show here.

The seductive nostalgia of “Stranger Things”

Over at Salon, I wrote a piece called "Just like ’80s nerd heaven: The seductive nostalgia of “Stranger Things” — and my unexpected ambivalence" that explore how Netflix's supernatural show raids my childhood pop-culture loves, from D&D to E.T. — and I admit, I felt conflicted.

Why D&D is good for you: the podcast

The folks at Wizards of the Coast, aka D&D headquarters, kindly invited me to be on their Dragon Talk podcats to pax poetic about D&D and why it's so good for you. Hope you enjoy. You can also grab it on iTunes here.

I gave a TedX talk "Why Dungeons & Dragons is Good for You (In Real Life)"

I gave a TedX talk entitled "Why Dungeons & Dragons is Good for You (In Real Life)."

I'm pretty happy with how it came out and I think the positive message about D&D is important to spread. So I'd truly love your help in getting the word out. The more views it gets, and social media likes/retweets/shares it gets, the better chance it has of being featured on the Ted site, which would help prove to the world the game's amazing impact on people's lives. Thanks for watching and helping to spread the word.

NY Times doc features my 1981 D&D gang

This The New York Times documentary about D&D and the "Satanic Panic" features two tiny clips from a Super 8 movie I filmed of my old D&D group back in 1981. You'll see us at minute 00:20 and at minute 08:25. Yes, we were (as their expert says over a clip of my old gang rolling dice and goofing off) “the kind of kids and young people who didn’t go to dances or date on the weekends." But we rocked it. Also featuring npted writers Junot Díaz and Cory Doctorow, talking about how D&D was instrumental to their careers, former D&D editor Tim Kask, and private investigator William Dear, who investigated the famous disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III, supposedly caused by D&D.

200 People Singing Happy 40th Birthday Dungeons & Dragons

D&D turned 40 this year. To honor that, at PAX East 2014 (in Boston), I was part of a panel called "Why D&D Is Still Awesome: A 40th Anniversary Dungeons & Dragons Tribute."

But that didn't seem enough. I tried (and failed) to make a giant 40-sided die birthday cake. Instead, I lead the 200+ person crowd in a rousing "Happy Birthday to Dungeons & Dragons" singalong.

With David Ewalt, author of Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It and and Jon Peterson, author of Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games.

How Dungeons & Dragons and Fantasy Prepare You for Law & Life

How is a lawyer like a wizard? How does a courtroom resemble an epic battle? How is a casebook like the Dungeon Master's Guide?

In case you missed it, here's the archived video my Harvard University Berkman Center for Internet & Society talk with Jonathan Zittrain "How Dungeons & Dragons and Fantasy Prepare You for Law & Life."

http://www.minds.com/blog/view/291277647059619840/ethan-gilsdorf-and-jonathan-zittrain-on-how-dungeons-and-dragons-and-fantasy-prepare-you-for-law-and-life

D&D Celebration at Pax East

I am very excited to present the panel "Why D&D Is Still Awesome: A 40th Anniversary Dungeons & Dragons Tribute" at Pax East in Boston with David Ewalt and Jon Peterson on Sat April 12.

Here's the official description:

Why D&D Is Still Awesome: A 40th Anniversary Dungeons & Dragons Tribute

In 1974, D&D first appeared on the market. Now, 40 years later, we can see how this revolutionary game caused shock waves in the worlds of pop culture, gaming and play, and influenced how we spend our leisure time and socialize in profound ways. This panel features three of country’s leading experts on D&D, its history and cultural impact: David Ewalt, author of “Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It”; Ethan Gilsdorf, author of “Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms”; and Jon Peterson, author of “Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games.” We’ll talk about D&D’s incredible social impact, tell a little history of the game, show slides (OK, nostalgia bait) of its major editions and other historical goodies, discuss why D&D still matters, and maybe give away some free stuff. Followed by a rousing Q&A where you the audience can geek out about how D&D changed your life—- hopefully for good, and not, you know, for Satan. Followed by a book signing with the three authors.

Hope to see you there.

As Dungeons & Dragons Turns 40, Celebrating Its Ability To Unleash Unbridled Creativity

Post by WBUR 90.9 FM.