Episode 87: Dungeons and Dragons

"Suburban Rebels" - Dungeons and Dragons as a Primary Source w/ Rob from We Met in a TavernDungeons and Dragons has seen an uptick in exposure these last few years, thanks in large part to its heavy presence in the storyline of Netflix’s Stranger Things. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the latest film based on the role playing game, premieres in the US on March 31st, and by the looks of it, the new movie will approach the story differently than previous film adaptations. With a more comedic take on the title, Honor Among Thieves appears to honor the spirit of DND that players have fallen in love with for almost 50 years.To get the inside scoop on Dungeons and Dragons I turned to Rob Vater, one of the hosts of the We Met in a Tavern podcast—who I actually did meet in a tavern— a show dedicated to talking about the latest characters and quests over a satisfying craft beer or two. He and I discussed how the development of the game and its growth in popularity are indicators of the 1970s from which it came. We also look at the controversies the game has induced in its early years and how that too is very telling of the society and values of the 1980s.