Dungeons & Dragons isn’t a weird game for nerds. It’s a creative outlet for people like me – Joe Manganiello

April 21, 2018, 3:35 AM CDT / Updated April 21, 2018, 3:35 AM CDT
By Joe Manganiello

There are a few reasons that I think there’s been a surge of interest in Dungeons & Dragons in the last few years. The cultural icons of my generations — and I’m now in my 40s — have all become nostalgic. For example, if you look at “Stranger Things,” you’ll see all the movie posters that my generation had on the walls, all the games we played and even the bikes we rode (in addition to the characters playing the game).

I also think that there’s been a return to analog for the young generation. Just look a the number of kids that are buying vinyl records; there’s a purity to it.

My Reintroduction to Dungeons & Dragons

Scanning through Netflix, I came across a movie called the Dwarvenaut (2016). I decided to watch it and discovered that it was about an artist and entrepreneur, Stefan Pokorny, and his Kickstarter Campaign to create dungeon modular pieces for miniatures in Dungeons & Dragons. I was surprised that the game was still being played. I quickly pulled out my old Player’s Handbook, Dungeon’s Master Guide, Monster Manual I and II, Deities & Demigods, Oriental Adventures and a bunch of old modules and started to try to play with my kids. I even located my old lead miniatures.