

Mr Farez is now a professional Dungeon Master, which means he teaches others – including local kids’ clubs – how to play D&D. On a web page announcing the group’s formation, it was noted that “benefits such as increased problem-solving skills, self-esteem, confidence and empathy have been observed using this style of group therapy”. In the United States city of Baltimore, a counselling centre at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University set up a D&D therapy group in 2021. Mr Farez may have stumbled onto D&D as a form of therapy, but some psychologists are starting to use it as a formal tool in their practice. “Through creating and playing a character, I have been able to try out different behaviours and ways of thinking that I might not have felt comfortable doing in my real life.” The role-playing element of D&D has also provided a safe space to explore and experiment with aspects of his identity. This has been especially helpful for me, as I often struggle with social anxiety and find it difficult to connect with others.”

I had to learn how to effectively communicate my thoughts and ideas with my fellow players. “In D&D, I was able to set goals for my character and work towards them in a structured and meaningful way. He gathered his friends at theatre company Teater Ekamatra for a game and was quickly hooked. And if those things don’t seem worth living for, then we can talk about it further.’ So I went all out to find new things to get me excited. “My therapist said: ‘Maybe in the coming year, try new things. “I began playing in late 2017, during a dark, depressive period in my life,” says the 34-year-old. Meanwhile, D&D has not only been creatively and socially fulfilling for theatre performer Farez Najid, but also “life-saving” as well. Even now, we sometimes talk about memorable moments from past games as though they were things we had experienced ourselves,” she says. “I love going on adventures with my friends.

She describes her first character as “a shy little gnome wizard with mild pyromaniac tendencies”. “I like how everyone at the table has a part to play in telling the story – you don’t get that from most computer or board games,” says the 28-year-old, who began playing D&D in 2018. Ms Kara Quek, who works for a legal firm, enjoys the social interaction and collaborative story-telling that underlie a D&D game. Your choices and decisions matter in how the storyline unfolds,” he adds.
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“It’s almost like getting to participate in a movie or a play, instead of just watching. He and some friends once created their own D&D setting based on Chinese mythology. You can make choices to do things, or not do them, however you see fit.” Tutor Kevin Wee, who is in his 30s and has been playing D&D for about eight years, says: “The only hardware limitation in D&D is your imagination and how far it can stretch.
