Five years ago, I wrote an Inlander cover story about Dungeons & Dragons' "unlikely resurgence" as the famous fantasy roleplaying game wrapped up its 45th year. Thanks to plenty of pop-culture buzz at the time (Stranger Things, Critical Role), D&D's reputation had quickly evolved from nerdy to cool.
If we collectively thought the story-driven game centered on adventure, magic and battle with dragons, mindflayers, and other fearsome beasts was peaking then, it's still only getting cooler. It's estimated there are more than 50 million players worldwide, according to the game's publisher, Wizards of the Coast. Add dozens of popular live gameplay streams, a 2023 blockbuster movie and Amazon Prime Video's hit animated series, The Legend of Vox Machina (based on Critical Role's first campaign, with a second series in the works), plus countless opportunities to play in person and online, and players today are as rich as an adult red dragon atop its treasure mound.
Here in the Inland Northwest, opportunities to learn D&D and meet fellow players have also ballooned, with new shops like Sage's Portal and Bear Totem joining the ranks of Merlyn's, the Gamer's Haven, the Comic Book Shop and their ilk, plus a D&D-inspired local brewery, Natural 20 Brewing Co.
As the game closes out its 50th year, our team set out to capture Dungeons & Dragons' lasting local impact while also raising a toast to the past and anticipating another 50 years of fantasy fun. ♦
Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to reflect the correct streaming platform of The Legend of Vox Machina.
