Dungeons and Dragons
Meet Your DM
Hello there! My name is Robert, and I'll be your Dungeon Master for the evening!
I live locally here in El Paso with my wife and two daughters, but grew up in
Pennsylvania. I do miss the dramatic weather changes and four seasons from my
home state up North. However; not a lot of places are growing like El Paso, and don’t
get me started on the pure joy that is the food culture here!
My first experience with Dungeons & Dragons was at a young age, not playing, but
mostly reading some of the early books. I remember getting into a lot of trouble for
expressing interest in the game, due to the “satanic panic” that was unfortunately (and
incorrectly) tied to the hobby. Picking the hobby back up again during my High School
years and finding my love of telling stories collectively with friends. After joining the
Military, D&D once again was put on my back burner. Until recently!
It has been great to see how things have turned around for D&D, and how it is now
seen as a positive experience for people. Social interaction, creative writing, shared
problem-solving, and a positive supportive environment are all huge positives in our
“screentime” obsessed world.
I love the art of shared storytelling. I, the DM (Dungeon Master), provide the
environment and narrative. Then you, the player, help to build the story! Through
choices and dice rolls we weave a tale of adventure, and sometimes tragedy, in a world
we get to build together. It belongs to all of us, everyone sitting at the table.
I hope to immerse you all someday in the fantastical realms and the deepest, darkest
dungeons of D&D!
Robert.
What Would Cheese Do?
Last Saturday was the last session of our inaugural Dungeons & Dragons fundamentals class. As a culmination of our four Saturdays of adventuring in the D&D world, our group faced the strongest monster yet, the beholder. Aidenn, a 12 year old player, announced to the group that he had extensively studied the Beholder after the previous Saturday's session and that his character, Cheese, knew how to defeat it. Vicky, a thirteen year old player, whose character goes by Hildegaard told the group if you don't know how to proceed then ask yourself, "What would Cheese do?" This became the group's mantra as the battle ensued.
First, the group rolled for initiative. Cheese rolled an extremely low 4 and was placed last in the turn order. As the group started battle, there was several swings and misses. The first one to hit the Beholder was Haze, played by another 13 year player. Haze threw her axe while the beholder was turned away and sunk it into it's back causing 6 points of damage. The next one to do damage was Von Von who hurled a lit torch at the Beholder lighting it's side on fire. Then, it was Cheese's turn who aimed his ray of frost at it's center eye, but rolled a low 8 causing the ray of frost to fizzle out before reaching the Beholder.
Back at the top of the order, Hildegaard, taking a lesson from Von Von threw her lit torch at the beholder from behind, lighting his back on fire, and dealing another 4 points of damage. The team had even more swings and misses giving the beholder the chance to take out Stonky, a fourteen year old player with confusion and stunning Haze. Back up was Cheese, who once again aimed his ray of frost at the Beholder's center eye, but again rolled an even lower 3 and the Beholder dodged the attack.
Hildegaard, remembering that she had found a bottle of fog on a previous adventure hurls it at the Beholder. She misses, but it shatters on the ground cloaking the room in a thick fog. The Beholder now rolls with disadvantage. After taking even more damage from the fire that is engulfing it's body, its hit points are down to 6. The Beholder approaches Haze to deal a deadly blow, but the DM rolls a pathetic 1. Tossing his dice from the table in disappointment, he announces that the Beholder's attack fails. For a third try, Cheese aims his ray of frost at the Beholder's center eye. The group begins to chant Cheese! Cheese! Cheese! He rolls his D20 dice and lands an 18 hitting it directly in the center which doubles his damage roll. He rolls for damage and lands a 3 doubled to 6. The ray of frost pierces the Beholder's center eye freezing it in midair and it drops to the group shattering. Cheese smiles and says, "that's no Muenster!"
The group rejoices in victory!
Inaugural Fundamentals Class
Our first group of kids finished their fundamentals class! They got to take home their character sheets of the character they created! Congratulations!
