The new season of Game of Thrones is upon us! That means more adventure, more political intrigue, and more bodies to throw on the ever growing corpse pile. The show has a huge fan base that has grown in its six seasons of airing. But what if I told you that growth is also partially responsible for the growth of Dungeons and Dragons?
There are many factors that have contributed to D&D’s recent surge of popularity: the new edition, the discovery of Twitch as a platform for the game (thank you Vox Machina), and the modern mindset of the game’s developers. But one factor that I don’t see taken into account is the mainstream’s attention turning to the fantasy genre. I believe this is due to Game of Thrones. The low fantasy setting has grabbed people’s attention; and once it’s there, they want more. This leads them down the fantastical rabbit hole of magic and adventure. Once they get a taste of it they want more. They can’t get enough. Soon it’s not enough to watch the action unfold, they must make it unfold. That’s where D&D comes in.
Dungeons and dragons offers the perfect way for people to play their own game (of thrones). Although the base game might have a fair bit more magic than Westeros does, that can easily be dialed back. But everything else about the game still scratches that GoT itch: battles, political and social encounters, character development, and the like. Once fans of the show realize this, they’re bound to invite their viewing party members over for a game. This causes a chain effect that increases the D&D fan base as much as the Game of Thrones did.
With the new season just starting up, viewers are delving back into Westeros. If you’re one of these fans, consider gathering up your viewing party for a game to play before the show, or while you wait for the next episode. And once the season if done, fill that void with a campaign set right in the world of Westeros! When you do, be sure to keep those dice rolling high!
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