UPPER LAKE >> “Dungeons & Dragons” may lack the mainstream name recognition of Bilbo Baggins, from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” but the tabletop game has bragging rights of having a new forever stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service.
This year posts a milestone anniversary of a game with growing loyalty of its fans to celebrate as the Postal Service issued a new stamp August 3. The Upper Lake Post Office brought the first stamp samples to Dragons Den game shop August 10 for initial purchases. “We’re at Dragons Den to promote the new stamps,” Angela Gross, postmaster of the Upper Lake Post Office said. “We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary. A tabletop game that has grown very large since then.”
The postmaster was accompanied by the Northern California Postal Service regional specialist Kristina Uppal. “Dungeons & Dragons just hit this mile marker and we love to support our community so, these stamps carry a significant theme, which collectors and players can commemorate alike,” she said. “We’re having this stamp unveiling at Dragons Den because hand-in-hand we want to recognize the cultural significance. Our art director worked with the Dungeons & Dragons organization to make sure every stamp tie into the art and feel of the game. So, all the variety of stamps are meticulously checked to make sure images are true to the game.”
Dragons Den co-owner, Aletha Willard (Dustin Scott partner) said she remembered the game from her childhood growing up in Eugene, Oregon. Characters start off for adventures within a fantasy setting.
A Dungeon Master (DM) serves as referee and storyteller for the game, while maintaining the setting in which the adventures occur, and playing the role of the inhabitants of the game world, known as non-player characters (NPCs). The characters form a part and can interact with the setting’s inhabitants and each other. Together they solve problems, fight battles, explore, gather treasure and knowledge. In the process, player characters earn experience points (XP) to level up and become increasingly powerful over a series of separate gaming sessions. Also, players choose a class when they create their character, which gives them special perks.
“The DM can say, ‘You ran into someone, and player characters (PC) can say, do we negotiate, or kill him, but another player says ‘No,’ ” Willard explained. “Sometimes players talk about it, but you can get the chaotic player who says, ‘Nah, I’m going to kill him,’ or ‘I’m going to drag him in chains, or do whatever they want,” Willard said. “They tally a score when the DM has to do ‘Hit Points.’ So, if a character decides to attack, another player must decide to take a roll of the dice. If that player rolls no ones, then no harm comes to the player. But if the dice toss is in the 20’s, significant damage can be done. It is a lot of work to run as a DM. The DM runs the game and controls situations. The DM must also write out the story ahead of time and instructs characters the proper way to play.
“We actually have a Dungeon Room in the back of the shop,” Willard said. “It’s built of brick-like castle walls and have a chandelier of crystal with ivy wrapped around it- that makes the scene. “First character I created was an Elf Ranger,” she recalled. “The object of the game is to help your team to survive, yet also explore a world one has never been to. ”
Typically, the game is played on weekends and the DM must reserve space, but the Dungeon Room is free, yet must be reserved several days in advance. Willard then will post an alert on Facebook.com/ddgames2022. “We’re doing an event on August 18 in the Dungeon Room at noon,” she said. “It’ll be One-shot, a half hour instead of three hours. It’s to introduce the game and have fun with it. Another game location is in Ukiah at the Sword and Board, 198 S. School Street. “What I love about the game, nothing is off-limits,” she added. ” We love building characters here, draw constellation maps of our world then zoom in and draw what’s in the smaller piece.”
Postmaster Gross presided over the unveiling of the framed poster of a replica of a Dungeons & Dragons stamp. “The D&D game is a simulation of a fantasy world filled with mythical creatures that tells epic stories of adventure,” Gross said. “We hope you find the stamps a worthy tribute to D&D lore and add a fantastical element to your cards and letters.”
