Dungeons & Dragons used to be a weird little hobby, seen as hopelessly nerdy, childish, and even Satanic. Now it’s a bigger cultural deal than Monopoly, even chess. It’s featured in Stranger Things ...

Some parts of making a Dungeons & Dragons character go beyond filling in a character sheet and doing the math. For some players, coming up with a backstory is the hardest part of the puzzle to put ...

Subvert game expectations to surprise your table and DM, like creating a light-hearted rogue. Combine odd class and background options, like a wayfarer-urban druid duo for unique backstories.

Samantha Nelson is a freelance journalist who has been covering tabletop RPGs and board games for nearly 10 years for numerous outlets. She also regularly reviews TV and movies, with a focus on ...