Leveling Up

DnD can be played on a tabletop surface in person or online. It is common for tabletop games to include figurines, shaped like the characters in the game, and maps to help players orient themselves and better follow their movement, actions, and interactions through the game.

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In order to become a DnD player, there is no special ritual or event someone has to go through- there are many elements of playing DnD that bring you into this particular folk group. Creating a character, learning the rules, participating in games with other players- all of these are elements of the game that allow players to feel like they are part of the DnD community. So although there is not one rite of passage that brings a person in, DnD is full of rites that mark a player's role within the group. Gennep (1960) writes that "... although a complete scheme of rites of passage theoretically includes preliminal rites (rites of separation), liminal rites (rites of transition), and postliminal rites (rites of incorperation), in specific instances theses three types are not always equally important or equally elaborated" (11). There are many rites of transition that we find within DnD, and one of those is the way that characters level up.

A character's level is an important aspect of gameplay. It determines the abilities your character has and gives a player a sense of accomplishment and forward movement within DnD and within the group, alongside their group members. Players almost always look forward to gaining enough "experience points" XP to be told by their DM that they have leveled up. What is interesting about this particular rite is that it is both for the player, as a member of the DnD group, and for the character, within their world. Just like a real-world rite of passage, a character within DnD may level up as a result of reaching a milestone or defeating a difficult enemy. Gennep (1960) tells us about direct and indirect rites such as curses, spells, prayers, or sacrifices, that are often magical and produce results immediately or indirectly (8). Characters experience in-game rites of passages all of the time that may be particular to the culture or context within the world that they exist in. This, then, becomes a rite for the player, as they experience the development in their character through gameplay. There are many "firsts" in DnD- a first encounter (combat) or a first time fighting a dragon- both experiences can serve as one of the many rites of passage for characters as they become more experienced DnD group members. In many ways, finishing a campaign is also a rite of passage, as players are able to add to their experience with different groups and characters that have encountered different challenges, maps, and worlds. Running a game (otherwise known as becoming a dungeon master, or 'DMing") is also a significant moment for a DnD player, as many will speak of and share stories about their first time DMing, or their first time running a game.