If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to sit around the table while playing Dungeons and Dragons with the creator of The Forgotten Realms, here’s your chance.
Ed Greenwood, the man responsible for creating the wise and powerful wizard Elminster in the land of Faerûn, is spending time on social media sharing stories from his previous games.
It all started after the Kickstarter for a new D&D 5th Edition sourcebook appeared: Tales and Tomes From the Forbidden Library. The new book will include new stories for dungeon masters to take players on exciting adventures.
Greenwood tweeted asking fans of the tabletop game to back the Kickstarter. The goal: to see 1,000 backers in 12 minutes. The reward: the author would detail true D&D stories from his time working at a library where he also ran the game.
“I will tweet amusing true D&D-related library tales from my 44 years of public library work. And do I have stories…”
The fans did not disappoint, raising and surpassing the goal with more than $27,000 for The Forbidden Library, and true to his word, Greenwood started tweeting stories about his time as a DM.
I can't believe it, but we actually cleared 1000 backers with 3 minutes to spare. Thank you so much to @EchoAlpha_x5, @Kill0byt3, @TheEdVerse, and everyone else who pushed this in the final hours. Complete, overwhelming success. I'll have more to say soon, but for now: thank you!
— Gregory A. Wilson (@gregoryawilson) April 20, 2019
Greenwood’s stories are entertaining and while many feature fun and witty moments in his career as a DM, others show what others perceived D&D to be. Those who weren’t familiar with the game back then thought it taught magic and witchcraft. While this isn’t new information, it’s interesting to see it through the eyes of the man who created so many locations we know today.
Greenwood mentions during the first few years, many people didn’t understand the game and were afraid of how it might impact those who played it. Saying in one story; a delivery driver dropped off a package containing Dungeons and Dragons books and overheard a conversation about magic, swords, and dragons. Greenwood says the driver left looking startled and came back the following week with an armed guard as an escort.
From Greenwood’s experiences to today, the game has seen a shift in both popularity and understanding. With shows like Critical Role now making their own animated series, and Wizards of the Coast hosting a live event featuring several D&D players.
He took time to also speak as his character Elminster to fans; answering questions about the world and how players can use The Forgotten Realms lore in their worlds.
The interactions and conversations started from just asking for a few more backers to a D&D book are powerful to see. Greenwood is a talented writer and a gentleman who wants others to experience the same fun he did while playing Dungeons and Dragons more than 40 years ago.
Let me one last bold adventure endeavor
To loot treasure vaults every night, from now to forever— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 20, 2019
Greenwood’s stories show Dungeons and Dragons is more than just a game, it brings people together. It’s a book you write and share with others; where you get to make up the story on the fly while rolling dice, doing impossible things, and having a good time.