Life is a Dungeon

Things I Learned About Life by Playing Dungeons and Dragons

Encounters. Life is full of them. Some are lame, some are cool, some are mind blowing but all of them help us earn X.P. and grow as a character (person). Treasure the great encounters of your life, but value each and every one.

Monsters. There will always be monsters. Real life monsters seldom want to eat your soul, but some of them can be just as harmful. Be brave in the face of them and know when to stand up and fight and when retreat is warranted. Monsters do not always require combat to defeat and sometimes the best way is not the simple way.

Secrets Door and Shortcuts. While these exist, they are the exception, not the rule. Nothing ruins a great game more than stopping every ten feet to check for hidden things. These things are great when they come around but it's important to experience the journey to its fullest whenever you can and use secret doors sparingly.

Traps. Like secret doors and shortcuts, traps happen but they are also the exception not the rule. Looking for traps everywhere can really lead to a serious mistrust of everything and missed opportunities. Most door aren't concealing needle traps in their locks and that rough floor is sometimes just a rough floor and not a deadly creation bent on ending your existence.

Parties. Life is always better with trusted friends and companions. Whether friends or family, make sure to keep them close and do not be afraid to reach out to them for help. Nobody gets throug hthe dungeon by themselves. Solo play sucks.

Treasure. Treasure is awesome. Getting stuff is always nice but it's just stuff. Sometimes the shiniest pieces isn't the most important piece. The Hand of Vecna is just a moldy Mummy's Hand but it;s super cool. 

Experience. Everything in life can teach you something. The small lessons often lead to big things as much as a single life changing event. Take them all in. Make sure you learn. And always remember that boiling an ant hill is cheating.