The Never-Ending Game of Dungeons & Dragons

(epic orchestral music) - [Narrator] In London, Ontario, there lives a man whose basement is unlike anything you've ever seen. This is Robert Wardhaugh. - Hi, my name is Robert Wardhaugh. - [Narrator] Robert has been playing the same Dungeons and Dragons campaign for over 30 years. - 35 years to be exact. - [Narrator] I'm sorry. - That's okay. Welcome, would you like to play a Dwarven rogue. You look like a rogue. - [Narrator] Wait, let's back up for a second. Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy roleplaying game where a group of people come together and play out adventures dictated by a dungeon master. These adventures, also known as campaigns, are set in the Dungeons and Dragons world and normally have an end point. Or they just fizzle out due to people's lack of commitment. But Robert is in a league of his own and here's why: The dude has a serious collection. - I think our collection of miniatures is around 20,000 and then over the years I discovered terrain. Ultimately, I'm a collector also and a lot of my enjoyment comes from being able to get new stuff and to put new stuff on the table so the players are constantly coming across new settings. Because it's a game that doesn't stick to one particular campaign setting, I'm able to use any figs that actually fit the world. And so it is a long process but over 35 years, you could develop quite the collection. - [Narrator] As Robert's collection grew, so did the number of players. Word began to spread about the never-ending campaign. - We have people coming from all over the country to play, often flying in. - [Narrator] Wait, all over the country? - That's right. - [Player] Robert, can we play now? - [Narrator] These are some of the people who play in Robert's game. Where are you guys from? - I flew in from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. - I drove in from Toronto. - Brussels, Ontario. - Komoka, Ontario. - Calgary, Alberta. - [Narrator] Hold on, what happens if people can't fly in or drive to Robert's house to play? - Hey everyone. - [Narrator] Problem solved. - On top of the ridge, looking down upon this and. The game has always been determined, really through a friendship. It's really been a way that I keep my friends together. I knew early on that if I was able to create a game that was good enough, and that means it had to be better than video games, it had to be better than any other game that they could find, that they would keep coming, no matter where I was and so that takes again, imagination and it takes change and it takes having a system that is constantly dynamic, that is changing, that is growing and that is constantly getting better. (dramatic orchestral music)

Channel: Great Big Story

Views: 5,572,359

Rating: 4.9466486 out of 5

Keywords: great big story, gbs, lag, documentary, docs, Biography & Profile, Lifestyle & Entertainment, Dungeons & Dragons, Games, Figures, Figurines, Collection, Collectables, Players, Role-Playing Game, Dice, Fantasy, People, Tabletop, Friends, Sets, Miniatures, Dungeon Master, Campaign, Adventure, Canada, London, Ontario

Id: UdAwX8JB66E

Length: 2min 55sec (175 seconds)

Published: Tue Oct 24 2017

Reddit Comments

[u/NirodhaAvidya]

"The game has always been determined really through friendship. It's really been a way that I keep my friends together."

[u/Ouroboron]

Thirty five years. If I started right now, I'd be seventy hitting that point. If I even lived that long.

I'm really jealous.

[u/Kyvalmaezar]

I just wish my friends would stick to the same campaign for more than 3 sessions.

[u/DMserious]

This is the most hippie thing that I'll every say on Reddit that is just straight out love; love for your friends, love for the game and love for the craftsmanship that goes into it. It's just stunning.

[u/ucemike]

I wonder if this guy has a youtube channel or twitch stream of his game. I'd be interested in watching them.

[u/byehiday]

He did a dragon talk last year that is really interesting for those who would like to learn more. Posted date of 6/23/16 if below link doesn’t work. The video is a bit misleading but to answer some questions I saw from this thread. The game is a drop in and out game so it’s not the same party this entire time. Also if your character dies your out of his game forever unless your character has established in game decedents in which cause you can play as a offspring until the line is used up. Basically the playing goal is establish yourself so you can start a family and then retire the character and use the next. Also the characters are all therefore of mixed level so the players have to be smart as the creatures and stuff they may be presented are not level related. Really worth the listen. It is really inspiring for the dm mind https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dragon-talk-an-official-dungeons-dragons-podcast/id189053885?mt=2&i=1000371270701https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dragon-talk-an-official-dungeons-dragons-podcast/id189053885?mt=2&i=1000371270701

[u/greiton]

Some of you may remember this charecter from 18 years ago they gave you job in exchange for a favor in the future.

[u/[deleted]]

Dudes got it made! Well done to him

[u/spitfireM21]

This is incredibly awesome. My campaign is rounding 5 years but will finally be closing its tale soon. I've found that length to be a challenge. Our game almost collapsed several times, but this DM's masterpiece dwarfs all of that.

It would be an extreme reward for people to still be interested in my world another 30 years from now...