27th March 2023
South Devon College Students Join Dungeons and Dragons Club, Learning 3D Printing and More
Students at South Devon College have been joining the Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) club, which has been growing in popularity over the last year. The club offers students the chance to come together and play the popular fantasy role-playing game, while also developing other skills like 3D printing, digital design of characters, and composites resin moulding.
Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is a popular role-playing game that has gained a lot of traction in recent years. It is a fantasy tabletop game where players create their characters, battle using a set of equipment, and dice. To understand more about the game, we interviewed some students who are part of the D&D club.
The D&D club has been meeting regularly on campus, where students gather to create characters, go on adventures and engage in epic battles with dragons and other monsters. For many students, it is a chance to explore their creativity and immerse themselves in a world of fantasy and imagination.
But it’s not just about playing the game. The club has also been a place for students to learn other skills, particularly 3D printing. Members of the club have been using the college’s 3D printers to create their own custom dice and characters, which they can then use in their games.
“We wanted to give students the space to be themselves and also give opportunity to learn about other skills like 3D printing and how it can be used in gaming or other tech sectors,” said project co-ordinator, Charlotte Bounsall. “It’s been amazing to see how creative some of our members are, and what they’ve been able to produce using the college’s resources.”
Many of the students in the club have been able to use their skills in other areas as well. For Francis Philips, a Level 3 games design student, D&D is like a second life. He said that D&D links to his course as he needs to create characters for his games and gets ideas from D&D characters. He sees it as a platform to socialise with others and be creative with character creation and spends around 2.5-3 hours playing on a Wednesday evening. He also enjoys the full day sessions of around 7 hours during half-term.
Other students have also found that playing D&D has helped them to develop important skills like teamwork, problem-solving and communication. “Playing D&D has been a great way to meet new people and work together towards a common goal,” said year 11 High School student, Leo Harris. “It’s also helped me to think creatively and come up with solutions to problems in a fun and engaging way.”
The club has also been a place for students to connect with others who share their interests. Leo continued “I’ve always loved playing games like D&D, but it can be hard to find others who are into it as well. Being part of this club has given me the chance to connect with other like-minded people and have a lot of fun in the process.”
The Dungeons and Dragons club has been a hit with students at South Devon College, and it’s easy to see why. With the chance to explore their creativity, learn new skills and connect with others, it’s a great way for students to get involved on campus and have fun in the process.
Oscar, another Level 3 games design student, started playing D&D during the 2020 lockdown. He enjoys playing the game with the college club and sees D&D as a place where he can act like a character he has created and forget about his normal day-to-day life. He believes that D&D helps with his final project as he is making his game based on the D&D campaign they are currently doing.
Ty, a Level 2 music student, sees D&D as a roleplaying game. They enjoy roleplaying as their character and interacting with others. When asked if D&D links to their course, Ty revealed that they create music based on the experiences and planets that they visit in D&D. Ty enjoys the interactive and relaxing environment of the D&D club and encourages others to join.
Although each student has their own unique experiences and takes away something different towards their studies, they all agree that D&D is a fun, interactive, and relaxing game that allows them to disconnect from their day-to-day life and be creative. The game is different every time they play, and the storyline is built through the choices they make and what they roll on the dice.
As the club continues to grow, members are excited to see what the future holds. For now, the students are focused on enjoying the game and developing their skills.
The D&D club is just one of many extracurricular activities available to students at South Devon College. The consistent theme is that these students are connecting with each other from different courses because of this common ground and becoming more confident as a result. The social wellbeing impact this is having on students is significant.
With a wide range of clubs and societies on offer, students have plenty of opportunities to explore their interests and meet new people. Whether it’s playing games, learning new skills or just having fun, there’s something for everyone at South Devon College.
If you’re interested in the Dungeons and Dragons club, please contact the College’s Project Co-ordinator, Charlotte Bounsall by emailing [email protected]. If you want to explore Digital Media courses related to this story, you can start your journey here.
