Roll The Dice At West Hartford Library Role-Playing Game Celebration

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The growing hobby of playing "Dungeons & Dragons" and other role-playing games is the topic of the West Hartford Public Library's first-ever 'Bookwrym Fest."

The festival will feature panel discussions by local role-playing game experts, tips on playing such games and demonstrations and vendors pitching all sorts of merchandise, games and game supplies.

It will take place Saturday, July 8, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Noah Webster Library, 20 S. Main St., West Hartford.

Registration for many of the conventions events is suggested, but there are walk-in options too.

"The event features an escape room, live action role play, music, vendors, board games, discussion panels and much, much more," reads an event announcement.

For those unfamiliar with "Dungeons & Dragons" or "D&D," it is a fantasy game in which one person, a "dungeon master," tells a story themed to a magical world of warriors of varying degrees battling all sorts of mystical monsters.

Game players assume "characters" and roles of specially sized dice determine situations' outcomes in the game.

The game relies upon the creativity and imagination of its players, as opposed to a finite set of rules where a winner is determined.

Young people, usually teens, first started playing D&D in th 1970s and 1980s.

But the game has enjoyed a renaissance with the "Stranger Things" series on Netflix, where the show's characters play D&D, and the popular movie, "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" starring Chris Pine that came out earlier this year.

In addition to D&D, there are many other role-playing games on the market of different themes, such as comic book heroes, etc., that have a similar approach.

For more information on the West Hartford Public Library's "Bookwyrm Fest," click on this link.

For more information on the "Dungeons & Dragons" game, click on this link.