Get out your dice and miniatures, there’s a new Dungeons & Dragons group forming at Rodman Public Library.
Under the guidance of Game Master Matt Ross-Jones, the group is for adults 18 and older and will meet monthly at the library.
“It’s open to anyone who is interested,” said Ross-Jones. “You can be an experienced player or you can be new to the game. You just have to have an interest in learning and playing Dungeons & Dragons.”
The club plans to meet each first Wednesday of the month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Main Library conference room. The first meeting is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m. Pizza and beverages will be provided as will all equipment, such as dice, paper and pencils.
Ross-Jones noted that his ideal D&D group consists of six players. However, if there are more people interested in being part of the group, he is prepared to handle that and is ready to recruit a second game master to assist.
Ross-Jones has been playing Dungeons & Dragons seriously for about five years. He says it seems a lot longer, though, due to his involvement in tabletop role playing.
“I have been interested in it for a while,” explained Ross-Jones. “I started watching ‘Critical Role’ and that really started it. Once the streaming of games became more prevalent, the popularity of role playing games has just exploded.”
Ross-Jones visited Reddit to find a group and now runs that game. In all, he is part of three virtual role playing groups, including one that is based on “Star Wars” and one based on “Lord of the Rings.” He has also played “Warhammer.”
As far as the Rodman Library group is concerned, Ross-Jones said he will be using the fifth edition, which he says has streamlined the rules and made Dungeons & Dragons more enjoyable for most people.
“In some past editions there was a lot of formulas you had to figure out and it could get complicated,” explained Ross-Jones. “The fifth edition uses only simple addition and subtraction.”
Ross-Jones added that he will be using pre-made modules for the Rodman Library D&D group and will begin with “Rime of the Frostmaiden.” Set in the Arctic, players will try to save Ten-Towns from the Frostmaiden’s everlasting night.
“It will take many sessions to get through,” explained Ross-Jones.
Registration is required by visiting our online calendar. Those interested in joining the group can also call 330-821-2665, ext. 107, to register or to leave contact information for Ross-Jones in order to get more information.
Ross-Jones, who grew up in Ravenna, is a 2015 graduate of the University of Mount Union and works as a mechanical engineer at SES in Alliance. He is married to Liz Ross-Jones, adult library assistant at Rodman Public Library. He has been serving as a dungeon master for five years.