Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a structured yet open-ended role-playing game. Typically, one player takes on the role of Dungeon Master (DM)
or Game Master (GM) while the others each control a single character, representing an individual in a fictional setting. When working together as a group,
the player characters (PCs) are often described as a "party" of adventurers, with each member often having their own area of specialty
that contributes to the success of the group as a whole. During the course of play, each player directs the actions of their character
and their interactions with other characters in the game. This activity is performed through the verbal impersonation of the characters
by the players, while employing a variety of social and other useful cognitive skills, such as logic, basic mathematics, and imagination.
A game often continues over a series of meetings to complete a single adventure, and longer into a series of related gaming adventures,
called a "campaign".
The results of the party's choices and the overall storyline for the game are determined by the DM according to the rules of the game
and the DM's interpretation of those rules. The DM selects and describes the various non-player characters (NPCs) that the party
encounters, the settings in which these interactions occur, and the outcomes of those encounters based on the players' choices and
ctions. Encounters often take the form of battles with "monsters" – a generic term used in D&D to describe potentially hostile beings
such as animals, aberrant beings, or mythical creatures. In addition to jewels and gold coins, magic items form part of the treasure that
the players often seek in a dungeon. Magic items are generally found in treasure hoards, or recovered from fallen opponents; sometimes,
a powerful or important magic item is the object of a quest. The game's extensive rules – which cover diverse subjects such as social
interactions, magic use, combat, and the effect of the environment on PCs – help the DM to make these decisions. The DM may choose to
deviate from the published rules or make up new ones if they feel it is necessary.