Why DnD Should Be Played In Schools, According To Chris Pine

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves star Chris Pine says the game should be played in schools. Known for his roles as James T. Kirk in Star Trek and Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman, Pine leads the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves cast as Edgin Darvis, a bard and former member of the Harpers. Chronicling an epic quest to recover a missing artifact in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, the movie’s main adventuring party also includes Michelle Rodriguez as a barbarian, Regé-Jean Page as a paladin, Justice Smith as a sorcerer, and Sophia Lillis as a druid.

In a new interview with Slash Film ahead of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ release date, Pine offered a thoughtful explanation for why he thinks the tabletop game on which the movie is based should be played in schools. The Dungeons & Dragons movie star explained the many benefits the game could have for kids, including teaching cooperation and exercising the imagination. Read what Pine said below:

It was kind of a revelation for me because I think … my father’s 82, my mom’s 76, I had no knowledge about it, my sister has no knowledge about it. Within 15 minutes, we were having the time of our lives and we didn’t have to know anything. So for me, this idea that it’s like “geeky” or “nerdy” or whatever, the gospel of Dungeons & Dragons that I think is so important to know, why I think it should be played in schools, is that it immediately teaches cooperation. It exercises the imagination. It’s joyous, it’s improvisational. And within a matter of minutes, everybody’s on the same page. You’re not arguing about whether or not you’re cool or not. You’re arguing about whether or not you should have gone over the boulder to kill the dragon. I think it’s about the coolest thing I’ve encountered in a long time.

Why Dungeons & Dragons Should Be Played In Schools

Though Dungeons & Dragons can teach an array of skills and values, Pine mentions two main reasons why it would be beneficial for schools to incorporate it into their curriculum, or at least encourage students to play the game during after-school clubs. For starters, the tabletop role-playing game can help teach teamwork and cooperation. Dungeons & Dragons is a collaborative game that requires its players to work together to achieve a common goal. This could help teach students effective communication and social skills.

As Pine also mentions, Dungeons & Dragons encourages players of all ages to exercise their imaginations and come up with creative solutions to challenges. Players can design their own characters, create backstories, and think outside the box to solve problems. Above all, it’s also an engaging way to have fun with friends. As Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves likely results in another boom in popularity for the TTRPG, perhaps Pine’s wish will be fulfilled and the latest D&D craze finds its way from the box office into the classroom.

Source: Slash Film