Rolling the dice at DHS

Alyssa Odle

Photos by Alyssa Odle

   Every Monday from 3:30 to 5:30, students at Dyersburg High School gather for Board Game Club, a group dedicated to tabletop gaming. The club’s main focus is Dungeons & Dragons, the classic role-playing game where players use imagination, strategy and teamwork to overcome challenges together.

   Right now, the club is immersed in the campaign The Lost Mine of Phandelver, led by their Dungeon Master—better known across DHS as Big Unc. Their party was hired by dwarves to escort supplies to a mine, but the journey quickly turned dangerous. Along the road, they discovered two dead horses and were ambushed by goblins. After fighting their way through, the group tracked the attackers to a thorn thicket. Thanks to the sharp eyes of their ranger, most of the team avoided hidden traps—though their barbarian, William, played by Desmond Bufford, was not so fortunate.

   The trail led them to a wide cave, its entrance marked by goblin footprints. Instead of charging in, the group decided to camp nearby, where a round of fishing turned into one of their most memorable moments yet. That is when they pulled in Eli, the king of the lake, along with Merrisa, the queen catfish. Together, the two fish weighed an incredible 52 pounds. With full stomachs and renewed energy, the party pressed forward and is now venturing deeper into the cave, ready for whatever lies ahead under Big Unc’s guidance.

   For students, these weekly meetings are about more than just dice rolls and character sheets—they are about community. “It’s weird, chaotic, funny, unique,” sophomore Tony Richmond said, describing the atmosphere at the table. Senior Jarrett Franklin called it “fun, exciting, inspiring, united,” emphasizing how the game brings people together. For Remus Boyle, the appeal is simple: “fun, role play, friends.”

   Those perspectives show why Board Game Club has become a place where creativity thrives at Dyersburg High. Students are not just playing a game; they are telling stories, building friendships and creating memories together. As their campaign unfolds, one thing is clear: In this club, every adventure is shared, and every roll of the dice brings them closer as a group.