Goshen & Dragons fundraiser returns

Mar. 12—GOSHEN — A Goshen-themed roleplaying adventure where anything can happen: Goshen and Dragons, a fundraiser for Art House, returns to the Goshen Theater on March 23.

Now in its third year, committee member Nick Matthews said the committee has decided to make it an annual tradition.

"The fun part that I enjoy about our [Dungeon Masters] is that they all kind of approach DnD slightly differently as far as storytelling and world-building," Matthews said.

Some DMs might rely predominantly on spoken storytelling in a style Matthews called "theater of the mind," while others bring maps or 3D sets and miniature figurines to bring the game to life in a more visual way.

"It really gives players a lot of different experiences to take in," Matthews said. "It's going to look different depending on the DM that you play with."

This year, all Dungeon Masters, the lead storyteller and referee in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, will craft storylines that take place within the city of Goshen, and from there, anything is possible.

The DM is responsible for creating the basic storyline and scenarios, but with characters ranging from melee fighters to spellcasters, it's the players that really move the story along.

Doors open at 9 a.m. There will be a character workshop guided by experienced DMs, but players are also welcome to pick up a premade character sheet.

All passes also include a set of dice and access to the pre-filled character sheets.

"The intent of the event has always been to make it approachable for beginners especially because we know it's going to have an audience with experienced players," Matthews said. "We've put a lot of careful attention into the experience for new players."

The first session begins at 10 a.m.

Every two hours, there will be an hour break for players to get food, shop, or just catch a breather.

Half days passes cover 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. sessions, or 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

"I think the hesitation with DnD is that it's a game with mechanics and structure to it that can look intimidating, but ultimately at the end of the day, it's theater, it's storytelling, it's improv, and yeah at times you roll a dice that informs what's happening in the world, but it's really just performance," Matthews said.

Last year's event was sold out, and so this year, the committee is hoping to accommodate a larger crowd by expanding the location. Previously, the entire event, including check-in, character workshop, and food vendors was held in the Goshen Theater Ballroom on the third floor. This year, they'll use the lobby to host check-in, character workshop, and vendors, allowing more space for gaming upstairs, and there will also be games on the Miller Auditorium stage and in the conference room. With over 20 DMs scheduled to lead games, Matthews says they'll be able to host 80-100 people per session, morning and afternoon.

"A lot of it's just been people genuinely excited to play DnD and got behind ... it," Matthews said.

Participants must be 12 or older and those between 12 and 17 require an adult or guardian present during the event.

Tickets are limited. All tickets also include admission to the post-event film "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," sponsored by the Elkhart County Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. The filming is also free to the public.

Tickets are $25 for a half-day pass, $40 for a day pass, and $75 for an all-access pass which includes custom-made dice, preferred eating for the movie, and a complimentary snack and drink.

Goshen & Dragons serves as a fundraising opportunity for the Goshen Art House, which provides low-barrier, high-exposure opportunities for artists in the region ranging from theater and indie films to paintings and even DnD Dungeon Masters.

Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.