Public perception toward Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) has come a long way from the satanic panic days of the 1980s.
In our post-podcast pop culture of Critical Role, Dimension 20, The Adventure Zone and more, the prototypical image of a D&D player has slowly shifted from the class loner or resident geek (an unfair stereotype) to a much more diverse array of enthusiasts. Popular, even famous, players across the Internet include voice actors, screen actors, comedians, drag queens and some professional wrestlers.
“For a longtime, Dungeons & Dragons was something you talked about in hushed tones,” said David Jezusek, owner of Cellar Of Tales. “You see that explored in the television show, Stranger Things. Of course, Stranger Things is one of those pieces of media that really started to endear people to the concept of playing D&D and wanting to try it.”
Beginning four years ago in the lower level of Arktos Meadery, the Cellar Of Tales is at both times a card game and tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) shop as well as a rentable, themed roleplaying space. In their newly dedicated storefront on Butterworth Street, Jezusek has been hard at work setting up the studio’s atmospheric room, complete with programmable LED lights and soundbar.
On top of this meticulously crafted fantasy space is an impressive supply of Michigan crafted tabletop gaming gear, from artisanal dice to handmade dice boxes. And, for those who are intrigued by the ever-changing market of reselling trading cards, like Pokémon or Magic The Gathering, Jezusek advertises a wholesale purchase service of your old collection, too.
“I am trying to provide a luxury gaming experience with this place,” Jezusek said. “It’s D&D at a more elevated experience than just your dinner table. For the people who want to add that extra layer of immersion and reality to their game, that’s what I’m trying to provide a stage for.”
Cellar Of Tales is but the newest addition to Grand Rapids’ growing tabletop gaming scene. On Sundays, local board game bar House Rules Lounge offers weekly “drop-in” sessions for interested D&D players, no group necessary. At House Rules, all you need is an original character created beforehand or, at the very least, in mind already (the hour prior to the games starting is dedicated toward prep and character creation if you need assistance). As an opportunity for tabletop roleplaying, with or without a group, House Rules’ programming is an excellent example of local bars and venues beginning to see the potential in hosting D&D nights.
“That’s more valuable to me than my house,” said Heath Timmer, a local player and House Rules’ regular for the past three years. “It’s something I treasure on a weekly basis. I come here and they’re all my best friends.”
Other regularly scheduled events in town include biweekly sessions at Schuler Books through the “We Hate Bards” online group, as well as Aquinas College’s seasonal D&D camps targeted toward all-ages. At any of these events, attendees who have never played the game before are encouraged to play anyway, with more questions the better. Yet, the game can seem, quite immediately, overwhelming.
As a player, you’re responsible for facets like skill statistics, weapon damage, super-powered feats and backstory nuance, just to name a few. As a dungeon master, or DM, the barrier of entry can be even higher, requiring whole textbook-sized instruction manuals on how to actually play a full session. However, and this is true for nearly anyone who has ever played D&D, those cemented laws and rules can (and will) be thrown right out the window at a moment’s notice.
“If you don’t like the rules, then the DM should change them on the fly,” Timmer said. “It’s all about that creativity, imagination, and being able to run wild.”
House Rules is far from the only local bar to embrace D&D. Even before Cellar Of Tales first partnered with Arktos, the westside favorite had been a welcome space for gamers interested in workshops focusing on D&D-related hobbies, such as painting miniature figurines. Brewery Vivant in Eastown has also hosted a yearly “Dungeons & Dark Arts Night,” showcasing their charmingly old-fashioned, nearly-gothic atmosphere alongside the fantasy glamour of Dungeons & Dragons. Guests arrive with groups already formed, based on reservation, for an evening of self-guided roleplaying with Brewery Vivant’s menu of rich ales and delicious in-world specials, including Goodberry Sweet Rolls and “Tasha’s Cauldron Of Everything” (rabbit, venison, boar, cabbage, corn, etc.). For each of these players, immersive roleplaying is a pinnacle of the experience that leaves every game memorable and attendees coming back for more.
“It’s truly my passion in life, storytelling in general,” Jezusek said. “A lot of people attach to characters. With D&D, you allow people a moment to grasp that with their own story.”
Back at Cellar Of Tales’ new location, the studio is clearly still a work-in-progress, but the brick walled building with high ceilings and 110-year-old maplewood flooring has impressive bones. One part hobby storefront, one part bar and one part rentable tabletop space, the newly imagined Cellar Of Tales has been a labor of love with plenty of custom accoutrement, from carved wooden decor to period-accurate lanterns made from cedar and rawhide.
When it’s ready to open up for visitors later this summer or early fall, Cellar Of Tales may just become a new one-stop-shop for West Michigan tabletop gamers.
OTHER GAMING SPOTS
Stella’s Lounge - Retro Arcade Cabinets | 53 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Pinball Land | 114 Courtland St., Rockford
LFG Gaming Bar | 116 Portage St., Kalamazoo
The Pyramid Scheme - Pinball | 68 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Stop, Drop & Play Arcade | 739 S. Main St., Wayland
