Usually, but only to the extent that a game played with dice, miniatures, and your imagination can be violent.

While there is never any real-world violence, D&D characters often enter the imaginary lairs of imaginary monsters and use imaginary weapons to kill them. Most monsters are far from defenseless, however, and they often use their imaginary claws, teeth, and tentacles to harm or kill the players' characters. This violence is never externalized.

Here's an example scenario where a D&D character is 'being' violent.

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DM: Okay, the lizard-like creature has grabbed your friend with its beak and is dragging him off into the shadows--a few more feet, and you won't be able to see them anymore. It's your turn, Ger. What does Baldred do?

Ger: I can't let him get out of sight. Baldred tips back his helmet and charges after them. I swing my axe at the creature with both hands [player rolls a D20]  ...and get a 22, modified. Do I hit?

DM: Yes. The creature sees you coming and tries to twist away from your attack, but you connect anyway.

Ger: [Player rolls a D8 and adds 4 to it] Sweet, max damage! 12 points. Does the creature react?

DM: Oh yeah, it doesn't enjoy that one bit. Wounded, It drops your friend and hisses in your face, rearing well above you to bring all four of its scythe-like claws to bear.

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And so on. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Regardless of your answer, D&D is as violent as you want it to be. Think of it as an interactive movie where all the violence settings are at your fingertips. Feel free to turn the blood off entirely, or skip past the scenes where creatures are hurt and just describe the action with numbers. Anything goes. If you wanted to, your campaign could center around planting crops, baking bread, or raising horses, but it would be dishonest to say that those are common campaign themes for the players.

If D&D was a hollywood movie, I would rate my average play session at PG 13, with the occasional foray into 14A (and I'm 26, just for a reference point).

Last updated on July 8, 2008 by RPG Ike