For William Hammers, fantasy isn't just a pastime — it's a way to connect, create and explore sides of himself that everyday life doesn't allow. The senior psychology major from Deweyville first stumbled into Dungeons & Dragons while serving in the Navy. "A lot of my friends when I was in the Navy would go play Magic the Gathering," he says. "I got bored one evening and went out with them, but there was a group of people in the back playing Dungeons & Dragons. They told me how to play, and I've always been big into sci-fi and fantasy, so it just kind of grew from there." Since then, he's played a wide range of characters, from heroic chaotic good types to more manipulative, social characters. "What keeps me coming back is being able to portray myself in ways I normally am not able to, and to build a story with a group of friends," William says. As a member of the LGBTQ community, William says D&D has helped him find friends who share his interests. "It's helped me find people who share my interests and build friendships," he says. The game has also helped William embrace his identity. "I'm a lot more comfortable being true to myself," he says, adding that in moments when life gets overwhelming, D&D offers an escape. "Being able to step into a fantasy world where good guys usually win feels really nice," he said. Whether he's plotting a chaotic good character's next move or laughing with friends around a table scattered with dice, William is living proof that sometimes the best adventures happen in the bonds one forms and the stories we create together.
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