Our Adventures in Ravenna
On October 5th, the adventurous members of Group Sz3 embarked on a journey into the world of role-playing games. While many might not be familiar with this genre, it has been a global phenomenon for 50 years, starting with Dungeons & Dragons. Since then, it has evolved into countless versions and themes. The beauty of role-playing games lies in the freedom to immerse yourself in any world and create any character, leading to thrilling adventures. People of all ages participate in these games, with some groups playing with the same friends for over 30 years.
In addition to the players, there is always a game master who guides the adventure. Berta Gábor and I took on this role, striving to create an unforgettable experience for the kids. Our story takes place in a medieval fantasy world—a favorite among role-players—filled with dragons, dwarves, and other mythical creatures, providing the perfect playground for the young participants. After long preparations, during which we created this unique world and its rules, the kids crafted their own characters.
Role-playing games have significant positive impacts on personal development. Often, players imbue their characters with traits they don’t exhibit in real life. For example, shy children might create a loud, three-meter-tall giant. By adopting these traits in a safe environment, they can practice behaviors that might help them gain confidence in real life. Our group created a wide range of characters, from centaurs to vampires. Today, everyone left their real selves at the door, fully embodying their characters, eagerly awaiting what would happen to them.
They discovered the world of Ravenna, a chain of islands, and faced tough moral decisions. Using drama pedagogy, we presented scenarios like whether they should take gold from a donation basket they needed or leave it for those less fortunate. They also learned that actions have consequences. If they treated someone poorly, they might regret it later in the story. For example, while most of the group chose not to read a secret letter, one player made the individual decision to do so, creating conflict within the team.
There was also combat, played out on a hexagon-based board using turn-based strategy. Even during the first session, they experienced a lot, and between game days, we keep their interest alive with polls and events in our Messenger group. We’ll gather again on November 2nd to continue our shared adventure.
Marcell Sebők, Szeged Group 1, History and Hungarian Teacher
The afternoon continued with excitement. After the morning’s role-playing session, we headed to the upstairs room. Following a few preparations, we began painting. I had the honor of teaching my teammates basic techniques and brush control before letting them unleash their creativity on watercolor paper.
Some painted landscapes, others animals, and one even painted a famous logo. It was thrilling to see our work come to life, and all the while, we chatted as a group. I had a fantastic time all day, leaving with plenty of memories and a beautiful painting!
Hanna Faragó, Szeged Group 3
