Muncie, Ind. — Fantasy provides people with a sense of escape, it’s what makes it so popular. And when Dungeons & Dragons took fantasy, combining it with role playing and board games people fell in love. Giving players the opportunity to play as anything whether it be a Wizard, Knight or Archer; as long as you can dream it is possible. And at D20 Dungeon, they have made an experience that enhances the game.
Lucius Conner, the owner of D20 Dungeon, first opened the doors in October of 2024. The store creates an immersive atmosphere for players that transports them right into the heart of the game. Conner was inspired to make the dungeon after he joined some friends' campaign, and fell in love with the stories that unfolded.
“We get a lot of foot traffic, a lot of people who want to stop by. Mainly because the dice on the roof and it captures a lot of attention and people are always wowed by it. We get that wow factor because it’s a unique space,” said Conner.
When you walk down to the basement passing through a cobblestone and wooden staircase lit by torches on the wall you discover the true magic. The basement turns into a medieval styled tavern, decorated with stunning art and unique fantasy decorations. Along one of the walls can be found two large wooden doors that open to unveil the immersive game room.
D20 Dungeon uses special software, artificial intelligence, color changing lights and hidden speakers to bring campaigns to life. The room was made to adapt to any situation that could arise while playing, and is all controlled by a small ipad. Dave Flowers, a dungeon master, has used D20 Dungeon to run a number of campaigns.
“We don’t use so much that we hinder the imagination, but at the same we also give a little bit just to get into that feeling. So using those extra additive things gets people for two hours to escape their lives and have an adventure where they’re not thinking of their own problems,” said Flowers.
The rise in popularity for Dungeons & Dragons in recent years has often been attributed to the massive success of groups like Dimension 20 and Critical Role, who recently had one of their first ever campaigns adapted into an animated television show by Amazon Prime called The Legends of Vox Machina.
“Its popularity has absolutely bloomed with the creation of these streams. I mean, when you take such entertaining individuals like that with just endless imagination and you can film it, that’s just beyond anything I could hope for,” said Conner.
The goal for D20 Dungeon has been to provide the community with a place to bond and share in their passion for games and storytelling. Creating an atmosphere where smiles and laughter echo through the dungeon.
“One of the things I care most about is community. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t do it for other people. I did this as a passion project because I knew it was something I would enjoy. But I also knew that there were plenty of people in the community who could use it, or would use it,” said Conner.
Giving people a place to escape to and bond has truly changed how Dungeons & Dragons has impacted many people in the Muncie community.
Contact Aiden Murray with comments at aiden.murray@bsu.edu.
