Award winning storytellers take global Dungeons and Dragons revival to exclusive new depths in underground Edinburgh
The Dungeon Masters at five-star Mercat Tours have recently established the new DnD Games Night as a regular fixture.
Article Source: Kirsty Innes PR
Last Updated: 2 October 2018 11:43
As the world witnesses a resurgence of the role playing game Dungeons & Dragons (DnD), with over nine million players registered all over the world and a hotly anticipated Paramount film set for 2021, a team of award-winning storytellers has taken the game to unique new depths in underground Edinburgh.
The Dungeon Masters at five-star Mercat Tours have recently established the new DnD Games Night as a regular fixture after their first night for charity received critical acclaim from those on the tour and some leading DnD aficionados, including Leesha Hannigan (an official illustrator for DnD). The company has even curated a special one off DnD games night as part of their spooktacular programme of Halloween Tours and events this October (26 to 31 October).
Mercat’s DnD nights take place in the centuries old underground Blair Street Vaults, two storeys beneath Edinburgh’s North Bridge – Mercat Tours is the only Edinburgh tour company with access to these vaults, which were rediscovered in the 1980s. Mercat’s version of the DnD game has a ghost theme, mixed with the real history of Edinburgh and DnD’s magical world full of powerful fighters, clever rogues, wise wizards and magical creatures of all kind.
Explaining further Lydia Gschosmann, chief Gamesmaster at Mercat said: “Our game is based on the alarmingly true stories of the Blair Street Vaults, adding a unique touch to the wonderful DnD escapism. It takes place in the wee hours of the morning, two levels beneath central Edinburgh in a dark and spooky, candle-lit tavern, surrounded by silence and restless spirits of those who dwelled and perished there.
“There's a special thrill I see in player's eyes every time they recognise an aspect of real history in the story, every time they realise who they're fighting is one of the characters they'd been told about on the tour.”
Lydia has also found that Mercat’s DnD Games Night has brought people and families together from all over the world:
“Our DnD Games Nights provides an opportunity for people to meet like-minded folks from all over the world. We’ve had people coming from Germany just to play the game - they planned their whole Scotland trip around it. At our last night, a family of four from Canada used the Games Night as a bonding experience with their daughter, an avid DnD gamer.
“It's really all about making, connections, finding like-minded people and enjoying the game in a unique atmosphere.”
Dungeons and Dragons first rose to popularity in the 70s and 80s, and thanks to social media channels and new digital platforms, has seen a revival with 2017 reported to be its best sales year in a decade. Over 9 million people have watched others play Dungeons & Dragons on Twitch, a streaming subsidiary of Amazon.
The game has featured in and inspired numerous films and TV series over the years from ET to more recently the hit Netflix TV series, Stranger Things. It has also influenced a number of authors including George RR Martin, whose book series A Song of Ice and Fire was adapted into the Game of Thrones TV Series. Other famous fans include Jon Favreau, (Iron Man), Vin Diesel, Matt Groening (The Simpsons and Futurama), Mike Myers and Robin Williams.
Mercat Tours next Dungeons & Dragons Games Night takes place on Wednesday 31 October (a special Halloween night) at Midnight. Tickets cost £50 per adult. Dungeons and Dragons novices and veterans are welcome.
For more information or to join Mercat Tours on a Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition homebrew adventure, visit www.mercattours.com
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