×

Red Dragon patrons on a roll

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Wynnifred (front left) and LeRoy Tanner (front right) of the New Ulm Public library, check instructions for the game “Dragon Dice” Thursday at Red Dragon Gaming.

NEW ULM — Patrons of Red Dragon Gaming were on a roll Thursday night at a special “Dragon Dice” Tournament, Thursday.

“Dragon Dice” is a game that simulates a battle between fantasy characters using dice. Each dice in the game represents a character in a player’s army. The game features a combination of luck and strategy. The dice rolls are random, but how and when a player chooses to roll, has an impact.

Sci-fi and fantasy author Christopher Schmitz hosted the tournament, which was organized and co-sponsored by the New Ulm Public Library. Schmitz is a huge fan of the game. He grew up playing the “Dragon Dice” game as a teenager and now is helping revive interest through gaming demonstrations and even helping produce new books on the game.

Schmitz said the company that produced that game once published books about the game, but abruptly stopped. Two announced books that were intended for release in 1996 never came out. Schmitz had always wondered what happened to the books.

Now a professional author, Schmitz approached the game’s current publisher SFR, Inc., about starting the book series again.

“I told them ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ continues to live on because there is a narrative,” Schmitz said.

The “Dragon Dice” story had already started years ago, and he wanted the company to continue it. He was able to contact the authors of the two books that were never released. One of the authors had a completed manuscript that only required a few updates and is scheduled to be released over 20 years later.

Schmitz has also begun holding “Dragon Dice” tournaments and demonstrations to bring back interest in the game.

“There is a lot of nostalgia for the game,” Schmitz said. He has been taking the game to various fan conventions and there is a great love for the game.

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the number of tournaments that can be held. Schmitz said this was one of the first demonstrations he held.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today