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Show B-11 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Frl, January 5-7, 2005 Fantasy game teaches young players Dungeons & Dragons celebrates 30 years of adventure By JARED WHITLEY Of the Record staff About twice a month, Nick Ballases, 15, travels to Salt Lake City to enter a world of wizards, goblins, sorcery, and adventure. The Treasure Mountain Middle School student goes to bookstores in Salt Lake to play Dungeons and Dragons with friends there, the 30year-old fantasy roie-playing game that allows players to assume the roles of fantasy characters - like warriors, elves, and dwarves. During its 30th anniversary in 2004, Dungeons and Dragons (or "D and D") received national media attention from organizations like Newsweek, NPR, MSNBC, CNN, the Associated Press, National Review, and others. D and D released a starter set to ease people into the game, and a book called "Thirty Years of Adventure: a Celebration of Dungeons and Dragons," which tracks the games history and highlights. The book's introduction is by action star Vin Diesel, who describes how the game's fantasy and heroism helped inspire him. "The depth of the story is very amazing," Ballases said. "Something pops out of nowhere every time you play." One player - called the "pungeon Master" - sets up a story line with challenges and enemies, and the others players try to solve the puzzles with their own creativity and the abilities of their imaginary characters. Friends can play their own party of fantastic adventurers like the characters from the "Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter" books and movies. COURTESY OF WIZARDS OF THE COAST In D and D, players assume the roles of fantasy adventurers. Ballases' favorite character is an elf druid named Nits. "I like that every time you play it, it's different. It's new," Ballases said. "The characters grow." Ed Stark, a senior game designer with Wizards of the Coast, the Washington-based company that produces D and D, praised the educational merits of the game in an email interview with The Park Record. "Role-playing is an excellent way to promote education," said Stark, who has a master's in education. "Anyone who plays D and D learns to love reading." Playing the game teaches problem-solving, imagination, patience, and cooperation with others because the players work together as a team. "You can't have a fun role-playing experience without everyone working together," Stark said. "That means letting everyone take rums, talk when they need to, and listen to everyone else...In D and D, teamwork and fair play are essential to the experience and I think those are important aspects of education as well." "It's a very good game," Ballases said. "It's like chess, sort of. Chess advanced, for our younger age." Critical parts of the game, like combat, are decided by rolling dice, so the outcome is never certain. "The dice can be your friend or your enemy," Ballases said. Because D and D is a game of imagination, paper, books, and dice, it demands more thoughtfulness than, for example, video games do. "In Dungeons and Dragons you have to strategize," Ballases said. "In video games, they already have a guide for you. You make the guide...in video games, it's all set for you. In Dungeons and Dragons it's different, every choice leads to different outcomes." But competing with video games can be tough because D arid D doesn't have the same "flash" that they do, Stark said. "D and D books all have great illustrations, but they can't compete with a high-end video game or movie for simple flash," Stark said. "Video games tout '40+ hours of game play' on their box covers (at best, most times) and while that's substantial, D and D literally provides unlimited amounts of game play...you can keep playing practically forever." And some gamers do. While the fantasy role-playing game is popular among teenagers (mostly boys), some players continue the game for decades. Blake Barlow, 27, was first introduced to D and D while he was a student at Parley's Park Elementary School. The displaced Parkite, who now lives in New York City with his wife, Jenny, continues to play. "I continue to play mainly because it's fun," Barlow said. "It's what my friends and I do when we're together. It's more social than video games or a movie, and it's more mentally, emotionally and creatively stimulating than any other pastime I can think of." Barlow is a professional actor, and particularly enjoys assuming different roles. One time he played a character who stuttered all the time to help develop his acting skills. He also attests to the game's educational merits. Barlow recounted correctly answering a Pre-SAT question to list all the colors in their proper chromatic order because he'd encountered a D and D trap a few nights earlier that asked the exact same question. (The order is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.) "It has also helped me socially in very real ways such as empathy building, creative problem solving, and strategic planning," Barlow said. But the game's benefits have gone well past that for Barlow. "I've only recently started realizing how D and D was a release for social and familial stress growing up," he said. "What characters I made and the powers and abilities they had often reflected areas of my life where I felt powerless or inept. "When I could do nothing about the bullies at school, defeating a frost giant with a fireball spell validated me again," he continued. 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Bohnn, MD •Robert J. Evcrs, MD •Chris Hayes, MD Family Nurse Practitioners •Herb Lepley, FNP-C •June Neeley, MS,APRN,FNC-C •Kathleen Thomas, MSN.FNP Physician Assistant •Eileen Price-Burke, PA-C.RN HEALTHSOUTH Surgery Center of Park City 1850 Sidewinder Dr. #120 (435) 615-0240 Endoscopies, and Colonoscopies, Ear, Nose and Throat, General Surgery, Hand, Neuro Surgery, Gynecology, Oral, Orthopedic, Otolaryngology (Head and Neck), Pain Management, Plastic, Podiatry, Urology. Experienced staff committed to exceptional, personalized care. Please, contact us for surgeon information. Hours: 7 am - 5 pm, Mon. - Fri. MEDICAL DOCTORS MEDICAL DOCTORS MEDICAL DOCTORS OB-Gyn Associates Board Certified, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Fertility, Pelvic Surgery Offering Bioidentical Hormone Therapy! Dr.Stephanie Singer DanieUe Demeter CNM Certified Nurse Midwife--***•*-**v 1820 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 115 Park City, Ut (l u floor Health South Building) Open M-F No wait required. Same day appointment available. 435-655-6617 • Elect rodiagnostics/EMG Scott Adelman MD Michael Giovanniello, MD Board certified 801-676-SMART (Salt Lake City) Park City, Utah 84060 (435) 658-3090 Orthopedic Sport Medicine Spinal Evaluation and Surgery Les J Harris, MD Office Located in Snow Creek Emergency & Medical Center (adjacent to Dan's) 649-7407 Salt Lake Office 801-269-2802 Rosenberg-Co oley Clinic Knee • Shoulder • Spine • Specialists Thomas D. Rosenberg, M.D. Vernon J. Cooley, M.D. Michael H. Metcalf, M.D. Charles C. Rich, M.D. Larry G. Leonard M.D. MarkE. Moritz, D.P.M. 1820 Sidewinder Dr. Suite 100 Prospector Square 655-6600 Snow Creek Medical Center 1600 Snow Creek Drive (adjacent to Dans Foods). 435-655-0055 Walk in Visits Welcome, Short Waiting Times, Primary, Urgent, Emergency and Trauma Care, On Site Orthopedic Consultation, Pediatrics, and OB/Gyn. Open 365 days per year Board Certified Emergency Physicians • Lisa Anderson, MD • Kathy Atkinson, MD • Arnold Finkleman, MD • Robert Gannon, MD . • Kristen Jahn, MD • Larry Orosz, MD • Mark Paradise, MD • John Silverman, MD Board Certified Family Practice Physicians • Julie Dolan, MD • Brian Rush, MD Board Certified Obstetrics &C Gynecology • James Roth, MD Summit Pediatrics has relocated and expanded. We honor most insurances and medicaid plans. Quality care for infants, children and adolescents. Well child exams, adolescent and behavioral medicine. Sport and Scout physicals. Currently scheduling 6 days per week with urgent care clinics in the evenings and Saturdays. Leslie Webster MD, Kathy Osder, MD and Lena Terry M.D. 1790 W. Sun Peak Dr. Ste.AlOl, Park City, 435-6550926 and 906 So. Main St., Heber City, 435-657-0101 and 24 hr. on call coverage 435-615-8866 The SMART CUnic •Sports & Spine' •Minimal invasive spine surgery •Endoscopic laser disk surgery Duane E. 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Park City Internal Medicine Pediatrics Primary care for infants to seniors. • Adult and pediatric medical care • Well care and preventative medicine • Acute and chronic illnesses • Women's health • Health and wellness promotion • School, sports and camp physicals • Same day appointments available • Evening and weekend hours • Hablamos espanol Board Certified in Internal Medicing and Pediatrics • Viet Nguyen, MD, FAAP • Penny Peacock, MD 1612 West Ute Blvd., Ste 112 (In Kimball Junction behind Wendy's Hours: M-TH: 10-7, F:10-4, S 9-12 Phone: (435) 655-3309 1 SALTZ PLASTIC SURGERY Repato Saltz, M.D.; FACS iCertified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery www. sal tzpl as ti csu rgery. co m Conveniently located in Prospector next to Health South Surgery Center in the Rosen be rg-Cooley Clinic 1820 Sidewinder Park City-655-6612 MUSIC PIANO • Cocktail • Dining • Private • Classic • Jazz ' Blues • Funk p tsheedy@gm ail. com Patrick Sheedy 801-520-0252 TOSH Physical Therapy 1850 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 310 Park City Medical & Office Plaza Open Mon-Sat (435) 647-5955 Our therapists have served die communiry for the past 12 years. TOSH is the official provider for the U.S. Ski, Snowboardine and Speed Skating Teams. Our therapists are experts in the field of physical dierapy. We specialize in orthopedics and sports mediPark City Plastic Surgery cine. Most insurance plans accepted. Larry G. Leonard, M.D., FACS Physical Therapists: Board Certified in plastic & S. Marlene Hatch, PT reconstructive surgery. Laurie Savage-Wing, PT 1795 Sidewinder Driver, Suite 200 Jan Watts, PT, ATC Clayton Building/Prospector Sq. Beau Johnson, MPT 435-647-0074 Occupational Therapy: Kathleen Papi-Baker, OT University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics Athletic Trainers: Summit Health Community Clinic Steve Brace, ATC 1750 W Sun Peak Dr. Krista Clayton, PTA 647-5740 Robyn Hase, ATC Kyle Wilkens, ATC • Adult, Pediatric and OB/GYN 8:00 am to 6:00 Monday -Friday Accelerations: Steve Sherwood, MS, ATC Sat. 8:00AM to 12:00PM Jim Walker, PHd " On-sice Pharmacy JS:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday-Friday Ildiko Strehli, BS Massage Therapy: Sat. 9:00AM to 12:00PM Christine Heidiklang, LMT • University Cardiology Mobile Echo , Pam Green, LMT Program First and third Tuesdays of each month 9:00AM to 5:00PM PSYCHOTHERAPY Board Certified Internal Medicine Mary Parsons, MD Board Certified Family Practice Joseph Bermar^ MD Natascha Lautenschlager, MD Board Certified Pediatrics American Academy of Pediatric Fellow Karen Lantz, MD OB/QYN Tina fought, Certified Nurse Midwife OPHTHALMOLOGY Mountain Valley Eye Institute at Park City Vision Center John B. Fa&sio, M.D. Board Certified Ophthalmologist Providing comprehensive medical and surgical eye care in Park City. 1920 Prospector Ave. loxi Nelson licensed Clinical Social Worker is now accepting new client referrals at Mountain Strength Wellness Center located in the Deer Valley Plaza. Specializing in psychotherapy with children, adolescents and adults, personal and life coaching and emotional wellness. Including substance abuse, individual and couples counseling, adjustment issues and anger management. For appointments contact 615-7600 or 714-0901. Located at 1375 Deer Valley Drive, suite 206. PRIVATE 5CH00L PARK CITY ACADEMY An independent, Christian, college preparatory school that welcomes a diverse community of students. Some Reasons Our Students Achieve Utah's Highest SA. T. Scores: • Small class sizes of 18 students or less with dynamic teachers! " Personalized excellence program for each student • Integrated curriculum with specialists in Fine Arts, Music, Foreign Languages, Science, Compputers, and Physical Education • Member Core Knowledge Foundation • Competiteve Sports - Member Wasatch Athletic Conference • Outdoor Education Program • Character Building & Community Service For information call 435-649-2791 3120W. PinebrookRd Park City, Utah 84098 THE COLBY SCHOOL An independent, non-profit school providing academic excellence in a caring community. Our students benefit from: • Research-based Tribes Model • Small class sizes (16 or less fro K-8, 12 students with two teachers for pre-school) • Integrated curriculum blending art, music , foreign language, and physical education for all students in Pre-School through 8th grade • Hands on Science Exploration in partnership with community organizations • Service learning • Outdoor education For information call 435-655-3966 3770 N. Hwy 224 Park City, UT 84060 www. thecolbyschool.org Imagine your child at The Colby School |