Why Yes, That IS Karen Page Teaching the Punisher How to Play D&D
In a surprisingly heartwarming episode of Real Ones, Deborah Ann Woll teaches Jon Bernthal how to play D&D. It’s so wholesome.
There is just something inherently wholesome about someone learning how to play a roleplaying game. It’s almost always the same. You watch someone take tentative steps into their imagination, realizing “wait I can DO this?” the same way a baby fawn first learns to maneuver their limbs across wintry ground.
And before you know it, the light comes on in their eyes, and they are off at a spring. RPGs help light a spark the way any creative endeavor does. And it’s especially wholesome when you see someone who’s real good at it doing the teaching.
Which is exactly what we have on a recent episode of Real Ones, where Deborah Ann Woll, who is not only an amazing actress but also a talented D&D player/streamer, teaches Jon Bernthal fresh off of Deadpool 3’s set, how to play D&D. And you get a look at how the game influences acting, and can change the trajectory of your life.
Deborah Ann Woll Teaches Jon Bernthal D&D
Deborah Ann Woll introduces Jon Bernthal to Dungeons & Dragons. She explains the game’s basics, demonstrating character creation and a simple scenario. Woll discusses how D&D influences her acting and serves as a creative outlet. The conversation explores the game’s impact on her life and career.
In the course of an 8 minute video, Woll takes Bernthall into the world of a D&D adventure. And all it takes is a quick description. Right about a minute and a half in, you can see Bernthal start to realize “wait a minute, I have a bow, oh that’s cool” and it takes off from there.
What’s real fun is that Woll just immediately drops Bernthal into a sort of simplified D&D session. The best way to teach someone D&D is to just have them do it. And Woll sort of describes what kind of dice rolls they might make since there’s no actual dice on hand. But you know what? It still works. Is this how you might run someone through their first session? No. But as an introduction that hooks someone in? It really works.
Because Bernthal goes through all the same realization. He gets into playing his character. See if you can find the moment where he gets that look in his eyes of “oh we’re in this now, what’s up with this owlbear”? From there, Woll eventually helps Bernthal arrive at the real goal of D&D:
“But is the goal to win?”
“No.”
Advertisement“What’s the goal?”
“To tell a great story.”
Lessons we could all take to heart.
