Let's all cast our minds back to the early and mid-80s when D&D was getting REALLY popular.
There are more, if you want to find them. Lots more really.
The biggest Triumph we have had as RPG players and geeks, in general, is that society has come to embrace us.
The biggest movies in the world now are all nerdy topics that never would have worked in the 80s. Comic-books, stories about wizards, Lord of the Rings, movies about Aliens.
Let's have a look at the at the top box office earners according to Box Office Mojo.
| 1 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | BV | $936,662,225 | 2015 |
| 2 | Avengers: Endgame | BV | $858,188,415 | 2019 |
| 3 | Avatar | Fox | $760,507,625 | 2009^ |
| 4 | Black Panther | BV | $700,059,566 | 2018 |
| 5 | Avengers: Infinity War | BV | $678,815,482 | 2018 |
| 6 | Titanic | Par. | $659,363,944 | 1997^ |
| 7 | Jurassic World | Uni. | $652,270,625 | 2015 |
| 8 | Marvel's The Avengers | BV | $623,357,910 | 2012 |
| 9 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | BV | $620,181,382 | 2017 |
| 10 | Incredibles 2 | BV | $608,581,744 | 2018 |
The only "non-geek" movie in the bunch is Titanic.
Now celebrities tout their geek and D&D cred like it is a badge of honor and respect.
Vin Disel, Stephen Colbert, Felicia Day, Dwayne Johnson, Joe Manganiello among many others routinely talk about D&D. Will Wheaton walks around Gen Con like he BELONGS there (spoiler, he does!).
And then you have something like this.
Actress Dominique Tipper from "The Expanse", a British/Dominican actress of color so no where near the stereotype of a D&D player.
WHY DID NO-ONE TELL ME ABOUT D&D?! Whhhhhhhhhhyyyyy @Casanvar was most suprised when I messaged him and was like “bro why havent we played D&D yet?” And then I was all “so can you DM a D&D game for the cast next season?” 😂 lets see if I can get everyone on board hehe!— Dominique Tipper (@Mi55Tipper) August 20, 2019
Her Twitter posts after this have been a delight. She is falling in love with the game so many of us love and it is a wonderful thing.
The Triumph of D&D is how we went from being persecuted in the 80s to being in the limelight today.
They say the best revenge is living well and D&D is living well indeed.
If you haven't read it already, you need to read this: https://twitter.com/AntnHz/status/1165011404086284289?s=20 to demonstrate how far D&D has come and how ubiquitous it is now, breaking down barriers left, right, and centre.
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