Gamer's Guild Provides Fun Escape for Local Teens

With today’s technology, the primary form of interaction among teens, outside of school, is computers or cell phones. But every Tuesday night, some East Brunswick teens forgo technology and head over to their to play social role-playing games.  

Bill Kulesa, 29, has been a volunteer moderator of for the last three years. He sits at a folding table with a few friends, spreading out colorful cards and organizing them.

“I’m a volunteer at the East Brunswick Library,” said Kulesa. “We play Magic: The Gathering, D&D [Dungeons & Dragons], and other role-playing games.” Primarily, he leads Magic, a collectible card RPG that was invented by a mathematics professor in 1993.

Typically, there are two games of Magic the Gathering and two games of Dungeons and Dragon going on during the meeting. The atmosphere is laid back and most of the players are friends.

“What are you doing over there?” Kulesa jokingly asks another player who is peeking at the cards. “No shenanigans!”

Dungeon & Dragons, which was invented in 1974, is a social and imaginative game in which participants role play in story form. Players are required to choose a character who has specific skills and attributes. Throughout the course of the game, players roll die and will battle within the world created and structured by the Dungeon Master, who serves as moderator.

Adam Petroski, 36, is a volunteer moderator and Dungeon Master. He stands out in the room, not due to his age, but because he is wearing a suit and tie having come directly from work.

“Anyone can come in and play whatever is going on that night. If there’s room, you can come down and play and have fun. We don’t stress the rules – it’s a little more fast and loose and a little more silly,” said Petroksi.  “It’s something to have fun with on a Tuesday night.”  

Nick Zadotti, 13, is a rising eighth grader at Churchill Junior High School and has attended the club’s games for the last year and a half. “I like it because you can come here with all these people and just play Magic: the Gathering and play D&D. It’s just a fun thing to do with people,” he said.  

While the majority of the 20 or so participants are boys, representing the girls are Shreeda Segan and Kyra Kevin, rising sophomores at East Brunswick High School.

“The real [live] game is much better,” said Segan. “This game was played in real life before it went on the Internet,” she added.  She socializes with their friends as the group waits for their Dungeon Master to start the game.

The Gamer’s Guild meets in a sound proof room in youth services’ programming room located near the children’s section. Meetings are scheduled for the rest of this month on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Beginners of any age are welcome and lessons are available. For more information, visit the calendar of the events on the East Brunswick Public Library's website.

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