Made in Vermont: Dungeons by Dan

MILTON, Vt. (WCAX) – It’s a game of imagination, warlocks, wizards, dungeons and dragons. The decades-old fantasy roleplaying game, Dungeons and Dragons, is beloved by many. That includes Milton’s Dan DiPietro. He’s been playing since he was a little kid.

“I put it away for a little while, but as I got older, I realized I really enjoyed the adventure,” he said.

Now, he plays with his own kids. And his business, Dungeons by Dan, makes imagining all of the possibilities easy. With a love for the game and a background in graphic design, he decided to make maps for people to use during the game. They work on both the tabletop and the computer, and while you don’t necessarily need them to play, the Champlain College graduate says they add a lot to the experience.

“[They] liven the gameboard and really enhance the space when you’re playing on it,” said DiPietro. “You’re not just thinking in imagery but you’re actually playing on beautiful artwork.”

While the choose-your-own-adventure game can take you anywhere, the ideas for these maps begin in DiPietro’s brain.

“I just start writing ideas down and it’s just literally a brainstorm,” he said. “Once I come up with a dozen or so ideas, I start illustrating those ideas or I start working on the computer with those ideas.”

Drawing influence from organized religions and cultures, DiPietro has made thousands of maps. His physical copies are printed locally, though he offers downloadable versions for people playing online. He sells them at medieval events and on his website, and does so with much success as the game’s player base grows.

“It’s been a huge upswing, especially from COVID, but it was already happening. It just sort of launched it forward,” he explained.

DiPietro also 3D prints little characters for gameplay. Those, coupled with his maps, make his side gig the ultimate treasure for his D&D-loving kids. And, it gives DiPietro, who moonlights as a dungeon master, the chance to put work away and play.

“I love what I do because the creation process enhances my storytelling,” he said. “It allows you to unleash your creativity into wherever you want to go and that really never gets old.”

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