my life was fundamentally changed.

For the rest of my childhood and through all of my teens, I

built entire worlds and told epic stories using nothing but

my imagination and some weird looking dice.

In my 20s, I got married and I raised a family.

Life was good, but my newfound responsibilities didn't leave

a whole lot of time for gaming.

Well, today on "TableTop," I am going back to my roots.

I've asked my friends Chris Hardwick, Sam Witwer, Kevin

Sussman, and award-winning game designer Chris Pramas to

come over and play a role playing game just like the

ones we played when we were kids.

Roll for initiative--

we're playing "Dragon Age."

[MUSIC PLAYING]

WIL WHEATON: This is an example of a classic pen and

paper role playing game that lets players explore the world

of Thedas from Bioware's award-winning "Dragon Age

Origins" and "Dragon Age II." There are three things you

need to know.

One, we are Grey Wardens in the land of Ferelden.

Second thing you need to know is that whenever we have to

resolve a conflict, we will roll three dice.

If we roll doubles on these dice, we will get to do

something called a stunt.

Just how cool that stunt is is determined by the dragon die.

The last thing you need to know, I love this game.

It is awesome.

Everything we need to know about our characters is on two

pieces of paper.

We're doing this old school--

no minis, no maps.

Everything happens in our imagination.

Get ready for "Dragon Age."

KEVIN SUSSMAN: My name is Kevin Sussman.

I sometimes am on that show "The Big Bang Theory."

CHRIS HARDWICK: My name is Chris Hardwick.

I run a thing called, "Nerdist." I host shows and I

do stand-up comedy.

SAM WITWER: I'm Sam Witwer and I'm an actor.

I am starring in a show called "Being Human."

CHRIS PRAMAS: My name is Chris Pramas.

I'm a game designer, writer, and publisher.

And I designed the "Dragon Age" tabletop role playing

game which we're playing today.

WIL WHEATON: I think that it would probably be useful for

you watching at home to know a little bit about our

characters so you can immediately choose your

favorite and who you're going to cheer for.

So I'll go ahead and start.

My name is Gorik Dunharg and I am a service dwarf warrior.

And though I say out loud, [BLEEP]

those guys that live in a hole in the ground, it's terrible,

I really just want to go home.

And then I tug my beard.

CHRIS HARDWICK: He's the sweetest little service dwarf.

Look at this little service dwarf.

WIL WHEATON: And who are you?

CHRIS HARDWICK: My character's name is Fonzor.

He's the Dragon Age version of Fonzie.

He's a human circle mage.

And his robe is actually a black leather robe.

And he casts a lot of spells by hitting things, much in the

way Fonzie did in Milwaukee in the 1960s.

CHRIS PRAMAS: I think every group has a player like Chris,

who is going to pretty much throw a little monkey wrench

into your plans by deciding to, say, put Fonzie into

"Dragon Age."

CHRIS HARDWICK: Oh, also he has [BLEEP]

everyone in Ferelden.

Everyone.

CHRIS PRAMAS: So you've really embraced the dark fantasy of

Dragon Age.

CHRIS HARDWICK: I want to put the fantasy

back in dark fantasy.

So Fonzor, that's my character.

WIL WHEATON: Cool.

Kevin, who are you?

KEVIN SUSSMAN: I'm a city elf.

My name is Thinli.

I had an arranged wedding to another elvish person.

A woman.

But that's kind of immaterial.

We were going home after the ceremony.

This person was rushing in a horse-driven cart and ran over

my brand-new bride.

And I was so enraged at this-- and I'm really not that kind

of an elf--

but I was so enraged that my bride was struck that I

grabbed the wooden wheel of the thing, and

it crashed my hand.

And so I have really a bad hand.

CHRIS PRAMAS: You seek justice?

KEVIN SUSSMAN: No, not justice.

I seek vengeance.

CHRIS PRAMAS: Vengeance.

All right.

WIL WHEATON: Sam, tell us about your character.

SAM WITWER: Keegan is a human warrior.

He's 6 foot 3.

He's basically the high school football player

of Grey Warden initiates.

In fact, his long black hair, when he was taking ax class,

it kept getting in his face, so he's cut it short except

for the back.

WIL WHEATON: Wait.

Does he have a mullet?

SAM WITWER: Well, he doesn't know that.

But he has a mullet.

CHRIS HARDWICK: It is a practical haircut.

SAM WITWER: Look, it's a practical haircut.

CHRIS PRAMAS: That's brave of you to admit.

SAM WITWER: He's also slightly racist.

CHRIS HARDWICK: Is he from the Ferelden

equivalent of Alabama?

As you've described him so far.

SAM WITWER: Yeah, basically.

WIL WHEATON: He's from the southern hills.

SAM WITWER: That's right.

WIL WHEATON: Very far south.

CHRIS PRAMAS: I love that before I even presented the

plot of the game that these guys were just off with their

characters.

CHRIS HARDWICK: Can I change one thing?

WIL WHEATON: Yeah, sure.

CHRIS HARDWICK: I feel like Fonzor has not [BLEEP]

everyone.

Because we never saw Fonzie [BLEEP]

anyone.

WIL WHEATON: That was certainly implied.

SAM WITWER: Hold on for a second.

Yeah, he had his arm around two women.

CHRIS HARDWICK: He made out with a lot of people.

So I think that's what it is.

I think his one weak spot is that during a melee he might

run off to try to make out with someone because

he can't help it.

SAM WITWER: Whereas Keegan absolutely has slept with

anyone he could get his hands on.

KEVIN SUSSMAN: Thinli remains a virgin.

CHRIS HARDWICK: What?!

SAM WITWER: We have to consummate.

CHRIS HARDWICK: We have to get Thinli laid in this.

That's part of the--

I wish I could just cast a spell and be

like, no more virginity.

I don't have that's spell yet.

I'm only a low-level mage at this point.

Some day.

So this is the '80s road trip campaign.

We're going to get him laid.

You're trying to make up for the football thing.

SAM WITWER: Right.

CHRIS HARDWICK: I'm just trying to make out with chicks

and cast some spells.

WIL WHEATON: And I just want to go home.

Tug the beard.

SAM WITWER: OK.

So we're all trying to be Grey Wardens, right?

Are we training somewhere?

CHRIS PRAMAS: So you have all been recruited by Duncan, who

is the leader of the Grey wardens.

In Ferelden.

If you survive, then you go through something called the

Joining, and that's what makes you into a real Grey Warden.

But right now--

SAM WITWER: That happen in a room with Duncan, and no one

talks about it.

CHRIS HARDWICK: Hey, you want to do the Joining?

WIL WHEATON: Speaking of dark fantasies--

CHRIS PRAMAS: Duncan wants you to know that this blight is

his last mission before he retires.

CHRIS HARDWICK: Oh, it's his last job before retirement.