My Playlist: Checking in with Hasbro team members about the cultural essentials inspiring their work.

DAN RAWSON

Global Play Lead

Dungeons & Dragons

and RPG

What are you watching,

playing, reading right now?

Checking in with Hasbro

team members about the cultural

essentials inspiring their work.

LORD OF THE RINGS, BY J.R.R TOLKIEN.

Easily my favorite book of all time. It was after reading it that I was primed for Dungeons & Dragons without knowing it - but my Mom did, and when she brought home the Red Box, it was off to the races for me and the kids from my block. I didn't really understand the rules then but countless hand-drawn sketches of maps on graph paper were drawn, numerous magical items were invented, and endless adventures were had. While I don't have the original LOTR books from childhood, I still

have my Red Box Starter Set and an impressive collection of Advanced D&D books from childhood to this day. D&D has inspired me for decades, and it's such a delight that my work now is all about preserving and extending the legacy of creativity, friendship, and collaboration that I learned from D&D as a kid.

MY GARMIN WATCH.

After feeling miserable and unfit for too long, I decided to do something about it. I'm motivated by big goals, so I thought, "What's a big enough goal to keep me motivated toward improving my health and fitness?" Ironman triathlons was my answer. So, before swimming, cycling, or running a foot, I bought a Garmin Forerunner 945 with a blue Ironman strap. That was October 2019. On the same day, I registered for the 2020 Maple Valley Half-Ironman, which was COVID delayed. So, I kept training and entered the 2021 race and finished. Since then, I've completed three races and I'm training for the next one. The blue band and watch are a constant reminder to get out of bed and GET IT DONE.

BRAILLE DICE.

D&D is one of the most accessible games and sources of entertainment anyone can engage in, as all the action can exist entirely in the theater of your mind. As a military veteran and executive sponsor of the Disability Community Employee Resource Group at Wizards of the Coast, I take pride in the work we do that so positively invites everyone to the party.

BALDUR'S GATE 3.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about a D&D game that has swept every Game of the Year award? Lately, I've really enjoyed playing couch co-op sessions with my wife and kid on BG3. Our partners at Larian did a fantastic job bringing the characters and Forgotten Realms setting to life, and we are thrilled with the response - but nobody warned me about all the surprising things I'd learn about my family as we play together…like, my wife's BG3 romantic choices or my son's surprise at what squirrels have to say!

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