by Rod Machen
The world of Dungeons and Dragons is no longer an underground hobby, engaged in by nerds in a basement, and it hasn’t been for quite some time. It is a huge industry with legions of fans and many prominent proponents. The documentary Dwarvenaut explores one such figure.
The film digs deep into the life of Stefan Pokorny, a Brooklyn based D&D artist and entrepreneur. He specializes is crafting miniature towns and landscapes to be used while playing the game. Tiny figures of knights and clerics are moved about meticulously crafted castles, roads, and well, dungeons. It takes a special kind of obsession to make one’s life mission such a specialized task inside of an already specialized world, and he has it.
Stefan’s reputation as a Dungeon Master (one who runs a D&D game) is legendary, and it’s easy to see why. He’s engaging, and more than anything else, he’s passionate. He cares so much that it makes everyone around him want to be a part of whatever it is he’s building, be it a game, a full suit of actual armor, or a company.
Herein lies the main driver of the action in Dwarvenaut. Stefan’s company is running a Kickstarter campaign to build his dream project, a complete medieval village, complete with a full-fledged backstory for days and days of nerdy goodness. He and his team shoot promotional videos, attend conventions, and have a good time doing it all. The end goal of two million dollars is ambitious, to say the least.
Stefan’s outward happy-go-lucky demeanor hides a difficult past. An orphan of Korean and American descent, he was adopted by wealthy European immigrants living in Manhattan. His formative years were a mix of privilege and rebellion. His lack of success in traditional schools lead him to find his calling in the worlds of art and fantasy.
Some of the movie’s best moments are when Stefan takes us inside the world of D&D royalty. While at Gary Con, a convention dedicated to the creator of Dungeons and Dragons, Gary Gygax, Stefan hangs out with some of the long-time keepers of the flame, and even visits the house in which Gygax invented the game so many have devoted their lives to. It is a true geek pilgrimage.
Stefan is not perfect. He has a hard time holding his liquor, and we see the consequences of one such episode. This flaw rounds out what is otherwise the story of a literal Mr. Nice Guy. It is easy to root for him to achieve his business goal in hopes that there will be a little more happiness and magic in the world, even it sometimes involves monsters.