The world of bards, druids and magic isn't as fantastical as it sounds in Daniel Knight's Dungeons and Dragons-themed short film. An affectionate, realist take on the experience of the famed tabletop role-playing game, this excerpt from Blood on the Game Dice finds its party hitting a hairy moment in their campaign.

The characters certainly try to set a mystical mood: their table is set with lit candles, and one character is dressed in a chainmail suit of armour (under the hood is Liam McIntyre, who later starred in the Starz show Spartacus). But petty squabbling and an awkward run-in with a pizza delivery guy reveal the grounded reality entwined with the fantasy. The filmmakers pay great attention to the textures of suburban life, from the cluttered bedroom of a teenage boy to a rickety bicycle with a makeshift unicorn head attached.

Mundane backdrops and dialogue coexist with the immersion of the game, showing how shared fantasy and play can create real-life tension and sometimes have real-life consequences. A homage to the passion of D&D players, the film may be humorous, but it takes the roll of the dice seriously.