+1 for this article, I've seen the same a lot.
Having played and run D&D for 30+ years, I've found the biggest power fantasy for players is never throwing a fireball or killing a dragon.
Usually, it's just being powerful enough to save someone. To make the world better because you were there. Having a conversation that's not possible real life, and (with a good DM) getting some version of resolution.
On a lighter note, seriously, it's nice to have a conversation about life that isn't about _your_ life. Your life might suck right now, no one's fault, but it's to the point where casually talking about your life is uncomfortable for everyone. But Grogdor's life, where he just got a talking sword? Suddenly you can have small talk and social connection again without friction.
The part I don't get is where he says "Why" is an arrogant question. I think "Why" is usually the most important question. What about it is arrogant? Am I just too arrogant to see it?
Reading this I wished for a lot more meat. It ties itself to the Palestine/Israel conflict pretty early on. It's largely a footnote but it makes its presence felt in a narrative that didn't need it.
But then it never really makes an effort to explain the how. Something about a shadow dragon master who was attempting to live a life away from its base impulse to do evil. Ok, but give me more on how D&D specifically set up challenging situations that in the end saved your life.
I understand this is just someone's blog but I was really hoping to read something meaty here. Instead I got some vague indications of the life-saving potential of D&D without clear explanation. The writer is also a GM, so they should know how to tell a story.
I think it's a common joke in the D&D world that D&D sessions are just group therapy sessions where you sometimes get to kill a goblin.