Ben Wootten : Inside Otago's fantasy gaming subculture

Otago University Roleplaying Society members (above, from left) Helen Jones-Rippey, Angus Dingwall, Stuart Stoddart, Simon Ashby, Ian Bayard and Matt Swain participate in a Live Action Role Play (Larp). Photo by ODT. : Inside Otago's fantasy gaming subculture

A knight faces the fiery fury of a dragon in an illustration by Ben Wootten. Image supplied. : Inside Otago's fantasy gaming subculture

The infamous and tough Owlbear, as redrawn by Ben Wootten, is the bane of lower-level Dungeons and Dragons characters. : Inside Otago's fantasy gaming subculture

Ben Wootten was commissioned to do this redrawing of Dungeons and Dragons' ultimate bad guy, the Red Dragon, which appeared in the game's first book. : Inside Otago's fantasy gaming subculture

Magic: The Gathering participants play wizards using cards to wield weapons, spells and creatures against each other. Photo by Peter McIntosh. : Inside Otago's fantasy gaming subculture

Kimberley Sanson as her cosplay character Rikku the happy-go-lucky thief. Photo by Gregor Richardson. : Inside Otago's fantasy gaming subculture