Classic roleplaying tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Shadowrun, Warhammer, and World of Darkness have graced nerds’ tables since the mid-70s and continue to take the hearts of adventurers by storm. Not only inclusive to the veterans who have stuck true to the game from the beginning, the experience of running a campaign and adventuring touches college campuses, hobby shops and communities, and the humble living room.
Video games like Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Witcher 3 emphasize creating a character, adventuring, and being rewarded in experience, while tabletop games follow a theme of exploration, discovery, comradery, and story. It seems daunting to learn, and I’ll admit, there’s a learning curve, but the experience is well worth it.
Here’s why:
1. It’s universal, and easy.
There’s a style of play of everyone. New players can jump into a casual play that’s for learning, others can leap into a campaign that’s heavily story- and emotion-driven. Some people prefer exploration of lands, and others still love dungeon crawling and brutal battles. The genres of tabletop games range from classic “medieval” settings to modern urban settings and sci-fi spaceship pillaging. If there’s a setting you’ve heard of or want to experience through roleplaying, you can. The mechanics of any game take some time to learn, but with an experienced Game Master or fellow adventurers, it’s easy to understand the role of stats, dice rolls, and the etiquette of gaming.
2. It’s inexpensive.
Paper and pencil roleplaying games are as inexpensive as you’d like to make them. The most you’ll need to play are a set of rules for the game you’re playing (which are often found online for free or provided by your Game Master), a character sheet, a way to make dice rolls, and a way to take notes. Like any hobby, many veteran players tend to pour more money into books, dice, and game boards, but doing so isn’t necessary for beginning players, especially if your group has a rulebook or PDF you can look off of.
3. When you do get into it, collecting is addictive and fun.
I’ll admit, I probably have at least eight sets of dice to fuel my addiction to gaming. It’s only really necessary to have a ton of dice for certain game mechanics where you make multiple rolls, but dice come in a variety of colors, weights, and styles that makes it hard to resist their draw. Thankfully, dice tend to be rather inexpensive (ranging from around $8 for a plain set, to $20 for a more detailed set, on average), but the pull is strong for more if you’re not careful.
Books are also a wonderful collector’s item for players who become more serious, and tend to look amazing on a shelf as gamer swag. They’re fun and useful to pour over for lore, character designing, rules, and running a game, while also being juuuust expensive enough to shy away from the unnecessary wallet depletion.
For others, making, collecting, and theorizing prospective characters for campaigns tends to be their go-to. Character designing can be time consuming at first, but it’s incredibly rewarding and fun to do.
4. Finding a group is easy.
More than likely, there’s a gaming hobby store near you that hosts local events for tabletop games. These places are made to support and cater to your campaign needs in a comfortable space, with knowledgeable people to help you get started. The store owners can assist in purchases, finding local groups that gather, and advice for what game or format is best for your needs, as well as any other questions you may have.
Digital groups aren’t uncommon, either! Some Game Masters are willing to host campaigns over Skype and Discord, or utilize other online sources made for gaming, like Roll20. If all else fails and you want to start with a group of beginners, there are beginner’s kits that walk you through the process and help you get comfortable with roleplaying. It helps to go in with a friend, even if both of you might be unsure, but there’s support everywhere for new players.
Because the community is so large, there’s advice, communities, and support online for any questions, group building, or geeking out together. The resources are endless!
5. The community is strong.
Once you have a group, it’s common to have regular meetings to progress through your adventure. Having a regular gathering of people is great to build friendships, explore collaborating, and have something to look forward to on a weekly basis. It feels amazing to be surrounded by people who enjoy the same thing, share snacks, and slay monsters together.
The tabletop gaming community is also incredibly diverse and for all age groups. High schoolers, college students, adults, and even the elderly can enjoy a campaign together. It’s common to meet a college student playing a tabletop with a married man with years of experience under their belt.
If the geek in you has been dying to get out, roleplaying can give anyone the outlet to satisfy the community and proverbial bloodlust they have. I’ve seen it bring together couples, be a wonderful pastime for families, and bring more laughs than other things. Truly, tabletop gaming is absolutely and completely life-changing, and there’s no doubt about that.
