Tabletopics: First Introductions to Tabletop RPGS

This week, we ran our first ever TWITTER CHAT. It was the inaugural event for #Tabletopics, a new weekly TTRPG-centered conversation. The opening topic? How YOU were introduced to tabletop. So, let's dive in! There's a lot of great highlights to cover, and we can't wait to revisit what we learned and discussed this past Thursday evening.

I was fourteen in high school. We had one set of dice and a player's handbook.

I think my first experience was MTG Arena of the Planeswalkers! I think I was 14 but it was such a super fun game.

My high school boyfriend introduced me to 3.5 when I was fourteen!

A good number of our chatters were in their teen years when they first discovered tabletop and roleplay. In fact, FOURTEEN was the most recurring age. For a lot of us, that's when we were just starting high school. The fact that this adventuring bug hits us when we're about to venture into a terrifying and new world says a lot about the importance of escapism. There are new social dynamics to be considered, harder classwork, and the pressure of getting everything "right" is laid on much stronger than it was in earlier school years. How wonderful it is that we were able to turn to a magical world of adventure and daring heroics to help us through it!

Rogue Trader because it was the first one husband and I got to play together. And we ended up together on game and out of game.

#DnD5e, always. Its accessibility, and the way I can easily get people to play and pick it up and feel good about it is really special.

Changeling the Dreaming. It’s an RPG about being an outsider and different in a world that doesn’t understand you and wants you to conform. Very impactful as a young queer teen for me.

Of all the questions we asked on Thursday, THIS one had the most varied answers. From AD&D to Vampire the Masquerade to RuneQuest, everyone had their own reasons for enjoying roleplay. As with any art form, certain things speak to us in different ways.

Some of us enjoy the element of familiarity, and stick with the first TTRPG we ever played. It's comfortable, like coming home every time you play. Then, there are those who found lasting love or friendship at the table, or those who love the experience they can craft as a Dungeon Master, and their love of the game is centered around building worlds for others. And, finally, we have players who found something they could truly relate to in a game. Something that maybe isn't so easy to manage in the real world at first, but helps remind you that you're not alone.

I will always promote roleplay and exploring characters but my true love is combat.

I really enjoy creating characters and interacting with the worlds and people who live in them. I especially live for those moments in which players come to a realization and have big progression moments for their characters.

As a Dungeon Master, I love exploration and social. Creating worlds, interacting with NPCs and PCs, etc. But as a PLAYER, nothing feels more satisfying than a great win over a tough combat encounter.

We found a bit of a theme with this question. A lot of our storytellers and Dungeon Masters preferred to build and explore the world from behind the screen, but really just wanted to hit things whenever they joined the rest of the table. The desire for "success" in RPGs is measured in different ways by different people, and apparently different ways by the same people as well! When our Dungeon Master builds a beautiful story that captures our imaginations, he feels fulfilled. But, when he joins us as a player, he is just as thrilled to deal the final blow to a Big Boss, with no roleplay or story involved.

I believe that the true beauty in the RPG Pillars is that the mix of all of them, when done right,​ can satisfy every player at your table. Combat moments that feel like action movies can be thrilling for your barbarian or fighter. A political intrigue where your bard or rogue gets to shine not only makes them feel useful, but often gives the lore a chance to be explored. There are so many ways to balance a table experience, why settle for just one?

I have always been a fan of some sort of map, but I also can really enjoy just a good Theatre of The Mind for any good ​ttrpg.

Theatre of the mind. To me, it maintains immersion and duplicates the hectic and confusing nature of 6 seconds of combat.

I will always prefer Theatre Of The Mind. It gives you more flexibility. No “I have to count exactly these hexes” holding you back, as a DM or a player. If someone gets creative enough, HELL YEAH they should be able to! Maps feel very limiting sometimes.

There is something beautifully nostalgic, in my opinion, about group storytelling using only our imaginations. It brings people together in an incredibly unique way, where you aren't tied down by grid squares or exact numbers, but you are encouraged to stretch your own creativity. Of course, there are inherent issues with Theatre of the Mind (which I will cover in a future post) but they are easily manageable, and the payout far outweighs the problems. It's worth exploring, when you can join a team in person.

The lovely thing about this day and age, however, is that you don't always have to be right at the table with your fellow adventurers. Many of our chatters mentioned how great mediums like Discord and Roll20 are, for when you just don't have people to play with in person. Don't ever let your situation in life prevent you from finding a party. Many of us may prefer Theatre of the Mind, but at the end of the day, we're just excited to play.

My 1st experience I was 12 or so, only been playing a few years, but helped my friends make characters and ran some of the old modules. Eventually ran some campaigns later. Prefer to play, my favorite DM is my sister, who I introduced and ran a campaign for.

My first DMing experience was about a year ago with Adventurers League. I had no idea what I was doing but my DM and the usual backups were sick and I ran something. Now I occasionally do table catchups and such but I don’t DM all the time but I’m getting better at it.

It was really a lot of fun! But I ended up getting overwhelmed after a couple of sessions, so I may wait till I am a little more balanced with at home life.

Something shifts in us as players as we step behind the screen for the first time. We are no longer just a part of the story, we are in charge of EVERYONE'S enjoyment at the table. That can, understandably, be overwhelming. But I am here to tell you: KEEP GOING! Just look at what can be built! Our chatter who introduced his sister to D&D and ran her first campaign, and now she is his favorite Dungeon Master. The gamer who didn't know she was being dropping into DMing, but handled it like a champ, and keeps coming back to it now. Even the player who had a blast, but may wait awhile before returning to it.

Everyone gets there at their own pace. And everyone lends their own voice and style to the story. Don't be afraid to give it a try! You may love it, or you may hate it. But the possibility of becoming the creator of your own world should never be ignored, if that is a dream you have. Too often, our fear of not being "good enough" as Dungeon Masters can cripple us, but that voice telling you you don't deserve to run a game is WRONG. We talked with masters of all levels on Thursday, and we were proud of every single one of them. They all deserve to be behind the screen, and so do you. Get out there, and keep playing! Keep learning! Keep rolling those dice, adventurers!

Whether you prefer to play or run, whether you are a play-by-post aficionado or you have your own to-scale dungeon run in your basement, the world of Tabletop Roleplay needs YOUR voice. Keep chatting with us every Thursday night, 8 PM Eastern Time, as we dive into even more Tabletopics. This week, join us for our next discussion: CHARACTER BUILDING! From stat rolls to alignments, there's so much more to be discovered! We'll see you soon, adventurers. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @RandomNCounter, and be sure to let us know what topics YOU would like discussed in the future!