Introducing Table Top RPG games (like Dungeons & Dragons) to Non-Players
The purpose of this is to be a reference for introducing people who have maybe heard about D&D or Table Top Role Play Games (TTRPG) but just don't know much else about it. It can be a very intimidating world to get into. But I hope to clarify what these games are like, clear up some misconceptions, and a few resources to get you started. I also feel like this is helpful to adults responsible for children to get an idea what the real concerns about appropriateness for certain age groups.
(Side note: I'm working on a TTRPG-like game that can be scaled in difficulty for different age groups.)
What is a Table Top Role Playing Game? 🧝
In a nutshell, Table Top Role Playing Games (TTRPG) are a collaborative story telling game that put rules and limitations around the setting, characters, and actions the players can make.
The most apt analogy I have is it's like an improvised play.
One person is like the play's busy-body director who is also responsible for the backgrounds, the sound system, the prompter, and some of the extra background characters. This person is often referred to as the Game Master or "GM". (The title Dungeon Master or "DM" is specific to D&D, "GM" is the generic term.) The other people playing the game are the play's actors.
These actors only have the premise and theme of the play so they can create an appropriate character for their role. The director has the full script of prompts and will narrate the scenes for the actors. The actors must improvise how they react to the scene described by the director.
The Role of Dice 🎲
The purpose of rolling dice is to add some unpredictable elements to any given action that may have a chance of success or failure. For example, making a basket from the 3-point line or shooting an arrow at a stationary target. However, it's not just pure luck. Characters are specialized based on the role they play so they can have weighted rolls for actions that relate to their specialty. If the character is a professional basketball player, they will have some advantage to their dice roll to see if they make the basket.
Every game system will have their own way of handling dice rolls but on the surface level, all systems basically have the concept of skewing dice rolls
A Typical Game Night 🌛
Group of friends or acquaintances gathered around a table. You'll likely have snacks and drinks on hand because you're going to be here for awhile. For me, our game nights started at 4 pm and ended around 7 pm or 8 pm. (We'd break for dinner.) Much of the time is spent getting set up, settled in, recapping what happened last time, getting sidetracked by a random thought, some heated discussion about rules, someone getting distracted by their phone, stopping to eat, waiting for someone to get out of the rest room, and maybe make it through two or three steps in the game story (or at least it felt like we only made a tiny bit of progress).
When people meet to play we call it a "session". For long sessions, we will agree to meet regularly to continue the story. This makes the story a bit episodic. On a rare occasion, there are "one-shot sessions". These are very simple stories that could lead to future sessions but can be closed after you're done.
Clearing up Misconceptions😵
D&D isn't the only game out there. 🐉
It's so infamous that it's become like the Kleenex of Table Top Games. There are so many different settings and rulesets out there it will make your head spin! Many of them are in the high fantasy setting with elves, orcs, dragons, and dungeons to explore. However, there are modern-day settings, Old West, Noir, Horror, Superheroes, Sci-Fi, Cyberpunk, and some that don't come with any preconceived setting. Many franchises will see a tabletop game, such as Star Wars, Dragon Age, My Little Pony, and Avatar the Last Air Bender. (You'll note that some of these franchises are child-friendly. These ones may have easier-to-understand rules, but that's a big maybe.)
You don't have to dress up and act like a character. 👗
I know I used a theater skit as an example but in reality, most normal games are between normal people who can't do voices. Any TV shows, movies, or online videos are PRODUCTIONS. These folks are entertainers and actors putting on a good show. Now, some players like to have a little bit of a costume or maybe wear the same thing every time they play (don't judge!). But it's not a requirement and likely no one else at the table will be in costume.
The games are not associated with a cult, Satanism, or witchcraft. 👿
Now, I will say that some game world settings may include cults, devils, demons, angels, or witches. D&D does borrow haphazardly from many sources including the Bible which can feel a bit belittling or offensive. If you are a person who holds Judeo-Christian values dearly and want to be selective about your media consumption, then there are some table top games you may not want to play. However, there are a wide variety of settings or game systems without a particular setting assigned to it. So, you can still enjoy playing and controlling your content. Basically, the system itself is neutral, the setting and lore for the game world really set the standard on what to expect.
I have made a short list of game systems that can be considered alternatives for D&D or High Fantasy games.
Players become manically attached to their characters. 👥
This is only partly true. Players do get attached or care about their character. Partly, because it takes a long time to make a character sheet and if you play for a long time you can consider it "work hours" that you've put into the character. If something detrimental happens or the character dies and is out of the game, then even if you are a mature adult, you can feel upset about it. However, since this is a type of game that's not unlike an arcade video game or an old Nintendo game from the 90s, there's no save point. After you're out of quarters and you run out of continues, you have to start over. (That controller is so busted! I don't care how old and calm you are!) For people who are sensitive, creative, and feel attachment to the character, they may need to play a more forgiving system or learn how to cope better.
Cool Things about TTRPG😎
- Creative outlet - okay...it is playing pretend but making it seem more grown up. 👸
- Cooperative Gameplay (not competing with each other...usually.) 👪
- Problem Solving 🔍
- Social Skills - learning to argue, stand up for yourself, empathy, teamwork 👐
- The GM (Director) learns how to manage people and projects 👑
- Having an eye for detail 👀
- Keeping Track of data 📈
- Improvisation Practice 👺
- Fun Memories to Share 🥳
- Encourages you to practice patience...okay usually it's people testing your patience. 💀
Not so Great Things about TTRPG😖
- It's complicated. Most rulesets come with textbook size rulebooks. 😭
- Requires a genuine interest in the setting to really be fun (or serious devotion to your significant other.)😩
- Requires a high level of reading comprehension, spatial awareness, math skills, and visualization. 📚
- Building a character can be confusing or frustrating if you don't think you're creative. 😕
- Social Pressure to play the game well even if you're new 😬
- Public Games or Online games are home to many unpleasant individuals and possibly predators. 😱
- There is a reputation of misogyny especially at conventions, game stores, or online games. So, it can be a challenge for a female player to find a group of people she can feel at ease with. 😡
- Many settings have themes of violence, abuse, racism, and other unpleasant subject matters that may make some players feel uncomfortable. 😰
