Tabletop Gaming: An Introduction

It’s a 50-year-old genre of gaming. Yet, despite the genre’s longevity, tabletop role playing games (TTRPG) are enjoying a continued renaissance of popularity that seems to reach higher heights. Since the boys from Stranger Things sat down at their table in Episode 1 to play D&D, and during the pandemic when people had more time than they knew what to do with, TTRPGs have seen a continual growth in popularity.

Even now, in 2024, the intellectual property of many TTRPGs has been been the heart of blockbuster movies, AAA video game releases, popular animated TV series, and streaming content, with more coming on the horizon.

Many have gotten into the hobby within the last decade, and this continual growth seems steady as many communities welcome new players. But where to start? If you are a prospective new player, look no further than this guide.

Tabletop role playing games are most often defined as narrative strategy games where the players take on the role of characters in the story. Some defining characteristics of most TTRPG include the following:

• The focus on collaborative, cooperative gameplay and storytelling.
• Playing from the perspective of a protagonist of the player’s own creation.
• The presence of a “GM” or game master who functions in a sort of game designer / referee role, providing challenges for the players.

These aspects crucially distinguish this genre from other type of tabletop gaming including boardgames. Other aspects, like playing within the “theatre of the mind” of an imagined game space, using dice as a main resolution mechanic, and playing over multiple sessions, are classic traits that distinguish TTRPG’s, but are not universal.

Every TTRPG is different, in gameplay mechanics and design philosophy, to the kind of scope and setting of the world the game exists in. While setting is probably the most obvious, it can be hugely influential to the other aspects of the game.  Scope refers to specifically the depths of gameplay, or how “crunchy” a system is. This puts a slight barrier of entry, but can also provide deeper gameplay.

Game theorists have considered different games falling under three different styles between Simulationist, Gamist, and Narrativist, which while blurred since the early days of the concepts, still provide some sense of guidance to find a game.

Simulationism is the attempt to simulate an experience more closely than other forms of TTRPGs. This often comes with a crunchy system  with lots of rules designed to maintain verisimilitude within the game world while playing. Game systems like G.U.R.P.S. and Fudge offer genre-ambivalent systems that can provide simulationist experiences across many genres, while Call of Cthulhu provides a simulationist approach to the insanity of cosmic horror.

Gamism reflects the ideals within gaming, with the main goal to create a fun game to play beyond the other aspects. Immersion and narrative take background roles in contrast to the in-game challenges. D&D 4th edition was a classic form of gamism, due to it’s focus on balance and in-game options for each player to employ.

Narrativism focuses on the act of collaborative story telling, and primarily narrativist games can be the simplest games as the game emphasizes storytelling and includes game mechanics that allow for spontaneity and creative flexibility, making them great for new players. Games like Blades in the Dark exemplify this style of game.

These styles exist along a spectrum, with different games having different amounts of all three elements to some extent, but typically prioritize one over the other.

Tabletop games are an entirely different gaming experience, even compared to other kinds of RPGs.

The embrace of the “role-playing,” letting players imagine themselves as the characters they made, enables for an alternative RPG experience that feels more attached and connected.

Role-playing can add a surprising amount of depth to the character creation process and storytelling, and the interplay between GM and player in how the story comes together means that storytelling can often be open-ended and surprising. As a group activity, it can be a fun, with endless hijinks or epic moments. I catch myself reminiscing about fictional moments my fictional character achieved, even now.

Of course, you should only roleplay as much as you are comfortable with. Some tables are going to get into the gamist and simulationist aspects of these games, and that’s totally understandable! The main point is there are many reasons you might enjoy playing a TTRPG, and likely there’s a game out there that suits you.

Where to get started

Oftentimes, getting started with playing a TTRPG can be the hardest part. While the communities are growing, it has never been a surefire thing to find a group, especially one that fits your gaming sensibilities. Here are some steps you can take to get playing.

Find a group – First of all, you will need to find who you are going to play with, including figuring out who will GM. Whether this means recruiting some friends or finding a local table through a board game café or a library, you need to play with someone else, even if just for a one-on-one game. We expand more on this plight in the next section.

The rules – In my first D&D game I played, my understanding of the rules came down to the brief explanations of the DM. This was a big mistake. Years later when I was clearing out my parents house, I found my character sheet and, well, my Warlock had 11 Charisma (that’s not good). The rulebooks can be huge but it is not necessary to read it all: skimming and watching some YouTube videos is likely the best place to start to familiarize yourself.

Really learn the rules (if you are the GM) – Yeah, you should know the rules more than we detail in the first bullet point. As a referee for many of the game mechanics, the GM should familiarize themselves with certain aspects of the game, like familiarizing yourself to the language used in the rules and knowing the basics of the game. You do not need an expansive knowledge (the internet is an excellent resource) but it is hard to play at a table where the DM’s inexperience slows the game down. At the end of the day, GM’s rulings are the rulings.

A session Zero – Session zero is a term in which prospective players meet to discuss what the future game will be like. It is important as it lets both players and game master communicate and set up expectations and boundaries for the future gaming sessions, as well as establish the narrative of the future game.

This helps prevent conflict or miscommunication down the road, and helps establish your gaming group. You can use this time to make fun plans with your characters too.

A time to play – Once you have established a group and all the information, now you just need to find a time to play! This includes figuring where you are playing, especially if playing an in-person game. Always give others a heads up as soon as possible if you are unable to make a session – most games will continue with a player missing, handwaving their absence most of the time in-game.

The majority of Tabletop RPG’s function best with a small group of players, but ideally between 4-7, including the game master. Like many boardgames, the number to optimally play can be difficult to some whose friends and family are either not interested in the games, or have busy schedules.

There are other ways that you can find a group to play. Local games stores and libraries are often great places to start looking for a game, and if you are near a large enough population, you can find a home game through community channels including social media including Facebook, Reddit, Discord,

Additionally, since the pandemic, digital tabletops have exploded, letting players meet up from across the world to play TTRPGs together. This is the premier way people play DND online now, and so people can play with friends from across the world, or play with people they have never met before. Some popular digital tabletops include:

D&D Beyond

Roll20

Foundry

The lack of a game master or “dungeon master” as they are very frequently called is one of the biggest obstacles for playing tabletop games. In fact, the presence of the game master is a very fundamental distintion between board games and tabletop role playing games.

Many people get into the hobby through people who already play. This way is great, as it helps learning as a new player, as well as introduces you to different aspects without being dry or bogging down the process. Not everybody wants to read a book before they play (but I still recommend you do so).

However, in the absence of a sagely Game Master, getting a game together can be a difficult task to manage. Becoming the DM can be a great way to ensure you and your friends or gaming group can play, as well as offering a completely different side to TTRPG gameplay.But it can be a lot of work.

Since the duties of the dungeon master are more involved, it takes much more time knowing the system of the TTRPG and the adventure you will run.

However, there are many adventure books or PDFs available for that make running an adventure much easier.

We called Gloomhaven a perfect substitute for this type of game for those who do not have access to a DM. More on boardgames here. 

Once you get the itch for tabletop gaming, it can quickly become a hobby you can put a lot of time into. While theatre of the mind can be a great place to start from, after playing for some time, groups typically either migrate to virtual tabletops or enhance the experience through the use of battle maps, terrain, and miniatures.

When our table began using miniatures and a grid to visualize the battlefield, the engagement level went up among all players, things like movement or range in the game became tangible, and the overall game became more fluid and easier to pay attention to.
Miniatures (both painted and unpainted), tokens, or other small game pieces can be a stand-in for any character or monster, and using props or special terrain to make your battlemaps improve the dynamism of combat.

If you are looking to improve engagement and immersion at your table, the following extras might be worth your time.

A brief introduction to many great games

There are so many TTRPGs out there that it might be daunting to know where to start. So we have put together a list of the internet’s favourite games (excluding those based on established intellectual property) so you can familiarize yourself with the major players.

Keywords:

D20 systems: Named for the use of a 20-sided die for their resolution mechanic. Similarly, any system that uses a die will be distinguished by discussing the size of dice it uses.

Why play Tabletop RPGs?

While certainly not for everyone, Tabletop role playing games offer an unparalleled form of gaming in terms of immersion and agency in the story telling. Combining the episodic narrative storytelling like you see on TV with an immersive RPG game play experience means you can feel like you were there.

Some games are a vicarious power fantasies, some are horrifying, high-stakes rabbit holes, and some are non-threatening romps with friends – whatever you are into, there’s a TTPRG targeted for you.

Why DM TTRPGs?

There seems to be some discourse online that being the dungeon master is a thankless duty. But I do not think this is the case.

While being a DM is inherently more work than playing as a PC, you don’t need to put more than a few hours between sessions planning, if that, depending on how your approach game mastering.

There are two common ways that people DM.

The first is using pre-written material, either from the game designers or some other 3^rd party. This helps in a lot of ways. By providing a balanced adventure, most of the work comes from knowing the content and planning it out for each session, instead of learning how the system works inside and out which is required to create strong encounters.

The second is using content you create yourself, from material found in other sources, as well as custom created content called “Homebrew” by the community at large. This requires knowing and following the system, as homebrew can absolutely destroy any semblance of balance if it is not done right.

So, let’s get back to the question at hand: why DM? Being the dungeon or game master gives you a completely different role and responsibilities that can equally as fun. Your role in controlling the world around the characters, including filling it with challenges, enemies o, lets you throw your players in scenarios that seem interesting to you, as well as lets you play as a variety of creatures or enemies.

What is some TTRPG etiquette?

With anything with a big community, there has developed some TTRPG etiquette that when subscribed to will ensure a fun game is had by all. Here is some commonly discussed etiquette online that will help foster a positive gaming mechanic.

–There are stakes. Keep that in the forefront of your mind, and understand that your actions may have consequences that can change the game.
-You are not the main character. Nobody is more important in the campaign than anyone else. You might have an arc or story you want to tell, but let others get the spotlight too.

-Work together to solve problems, as being adversarial only creates problems. Don’t fight player versus player, PVP as it is called is usually a waste of time for everyone else.

-Avoid behaviour or content that will make any player uncomfortable.  Not sure if it’s uncomfy territory? Talk it out!

-The DM’s role is not to be adversarial, but to challenge the party with an engaging problem. A good DM challenges the party but not too much, and leaves fate up to the dice.

How long do you play?

1 hour is often not enough to get through a session because of how much time aspects like roleplay last, especially if you are having fun. Between two to four hours is a healthy number, with breaks at times. Consider the game is turn based. This means you should not only pay attention to what is going on when its not your turn, but you should be planning your future moves ahead of time.

You can play more, but games tend to be more draining than video games because of the immersion they ask.

In terms of how many sessions you will play… that is a whole different story. Some games last for years without coming to an end, and some fall apart quickly. I recommend start thinking smaller rather than bigger, as most campaigns do not last more than 5 sessions.