WHAT IS A TABLETOP ROLE-PLAYING GAME?

A tabletop role-playing game or (tabletop RPG), in the simplest of terms, is a game that does not need to rely on the use of visual aids nor a physical medium. At its core, a tabletop role-playing game is not built on anything tangible but guided through the power of the spoken word. The objective? As in any other mode of gameplay, the goal is to create an entertaining experience for those involved. Rather than do so through customary means, again, tabletop role-playing games make use of one of the oldest forms of entertainment that is to say storytelling.

Moreover, a tabletop role-playing game is enjoyable in two different ways. Firstly, a tabletop role-playing game engages players, as in a game, but, secondly, also entertains those involved by creating a story, like a movie or a book. Similarly, as with many forms of entertainment, the player sets aside reality for the evening. He or she need not be reminded of bills, work, school, appointments or other obligations. Whoever one is in life is made inconsequential in-game, and, in the moment, he or she is someone and somewhere else. In a tabletop RPG, one becomes a character who performs extraordinary feats and embarks on thrilling adventures. The worries of this world are on pause, for the time being, upon the conclusion of which one is free to return to this reality.

WHY CHOOSE TABLETOP ROLE-PLAYING GAMES?

Simply explaining what a tabletop role-playing game is would hardly be sufficient to entice new players into this unfamiliar system of gameplay. The central question to be answered is, “Why choose tabletop RPGs over other more popular methods?” The answer is one as fundamental as it is simple. Whenever one engages in a game one must suspend disbelief. That is to say, one must treat the impossible elements of the game as if they were actually happening. The danger presented in most games is not real. It is pure simulation. But within the game world, if one acknowledges that the danger is not real, they will most likely lose. For what reason is there to avoid danger when we willfully admit it cannot harm us anyway? Clearly, it is more fun to try to defeat a fictional obstacle than approach it with apathy, indifference or disbelief.

However, while every gaming medium requires some suspension of disbelief, some make this easier than others. When one is dreaming, one is unable to separate the dream from reality, no matter how impossible it appears. It is this state what should be the goal of any good gaming format, to experience the feeling of reality in fantasy. Like in any good fantasy, a tabletop role-playing game allows players to immerse themselves in fiction and limit their bonds to this reality. Game controllers, visual aids, cards, etc. are all often useful, but each physical device serves as a reminder of where we really are rather than where we want our imagination to take us. While tabletop role-playing games often make use of dice or guides, their use is limited. Overall, each material representation of this world that can be eliminated brings us closer to experiencing full immersion in fantasy. Likewise, any physical symbol evoking the realm of fantasy only goes to enhance the tabletop RPG experience. While we can never remove ourselves from reality altogether, tabletop role-playing games limit ties to this world in a way no other gaming medium can.

HOW IS A TABLETOP ROLE-PLAYING GAME PLAYED?

It is certainly one thing to tell one to become a storyteller than for him or her to actually do so. Regardless, of storytelling expertise, anyone may become versed in this art with the right amount of practice and imagination. But what if one does not have the time? Should this prevent one from participating in the experience? Certainly not! While there are those who are bursting with imagination, not everyone is so inclined. For this end, tabletop role-playing games have devised various guides and tools to help one craft a story. While one among a group will often be tasked with directing the story, storytelling within tabletop role-playing games is a collaborative art. The more participants can contribute and take inspiration off each other, the easier this process will be. Nonetheless, there is perhaps no one “correct” method for creating a story. The materials provided by tabletop role-playing games form the essential “ingredients,” it rests on the participants to come up with the basic “recipe.”

WHEN & WHERE DOES ONE PLAY A TABLETOP ROLE-PLAYING GAME?

Short answer— anywhere and anytime that works best. Seriously, all participants have their own personal responsibilities to fulfill. Time and location, then, is something that must be selected carefully in the best interests of all involved. A unique location, mirroring the world of the tabletop RPG, can, at times, be built or found; however, any place with the right amount of space is suitable to the task. While members of a tabletop role-playing game group can meet online, it is often better to do so in-person. So much of our time today is digitized, so much of our lives fade into the electronic void. Accordingly, face-to-face interaction and social engagement are critical needs of present generations. Our modern technology, advanced as it may be, has ill prepared us for the consequences of the digital mirror. We think we see our reality and ourselves, but it is only a reflection. Our digital lives are but a distant echo from those we leave behind. We feel time slipping by and our friends growing distant despite the convenience of an instant message. Consequently, not only may tabletop RPGs open one up to the world of fantasy but a reality many are sorely missing out on. The embers of fun, excitement, happiness, adventure, so often absent from our lives, can be rekindled among the right company. For only in sharing in the happiness of others can we truly feel we are whole. And, if that simple bit of joy is all the reality in fantasy one can find, than surely— it is reality enough. ▮