Tabletop role-playing Games (TTRPGs), which can be played in a classroom, an apartment with friends, or a local game shop, allow gamers to come together and create new worlds and characters. TTRPGs can be a fun activity for friends groups, as they are governed by teamwork, grit and a little luck. However, the TTRPG community has not been open to all.
Orion Black is the creative director of Dimension 20. He got involved in TTRPGs while he was in high school. Black said that she had a crush upon a girl who wanted to play in TTRPGs.
Black played one-on-1 games with the girl in an empty classroom, but wanted to continue playing so he sought out other spaces.
Blacks earliest experiences were at the home of a teacher with three white children. Black said that being the only Black person and nonbinary person at the table was difficult. Black claims there was not a lot overt racism but that one intentional racist comment made by them caused them to leave the table. However, they eventually returned.
Black says that when you are the only town with D&D, it is time to get up and move on.
Black's introduction to tabletop RPGs such as Dungeons & Dragons in a male-dominated white space is not unique. Black is just one of many people who have reshaped the games and the places where they are played into safer and more inclusive spaces that better reflect the growing audience for these genres and welcome all those who wish to learn how to play.
With the rise of play shows such as Dimension 20 and Critical Rolein, which broadcast live D&D games on-camera in real time, more people are being introduced to D&D.
Aabria Iyengar was the Summer Game Master for both Dimension 20 and Critical Role. She has worked hard to make the table a safe and welcoming place for all who come to her table.
Game Masters (GMs), and Dungeon Masters(DMs), the narrator-like figures that set the tone and plot the game's story, are also responsible for creating a world and play environment that is inclusive of all players, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds who may not have had access to diverse play groups.
Iyengar was often the only person of color or woman at the table. She faced many questions from other players about her knowledge and more harassment. She now strives to make sure her players don't face the same difficulties as she did when she was a GM.
I feel every fiber of my body for those who think I will have to endure a lot of nonsense to be able play any game.
Iyengar is able to customize her playing experience for her audience and herself with the increasing visibility of play games on platforms like Twitch, YouTube and YouTube.
It wasn't until streaming that I realized how an all-female dining room feels, what a queer table feels, and what a POC dinner table feels like. It was the freedom to enjoy the beauty of not being a token that made me want to stay.
