The most obvious draw of tabletop RPGS like Dungeons & Dragons is the power fantasy. Many players dive right into the literal fantasy element of being a hero who uses magic, has bags full of gold, and gets eight hours of sleep consistently.
There’s also the more meta aspiration of total player agency. For a few hours, you have the freedom to write your story on your terms. Or to just goof off and make every potential obstacle into a dirty joke. But there’s a secret component to the spell, one that’s more important than the power fantasy but isn't celebrated or memed about as often. The true magic of TTRPGS is creating friendships.
Yes, that’s some cheesy anime stuff. But there’s data to back it up. Multiple studies have shown that tabletop games like DnD bolster mental health through social interaction. One linked participation in TTRPGs to “significant decreases” in depression and stress. Another shows how therapists are exploring the use of TTRPGs in working patients through social anxiety and gender issues. And for autistic players, one study shows that the structured play of TTRPGs provides an ideal framework for practicing social skills.
So while many people might first come to the table for the thrill of escaping reality or telling a story, they often leave with a sense of camaraderie they weren’t necessarily looking for. It might begin with pre-session chatter as everyone waits for the chronically late player to show up. Over time, you can’t help but learn more about the everyday lives of your fellow players. Even if you’ve only ever played online together, you still end up getting windows into each other’s day-to-day.
Eventually, you’re just as invested in someone’s personal struggles and side hustles as you are their character’s likelihood to survive dragon fire. Spend enough time with people, even if it’s just playing a silly dice game, and you forge bonds. Community built through tabletop gaming can create real, everlasting friendships. While working on another piece about the loneliness epidemic, I learned about a Dungeon Master that became so entrenched in their players’ lives that they were invited to officiate their wedding!
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In my own personal experience as a StartPlaying Game Master, I’ve seen groups of strangers cheer each other on through rough weeks and form IRL friendships. I was thrilled when a trio sent a photo of them meeting up in a cafe, and honored when someone felt comfortable enough to come out to our beer and pretzels casual group. What started as a convenient way to play a game has become a welcoming community.
It’s the same for many other groups as well, and yet it doesn’t have to be some big life-altering discovery. There are plenty of TTRPG tables that stay casual and only meet up for game night. They might not be interested in being a bigger part of each other’s lives, but even so they look forward to the weekly stress reliever. These casual friendships still serve an important purpose in an often overwhelming world.
Of course, the hard part can be actually finding a group of likeminded-enough people. It’s good to have a variety of perspectives at a TTRPG table, but you still want to make sure everyone is generally on board with a certain kind of experience. The most well-meaning of groups can still split over an incompatibility or communication issue. To help with that, there are several platforms dedicated to helping you find open TTRPG tables.
If you’re here, however, you probably know at least a little about StartPlaying Games! Our goal is to match you with a professional Game Master who will deliver the game you’re looking for. You can filter your search by time of day, game type, and even favorite GM! Many of our GMs already have wonderful communities that could become your new friends. Or they can just host a chill one-shot if you need an escape for the weekend. If you’re looking to slay dragons and make friends in the process, look no further than StartPlaying.
