The Beginner's Guide to Table Top Gaming

What is a table top game (or alternatively, role playing game)? The easiest example to use is that of Dungeons and Dragons, established in 1974 by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Although blighted by an ill deserved reputation of lameness, D&D is now racing towards it’s 5th incarnation and is still as popular as ever. However, there’s a vast library of RPGs to choose from and if you want to dabble in it, you’ve come to the right place.

Grab some mates

To play, you’re going to need a bunch of friends involved. Unlike an evening spent fighting each other in Smash Brothers, however, you’re going to be working as a team during your game. Together, your goal will be to defeat the particular evil of your chosen game rather than battle to emerge the lone victor. Also, now is the time to choose who will be the GM, or ‘game master’. Their job will be to run the game, know the rules, and otherwise be in control. If you’re struggling to involve mates, have a nosey to see if there are any role playing clubs near you. They’re always willing to accept new members, and are usually lovely people.

Grab some dice

Yup, you’re going to need dice. Nope, the set that came in the Monopoly box ain’t going to work. You’re going to need a set of polyhedral dice, which are easily obtainable from a nearby comic or role playing store, or of course online. If you ask very nicely, of course, you might be able to borrow some.

Pick your game

As I said earlier, there’s a lot more to it than D&D, although it is a great example. What genre do you want to play in? Horror? Sci Fi? Fantasy? Do you want a more ‘mainstream’ fantasy adventure within the lines of the LOTR franchise, or something more quirky, such as playing a small child with an imaginary monster friend as in Monsters and other Childish Things? Experiment!

Create your character

Depending on your choice of game, you could be playing for several weeks or even months. Your character will be the avatar you use within the game for that time, so make sure you create one you’ll be happy to play as for an extended period of time! Character creation differs depending on the game you’re playing, so check the instructions in the rule book for advice.

Start playing

In your initial session, your GM will set up the game for you, telling you where you are, and what’s happening around you. The rest is up to you. The joy of table top gaming is that you can go wherever your imagination takes you, thinking up fantastical ways to get around obstacles in your path. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
(We may, once, have taken a wizard to a tavern, in order to get him drunk and extract some crucial information. Yes, it was crude, but it worked!)

Have fun!