Table Top Roleplaying Games

Table Top Roleplaying Games, ttrpgs for short, are highly imaginative games that commonly take the form of narrative adventures in foreign lands. What makes ttrpgs so powerful is the human element. Ttrpgs can take essentially any shape to fit the desires of the group but they tend to be difficult for new players to understand because of their open-ended nature. In a board game, video game, or choose your own adventure, you will inevitably find the boundaries of what is possible. This is not the case with ttrpgs. With ttrpgs, there’s no limit to what can be done. But then how does the game have any stakes or challenge? This is where ttrpg systems come in handy. Ttrpg systems are rule books that give suggestions to groups on how to achieve different thematic fantasies. Want to play as swashbuckling lesbian princesses? There’s a game system for that. Want to crawl through dank dungeons and claim eldritch treasures? There’s a game system for that. Want to be a no-name grunt who pilots a war machine in an epic space opera? There’s a game system for that. And by no means is this limited to just fantasy or sci-fi either.

Additionally, most ttrpgs use some term like game master, dungeon master, overseer or narrator to describe the unique role that one player assumes. It is the job of the narrator to ensure that the game is fun for everyone and to arbitrate the rules and setting. Victory without adversity is shallow but adversity so great that it’s insurmountable is frustrating. It is one of the key roles of the narrator to ensure that this balance is well struck and expectations are both delivered and subverted. Moreover, it is the job of the narrator to perform the world and all of its inhabitants. No doubt this role is tricky to perform but throw yourself in, and you’ll find that it’s not only one of the most rewarding and creative ways to spend leisure time but also not so daunting as it seems. Remember, the narrator is a player too and that means if they aren’t having fun, the game isn’t doing what it’s supposed to.

So if the one player is the narrator and the system is important for setting the rules and the atmosphere, you may wonder what everyone else does. Well with ttrpgs, you can be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to. You will still need to discuss with your narrator to ensure that your character idea and backstory fit into the world the narrator has created, and you should probably avoid overly obstinate or antagonistic characters, but other than that, the sky is the limit. When you play your character, it is common to become totally immersed in the fiction. You’ll find yourself taking on the feelings of your character and discovering parts of yourself you may not have been aware of. It is our opinion that ttrpgs are one of the greatest ways to learn more about your friends and yourself and to grow closer as a collective.

To play a ttrpg, all you really need is a group of friends, some way to decide randomness, for example dice or playing cards, and a positive attitude. To help you start, there’s a ton of advice online for first-time players and narrators.

Hopefully after reading this, you and your friends are optimistic. There’s a bounty of systems to try in the world but we at Athame especially look forward to creating games that innovatively push the envelope of how ttrpgs can be played. We pour our full passion into each of our projects, intent upon creating the best user experience, packed with expansive player expression. In particular, we hope that our games focus on the feelings at the table and offer sound advice for heightening and contrasting the current mood of the group. We also want our mechanics to emphasise collaboration, and to offer players opportunities to dynamically aid and adjust each other’s plans. Finally, we want to make games that empower our players to express and trust in themselves through the decisions they make.