It’s a cutthroat world we live in. Dog eat dog. Survival of the fittest. Sometimes, the horrors we tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) designers concoct for our eager audience pale compared to the atrocities of modern-day living. When you look around it can feel like the world has dropped the reigns, let the horses run wild, and the wheels on the carriage are jolting loose. For many of us, an evening of adventure rolling dice with friends is what cuts through the confusion and brings you a moment of peace. So, where did you discover this illustrious hobby?

A Long Time Ago In A Notebook Far, Far Away,
Even though we didn’t have mobile phones, Discord, or TTRPG blogs falling like sweet mana from the digital sky, the 1990s were still very “Fly” and “Da Bomb.” It was peak time for the gang with fancy prisons and mythical serpents. Business was booming. For a young kid, the strange creatures and heroic champions peering at you from bookshelves and brightly-colored print ads were intoxicating. Ok, maybe it was the Surge citrus soda coursing through my veins, but “Cowabunga Dude,” this nerd had finally arrived. Imagination has no monthly subscription fees nor special effects budgets.

It was late, way past a sensible bedtime. The sixth-grade science I was supposed to have studied before supper had long since been abandoned. The glorious weight of pages upon pages of escape, wrapped in hardcover, pressed firmly into my chest. Every character boasts something to make them unique or stand out. Something that made them useful and capable against whatever their world would use to try and break them. People with broadswords probably get bullied less, too.

It’s Dangerous To Go Alone. Take This…
As the years went by, roleplaying games offered a perspective on the real world. There were folks out there wielding brawn, brains, and guile. I wasn’t one of them. There was no mysterious old man in a cave waiting to pass along a starter sword, magic wand, or charming personality. What I did have was a regular group of like-minded friends who were willing to share cramped basements and second-floor library rooms in pursuit of entertainment. Teenagers can be vicious with their commentary and creativity. Sometimes, boundaries were crossed. Other times, it was a discovery that some boundaries can be ignored. But still, the act of playing the game, taking on the role of the character, offers opportunities to learn about oneself and others, too.

Experience Points The Way
Role-playing games are an incredible way to experience new opportunities. Gaming with people older than you can offer marvelous insight into approaching challenges and avoiding mistakes. Gaming with younger people can be eye-opening as it reveals their values and outlook on the future. We are not saying all the problems of the world can be solved with a mechanical pencil and a character sheet. However, for many people, a gaming group might offer comradery, a safe social space, and a chance to feel clever and accomplished. Even if the victories and achievements are imaginary, your brain doesn’t have to know the difference to feel good.

Ye Olde Blacksmiths
For the geezers over at Runeworks Games, role-playing games are a familiar tool on our side, helping us march through hundreds of daily campaigns. The gaming sessions, and more importantly, the people we shared them with, gave us something real to believe in: ourselves. We’ve wielded many swords in our day, and now we are fixing to forge one of our own. The Darkest Age: Resurrected is a zombie-plagued odyssey across Europe following the Crusades. The rules-light system is approachable for novices and experienced players alike. The designers are committed to making a game worthy of your time and coin.

The dream? Someday, a middle-aged person looks back fondly and smiles when they remember they got their first sword at Runeworks Games.

Thanks for reading, neighbors. May your hobbies shine brightly and remain sharp to cut yourselves free from boredom!

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