TTRPGs

Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are a category of role-playing games in which players assume the roles of fictional characters and collaboratively tell a story. Play typically occurs around a table and uses rulebooks, character sheets, and randomizing elements such as dice to resolve actions. A game master or dungeon master interprets rules, describes scenes, and adjudicates outcomes.

Core elements include character creation, a formal rule system, shared narrative control, and a setting provided by the game. Dice mechanics determine success or failure of actions, while statistics, abilities, and equipment influence outcomes. Gameplay centers on exploration, social interaction, combat, and problem solving, with emphasis on player agency and collaborative storytelling.

Origins trace to mid-1970s wargaming, notably Dungeons & Dragons, which introduced collaborative storytelling and the role of a game master. Since then, a wide range of systems has emerged—fantasy, science fiction, horror, and other genres—bringing diverse mechanics and settings. The hobby expanded from small groups to a broader ecosystem of publishers, fan creations, and independent designers, aided by evolving licensing models and online platforms.

Play formats vary from traditional table play to online sessions using virtual tabletops and video chat. Popular systems include Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, GURPS, and Shadowrun, among many others. The community produces a large body of published adventures, homebrew campaigns, and tools that help manage characters, maps, and narratives.

TTRPGs emphasize collaborative storytelling and social interaction and have developed extensive communities, conventions, podcasts, and streaming content. Accessibility, inclusivity, and safety have been ongoing concerns, leading to the adoption of consent frameworks and safety tools to facilitate comfortable play for diverse participants.