That was the question I set out to answer across this project. I was interested in researching this as the tabletop gaming community is one I am very involved in. In addition I think examining how digitization is changing the way we find community is an important endeavor as it becomes more difficult to find community in person. Speaking of that angle as a young gamer there is a lot of discourse especially from older gamers about how digital tools are changing the hobby. I came into this hoping I could add to the conversation and take a more critical look at some of the areas under discussion. I think that this is important because conversations like this of tradition versus change often devolve into black and white arguments that lose the necessary nuance to come to a conclusion. While I do not believe over the course of this project I came to a definitive conclusion I think I have meaningfully contributed to this ongoing discussion.
Can the Tabletop Be Digital?
This in many ways is the most contentious topic in tabletop gaming. Proponents argue that digital tabletops can bring people together, whereas opponents argue they actually push people apart. To examine this issue I took the magnifying glass to Roll 20. Roll 20 is an online tabletop service that caters to TTRPGs like D&D and Pathfinder but can also be used for other types of games.My initial analysis came up a little bit short so I am going to do a brief reexamination here focusing on how some of the features I previously discussed add to the conversation about the digitization of tabletop gaming. I found that Roll 20 did offer an excellent array of options for playing online. They had features that were clearly well thought out and designed with help from the people who would be using them. I also found that the social features offered by Roll 20 were somewhat lacking. While Roll 20 does offer video call and audio call services both of them are subpar. Roll 20 also lacks a way to message players outside of an active session meaning talking outside of game time has to be done on a different platform. To put this into a broader context I would argue that Roll 20 is emblematic of both the best and worst parts of online tabletop gaming. It adds tools that make it easier to do the gaming itself, but it falls short on the social aspect which is just as important. I think these pros and cons also vary in importance based on the group and game but they are not localized to just Roll 20. The general view of digital gaming platforms seems to put the game first and socializing second.
The Mythologies of the Tabletop
Although many tabletop games have a literal mythology what I am more interested in here is the more figurative sense of the word. In this project I examined The Matrix, a hit sci-fi movie that at first look may not seem to have anything to do with the high fantasy worlds that we typically associate with tabletop gaming. However The Matrix and gaming share common roots in escapist fantasies. Additionally a part of this that I did not touch on in my initial analysis but that I believe upon further reflection deserves a second look is the fantasy of agency present in both fantasy and sci-fi. One of the central elements present in both sci-fi and fantasy is the myth of the individual hero, who is able to change or topple massive systems by themselves or with a small ragtag crew. We see this idea present in The Matrix, Star Wars, and Star Trek. This can be seen in much the same way as the classic adventuring party found in fantasy. When abstracted the difference between the fellowship of the ring in rebels in The Matrix becomes negligible. Although the coat of paint over the settings may be drastically different they engage in many of the same tropes of the heroes journey, chosen one narratives, and mythical weapons of both good and evil. Because of these narrative similarities we also see them sharing a lot of ideas as both genres evolve. As I elaborated on in my initial analysis much of the power system within The Matrix is very much akin to classes and level ups found in TTRPGs, and Neo’s awakening is a narrative tool that has been picked up by Wizards of the Coast for their fifth edition premade adventures.
Roll For Community
While Roll 20 in my opinion failed to support the community aspect of tabletop gaming we are now going to look at a creator that succeeded in building a positive community. The series Roll For Sandwich hosted by the channel Adventures in Aardia is a series that takes the charm, flavor, and randomness of D&D skill checks and applies them to making a sandwich. What was more intriguing to me than the premise though was the community. Roll For Sandwich has in my opinion a wide appeal, from TTRPG fans to foodies to fans of the host Jake’s comedic antics Roll For Sandwich has a lot to offer to a variety of people. I examined the community comments across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to gauge the vibe of the community. The results I found were impressive. Across all three platforms, including Instagram which is famed for its negativity and vitriol, the comments were incredibly positive. Additionally they showed the enduring appeal of a concept based on tabletop gaming even outside of that original medium. The comments were full of references to sandwiches past displaying the continuing interest and dedication of fans.
The End?
To conclude and attempt to answer the question I set out with digital tools are definitely reshaping tabletop gaming. While I do believe that platforms such as Roll 20 and D&D beyond fail to have the social tools necessary to build a community purely on their platform I do think that others are picking up this slack. While building community can be hard and building positive community can be even harder I think Adventures in Aardia sets a brilliant example to follow of how tabletop gaming can find new life in a digital environment. Lastly The Matrix demonstrates how the mythology of gaming transcends setting and how the things that drive of to game also fuel art. If I were to attempt to tie of bow on my findings and sum them up in one sentence this is what I would say. Tabletop gaming can be brought forward by technology, but we must remember to bring our community and creativity with us because no one will do that for us.