tabletop roleplaying Archives

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

There’s no such thing as the Matt Mercer Effect

Tabletop roleplaying games (RPGs) have evolved significantly, with modern resources such as over 400 episodes of Critical Role and series like Dimension 20 and The Adventure Zone providing new players with engaging narratives and gameplay examples. This abundance of content contrasts with the past, where players had limited resources like rulebooks and comic ads. However, the rise of these resources has also led to challenges, including mismatched expectations between new players and the reality of gameplay, as highlighted by discussions on RPGNet about negative experiences in the gaming community. Many new players enter the hobby with high hopes for immersive storytelling but often encounter traditional gameplay that may not meet their expectations.

AppWizard

April 18, 2026

We owe Fallout to an admiral and his officers teaching its designer to play D&D in 1979

Tim Cain, a veteran RPG designer known for the Fallout series, shared his first experience with Dungeons & Dragons during the Carter administration, guided by his mother’s colleagues in the U.S. Navy. He contrasted this experience with modern gaming, noting that players starting on computers lack the direct interaction that comes with a Dungeon Master. Cain was captivated by the novelty of polyhedral dice and expressed excitement about the game. His mother supported his interest by suggesting a stop at a game store, leading him to acquire the AD&D Monster Manual and a boxed set. This engagement with D&D significantly influenced his career, particularly his expertise in the 2E AD&D's THAC0 system, which helped him secure a position at Interplay and lead the development of The Temple of Elemental Evil. His introduction to tabletop roleplaying was facilitated by a DM known as “Captain Dave,” whose influence extended to Cain's later work in game development.