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Being a Good Steward of the TTRPG Hobby

by Mike on 12 August 2024

On a previous episode of Mastering Dungeons, Teos Abadia and Graham Ward answered an excellent question about whether Hasbro / Wizards of the Coast was being a good steward of D&D.

Graham turned the question around, asking whether we were being good stewards – a far more useful question. We can't control what Hasbro does with D&D. But we can influence how we promote our love of tabletop roleplaying games to others.

Embrace the Diversity of the Hobby

I think the most important thing we can do to be good stewards of the hobby is recognizing that there's no one right way to enjoy tabletop RPGs. Embrace the wide range of games we play and how we play them. Embrace the diversity of the people playing them. Embrace the breadth of books and accessories we have available to add to our games. Embrace the wealth of knowledge and experiences people in the hobby share. Embrace the different ways people come to the hobby.

Being a Good Steward

What are some specifics for being a good steward of the hobby? We each get to decide, but I'll offer some thoughts:

Welcome new members. Show them how awesome and important the hobby can be. Teach them how to play. Listen to them.
Get to the fun fast. Lower the barriers to play. Start small and simple.
Teach what players want to learn. If they want to learn D&D, teach them D&D. Don't steer them away from the game that drew them in.
Show them the breadth of the hobby. Talk about different games. Talk about different supplements. Expose them to the many excellent publishers and products that exist in the hobby.
Focus on what matters. Show people how these games help us enjoy a fun and creative time with our friends.
Always be learning. Learn from players' new experiences. Expand your view of the hobby. Recognize when your preconceptions might be wrong.

Things to Avoid

What are some things we can avoid so we're continuing to be good stewards of the hobby?

Don't gatekeep. Players and GMs don't need to prove themselves to enjoy the hobby. They can enjoy this hobby many different ways from our own. Don't alienate people who come into the hobby through avenues different than yours. Someone who starts playing because they love watching Critical Role or Dimension 20 isn't a tourist, they're a fellow member of the hobby.
Don't bash other games. Don't promote one game by tearing down another. Let people choose the games that speak to them even if their chosen system isn't for you.
Avoid alienating jargon. Describe games using real words people understand.
Don't brag. Avoid throwing around how long you've been playing. Someone playing for only a few months is just as valuable to the hobby as someone playing for decades.
Don't promote a single "right" way. There are many right ways to enjoy the hobby – don't assume yours is the only right way.

Keep an Open Mind

Recognize that the way we enjoy the game doesn't have to be the same as those we talk to. This hobby evolved continually over fifty years. People of all different ages, backgrounds, experiences, drives, and motivations come at it from all different angles. They enjoy different things. They have different experiences.

Learn from new players as much as you teach them.

More Sly Flourish Stuff

Last week I posted a couple of YouTube videos including Golgoron Rises – the Intro Scenario for the City of Arches, Let's Build a Character with the 2024 D&D Player's Handbook and the Temple of Saint Terragnis.

Last Week's Lazy RPG Talk Show Topics

Each week I record an episode of the Lazy RPG Talk Show (also available as a podcast) in which I talk about all things in tabletop RPGs. Here are last week's topics with time stamped links to the YouTube video:

Patreon Questions and Answers

Also on the Talk Show, I answer questions from Sly Flourish Patrons. Here are last week's questions and answers:

RPG Tips

Each week I think about what I learned in my last RPG session and write them up as RPG tips. Here are this week's tips:

Even if characters chase a red herring, give them something valuable for their effort.
If a character fails the save to fall a great distance, give another character a chance to succeed on a check to catch them before they fall.
If you use music in your game, build playlists for relaxing, sinister, and combat music.
Let your players know if they're at risk of missing something awesome.
Add one secret tied to each character's story during your prep.
Mix up monster types. Don't fill crypts with nothing but undead.
Jot down three noteworthy features for larger locations. Use one feature for smaller rooms or chambers.