I have many memories of family game nights when I was a kid—playing games like Monopoly and Uno around the table—but as with many households, that tradition slowly gave way to movies, video games, or just generally shifting interests. Many of the games we had played simply didn’t have the same level of engagement or replayability to keep up with their digital competitors—once you’ve played Monopoly, it’s not long before each game is just a race for Park Place. Before long, our collection of board games was gathering dust in the back of the closet.

Today, tabletop gaming—both board games and Tabletop Role Playing Games (TTRPGs)— has surged back to the surface. Why? Some hypothesize that it’s connected to an increasing desire for community and social engagement. We live in a world of near-constant connectivity, but much of that interaction comes through screens and we’ve begun to notice the strain. Humans are social creatures, after all, and our natural desire to be near others eventually kicks in. As a result, our local game stores, libraries, and schools are holding more events where people can gather and bond. Many families are experiencing a similar transformation and see TTRPGs as a new way to revive an old tradition. My own local gaming community, in particular, has seen a huge rise in…

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