Rolling with it: Ottawa's Dungeons and Dragons community thriving online - capitalcurrent.ca

Despite the pandemic’s impact on in-person activities, U.S.-based game maker Hasbro has reported a 33 per cent increase in sales of Dungeons and Dragons, adding to the classic tabletop roleplaying game’s six-year growth streak.

And, despite the in-person nature of the game in normal circumstances, players in Ottawa see D&D’s successful move from the tabletop to the laptop as no surprise.

Mike Hopkins, owner-operator of The Loft Board Game Lounge in Ottawa, said he’s witnessed the remarkable success of Dungeons and Dragons in his own business.

“Most of Dungeons and Dragons is played just sitting around a table, looking at the other players and referencing a sheet, which you can do through these apps,” he said.

Hopkins added: “If I had a prediction back in March of 2020 of what game would get very popular, … Dungeons and Dragons would have been a good bet.”.

Brandon Carkner, a co-leader of Algonquin College’s TTRPG club, has been playing Dungeons and Dragons “since the ‘90s.” He said Dungeons and Dragons has come in unique forms for many years, some even more unconventional than online play.

“People have been playing it online since the beginning.

During the pandemic, Carkner says his club grew from 60 members in March 2020 to more than 150 members in March 2021.

Carkner says in Monday-night casual sessions, the first hour is dedicated to asking questions and teaching new players.

In the past year, Luisa Werneck, a third-year biology student at Carleton University, has been attracted to Dungeons and Dragons thanks to streamers who broadcast their playing online.

However, she said she felt there is a social stigma around playing the game, making it more difficult for her to gather a party. .

“Even though (shows) like Stranger Things and Critical Role gave a lot of people more knowledge towards the game, and I feel like the judgment is a little bit smaller, there’s still some judgment around it, which makes it even harder to find people to play,” said Werneck.

“I know there are a lot of (virtual) programs that are supported and can help playing a lot, but it’s not the same feel of playing it in person with people around a table,” she said.

He said he believes it’s harder to respond to social cues when you are reacting to a “camera showing you the person.”!

“In my opinion, if there was a tier list of preferred formats, online play would be at the absolute bottom,” Carkner said!

Hopkins agreed that an element of Dungeons and Dragons is lost when hosted online and he said he believes those who played their favourite tabletop game in The Loft will be back soon after the pandemic is over.