The gaming community at RPG Taverns makes it easy for newcomers to dip their toe into the D&D pond – perfect for fans of Stranger Things!
One of the topics we often cover when reviewing titles or even discussing the tabletop community is the issue of accessibility. The fact is, this is a hobby that can seem daunting for new players to get involved with, not least because of the price tag that’s often attached to gaming. However, there’s another barrier to entry that we don’t always think about and that’s understanding the rules and mechanics that define a specific title. There are arguably few other rulesets that are quite as complex as those that accompany roleplaying games, especially those titles that have been developed, updated and expanded across multiple iterations.
Dungeons & Dragons, for instance, continues to rise in popularity but it’s hard for newcomers to find a space to learn the rules and become entrenched in a community. A good Game Master or Dungeon Master is hard to come by and it’s often impossible to find enough players to begin a campaign who already know the rules. That’s without considering other problems you might face when trying to set up your game, such as player availability. How in Avernus can someone be expected to become a fully-fledged D&D expert when they can’t even put that all-important group together? Thankfully, there’s a modern solution, which may be unconventional but actually solves most issues a potential player can face.
You might have heard anecdotally of a current trend, with a number of roleplaying taverns opening up across the UK. You’ll likely be very familiar with board game cafes and the like; spaces where players can link up, grab a drink and learn more about a title they may have never played. Most tabletop stores offer their own versions of these spaces, with players getting the opportunity to learn from an expert.
But roleplaying pubs, taverns and bars go one step further, often decked out in a fantasy theme and wholly dedicated to the pursuit of RPG play. A great example of these setups is a business called RPG Taverns, located in Elephant & Castle in London. Players making their way to this new London landmark can drop in and out of a huge ongoing campaign, as the community builds a massive adventure full of detailed lore and shocking twists.
Sam Lawes, one of the Co-Founders of RPG Taverns, explains how the team assembled to bring this concept to life: “Essentially, we were a group of players who had been part of a D&D community that stopped running. None of us wanted our hobby to end – in fact, we wanted to create something bigger and better! We came together and decided to set up our own venue.
“We contacted the landlord at Colab Tavern, and pitched him on the idea of us taking on the lease. From there, we spent three months decorating, renovating and turning it into a fully themed venue, and that became RPG Taverns. We officially launched in late April 2024, and since then it’s grown into a thriving space, with games running every day, a brilliant creative and venue team, and an amazing community of players behind it.”
Putting such a bold plan into place to protect a hobby speaks to how socially impactful RPG play can be. But are these types of spaces only about current fans finding a place to interact with their hobby, or are they suitable for new players?
Helpfully, RPG Taverns – along with many similar establishments – boasts sessions that are designed to encourage newcomers to try roleplaying for the first time. In an effort to share this gameplaying opportunity with a new generation of players, the company hosts dedicated playthroughs for those who have never played Dungeons & Dragons before. Sessions are guided by an expert Game Master, who is happy to show new players the ropes… or swords.
“We built RPG Taverns specifically to be welcoming for new players,” Sam says. “Our drop-in system means there’s no big commitment, and our GMs are trained to ensure every table is supportive and inclusive. A huge number of our regulars started with no experience at all, now they’re starting in-game religions, joining organisations, becoming Game Masters and really falling in love with the hobby.”
Taking that leap and entering this fantasy world can be nerve-wracking, especially for those who feel the hobby sits outside of their comfort zone. However, the step-by-step process at RPG Taverns is enough to encourage any curious hobbyist.
“Every new player starts in character creation, where we walk them through how to create a character, select a species, etc. Once they’re ready to play, our GMs and regular players are on hand to answer any questions and even navigate the complexities of D&D Beyond!” Sam explains.
“It’s always amazing to see how fast people become regulars. Outside of the Tavern itself, we’ve also invested in creating a Discord community so players can roleplay elsewhere. The community, which has over 1,400 members, is almost like a fully functioning MMORPG, with players starting shops, trading and forming bonds off the table too.”
One of the key roles in a business like this is the Game Master. Ola Czarnecka, Game Master and Core Creative at RPG Taverns, explains a couple of the ways she helps new players settle into the community: “During games, we support new players with physical cheat sheets but mostly by being encouraging. We let the players learn their characters’ abilities and help foster creative outside-the-box thinking for solutions.
D&D can look overwhelming if you’ve never played before, but our goal is to grow the community and the hobby – which is why RPG Taverns is designed to be welcoming and accessible to anyone.”
With plenty of returning players, RPG Taverns’ mission statement appears to be working. As players progress, they’re also starting to become a more vibrant part of the community.
“I started playing at RPG Taverns on its opening weekend. The ease of diving into the session was amazing. I walked in with theD&D Beyond app on my phone and was provided with everything from tips on character creation, minis, dice and cheat sheets,” says Asad Zaidi, who has become a regular contributor to the RPG Taverns community.
“I was also impressed by the focus on respect and player safety before any dice were rolled. In the time since it opened, I have played, on average, two games a week. In that time, I’ve become more confident as a roleplayer and regularly attempt to set up and execute more nuanced character moments. I’ve also become really well-versed with the rules and help newer players out when I have any on my tables.
“With a concept like RPG Taverns, the development is two-sided. Our characters live and breathe in a world shared with 1,500+ others, forming organisations, crafting items and influencing the lore and trajectory of the story.”
Those sentiments were shared by Elizabeth Tyson, another player who has become a regular community contributor at RPG Taverns. She identified one element that made her experience much more special, and a great selling point for beginners looking to join the fun: “The person running the game was one of the first DMs who really broke my sense of reality and allowed me to become immersed in the world of D&D,with a sprinkle of sass from the modern world. We can truly be ourselves in this fantasy realm.”
Do you remember that opening scene in Stranger Things, where the boys are all playing Dungeons & Dragons in the basement? If you’ve ever wanted to experience the same pure, unadulterated joy, RPG Taverns has your back. The “Hawkins Room” is a special, Stranger Things-themed D&D gaming room created by the company RPG Taverns for an immersive experience. Tabletop Gaming magazine was lucky enough to see it first hand, and the experienced DMs can even run a Stranger Things-themed game for you, courtesy of the Welcome to the Hellfire Club boxset from Wizards of the Coast. We played as Will the Wise!
So, if you’re considering trying Dungeons & Dragons for the first time – or any roleplaying game, as most venues embrace a multitude of systems – why not give a venue like RPG Taverns a go? “Just go for it,” says Sam. “You don’t need to know the rules, you don’t need any special skills, and you don’t need to bring anything but your imagination. D&D is about collaboration and creativity, it’s like group storytelling with a bit of dice rolling thrown in. If you’ve ever wanted to try it, this is the perfect space to do it in a friendly, pressure-free environment.” Spaces like RPG Taverns could well be the future of this hobby!