I have so many emotions about D&D all the time tbh, like there is no end to how grateful I am that crusty nerdbros no longer have the stranglehold on it that they used to. It’s the kind of thing that in the past I unfortunately associated mainly with those GamerGate-type dudes who are all about racking up orc kills and rolling seduction checks on women in bikini armor.
My entire world changed when I discovered that it didn’t have to be that way. At its core, D&D is a wonderfully accessible form of collaborative storytelling, and in the hands of marginalized communities and their allies that is so incredibly powerful. Between the three D&D podcasts I listen to, and the campaign I play with my own group of friends, I’ve been provided with this affirmation, representation, and sense of community that I have yet to truly encounter in any other type of media, and I’m gonna be gushing about that for the entirety of the foreseeable future tbh.
crusty nerdbros never had a total stranglehold on it
you were lied to
lgbt ppl, poc, women, disabled people, all kinds of multiply marginalized people have always been in this hobby. I’m a queer black woman who has DM’d for 20 years. we fought for years to carve out spaces that were hostile to us, writing letters to the editor and essays, fighting on Usenet and message boards, walking out of shops and GenCon panels, creating our own homebrew groups in a time when it was not nearly as easy to find like minded people
the current renaissance you’re seeing is a direct result of our efforts over the last 20-30 years challenging the misogynist, racist, homophobic culture of tabletop gaming, often thanklessly, and frequently invisible
i’m really happy that more people are involved in D&D now and feel welcome, please don’t mistake this as some “get off my lawn” screed. this is all I ever wanted for this hobby. but please recognize how and why that happened. please recognize that it took a lot of pain and suffering and some of the people who fought these battles were so scarred and exhausted that they left the hobby entirely and are not here to enjoy the fruits of their labor. and also, please recognize that there is more to be done, and support other gamers who are doing so, not just the handful of allegedly “woke” white bros taking credit for our labor