TTRPG stands for tabletop role-playing game—a game where players join forces to create and participate in an interactive story. In a TTRPG, you and your friends assume the roles of characters in a fictional world and talk through what those characters do in various situations.
In a TTRPG, the action takes place in your collective imagination, guided by rules and often the roll of dice. If you’ve heard of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), that’s a classic example. But TTRPGs aren’t limited to fantasy—they can be about anything from space exploration to detective mysteries.
How Do TTRPGs Work?
At its core, a tabletop RPG is collaborative storytelling. One person serves as the game’s facilitator and the others control a character in the story. Together, you narrate adventures, face challenges, and make choices that shape the outcome.
Unlike video games where your options are fixed, TTRPGs give you the freedom to try almost any action you can imagine. Want to negotiate peace with a dragon instead of fighting it? Go for it! The game world will react to your ideas, leading to limitless possibilities for how the story unfolds.
A typical TTRPG session is a bit like group improv storytelling with rules. Here’s a basic rundown of how it works:
Game Setup
The group agrees on a game system (the rules and the setting) ahead of time. For example, you might choose the medieval-esque D&D or a galaxy-spanning Star Wars RPG. Each player creates a character—often defined by a character sheet listing their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Meanwhile, one person prepares to be the gamemaster (GM). The GM crafts or presents the adventure’s plot and world, acting as the narrator and referee.
How To Play TTRPG
![A photo labeling the Dungeon Master and the players in a Dungeons & Dragons game. Illustrates [alt text].](https://www.michaelghelfistudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dnd-ttrpg-dm-players.webp "dnd-ttrpg-dm-players")
During play, the GM describes the scene and what’s happening in the world. Then the players respond by saying what their characters do. For instance, the GM might say:
"You enter a dark tavern and see a suspicious figure in the corner.”
A player could respond:
“I walk up to the figure and greet them” or “I want to sneak around to eavesdrop on their conversation.”
It’s a back-and-forth dialogue: the players declare actions, and the GM describes the outcomes.
Rules and Dice
To keep things fair and add excitement, actions in a TTRPG are usually governed by rules and random chance. Most games use various polyhedral dice (like the famous 20-sided die in D&D) to determine success or failure.
If your character tries something challenging—say, swinging a sword at a goblin or deciphering an ancient rune—you’ll likely roll a die (or multiple dice) as dictated by the rules. A high roll means your action succeeds; a low roll might mean it fails or something unexpected happens.
The GM interprets the roll and narrates the result. This adds an element of uncertainty: even a clever plan can fail and an overly ambitious one might just succeed. It’s a thrill to toss the dice and hope for a good outcome!
TTRPG Props
Many TTRPG groups use maps, miniatures, or other visual aids to represent battles and environments, but these props are optional. In the image, players are engaged in a fantasy-themed game at a convention, using a large map with miniatures to enact a battle scene.
Some games are played entirely in the “theater of the mind,” meaning everything is described verbally with no physical game board. Whether you use elaborate terrain or just your imagination, the focus is on the story and the characters’ choices.
Polyhedral Dice
![A photo showing each dice of D&D/TTRPG. Illustrates [alt text].](https://www.michaelghelfistudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dnd-dice-labels.webp "dnd-dice-labels")
Polyhedral dice of various shapes (4-sided, 6-sided, 8-sided, 10-sided, 12-sided, and the iconic 20-sided die) are a staple of tabletop RPGs. They add an element of chance and suspense to the game—every roll can dramatically change the story.
Players live for those dramatic moments: will your brave knight’s sword strike true or will it hit his own foot? The uncertainty keeps everyone at the edge of their seat. And when you do roll that perfect high number (like a "natural 20"), it’s pure joy at the table!
Story and Turns In TTRPG
Gameplay usually proceeds in turns or rounds when needed (especially in combat or tense situations) so that everyone gets a chance to act in an order. In more free-form scenes (like exploring or role-playing conversations), the flow is flexible—players chime in when their character has something to say or do.
The GM keeps the story moving, presenting new challenges, characters (non-player characters, or NPCs, which the GM voices/controls), and events in response to the players’ actions.
There may be puzzles to solve, monsters to battle, or dilemmas that force the group to make tough choices. Every session is a bit different, but the key is collaboration: it’s not players against the GM (the GM isn’t an enemy to defeat), rather everyone work together to create an enjoyable experience.
TTRPG Sessions and Campaigns
![A photo of a group playing Dungeons & Dragons with miniatures, dice, and books. Illustrates [alt text].](https://www.michaelghelfistudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ttrpg-table-2.webp "ttrpg-table-2")
You can play a one-shot (a single self-contained adventure that might last a few hours or one evening), or you can play a series of sessions with the same characters for an ongoing campaign.
In a campaign, the story continues over multiple sessions, sometimes spanning months or even years in real time as the characters grow and the plot thickens. Beginners often start with a short adventure to learn the ropes, and if they enjoy it, they might continue into a longer campaign.
Players: Heroes of the Story
Each player creates a character (also called a player character or PC) to inhabit the game’s world. Your character could be a fearless warrior, a clever detective, a space pilot, a mischievous rogue—anything that fits the setting.
As a player, your job is to make decisions for your character and describe their actions. You’ll speak as your character (e.g. “I demand the king release my friend at once!”) or tell the group what your character attempts (“My wizard will cast a protection spell.”).
You don’t need to be an actor (though you can put on voices or mannerisms if you like); it’s all about imagining what your character would do and having fun with it. Players work together as a team, so often your characters form a group or "party" that sticks together through the adventure.
Gamemaster: Storyteller and Referee
The gamemaster (GM) is a special player who runs the game. They are sometimes called other names in different games. For example, D&D’s GM is known as the Dungeon Master (DM), in Call of Cthulhu the GM is called the Keeper, and in others they may be a Storyteller or Narrator.
Regardless of title, the GM’s role is to guide the narrative and manage the rules. The GM sets the scene by describing the world and events, plays all the characters that the players meet, and acts as the referee.
If a rule question comes up, the GM makes a judgment or looks it up. They also determine the outcomes of player actions (often by calling for dice rolls and interpreting them). Essentially, the GM is the architect of the adventure—they might create the story themselves or use a published adventure module as a blueprint, then adjust based on what the players do.
Collaboration is Key
![A photo shooting of three men posing heroicly while dressed as traditional medieval fantasy characters. Illustrates [alt text].](https://www.michaelghelfistudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/write-about-their-relationships.webp "write-about-their-relationships")
Importantly, the GM is not “against” the players. While the GM often controls antagonists in the story, their real goal is to ensure everyone (including themselves) has a good time.
Think of the GM as a facilitator and narrator—they set up challenges for the heroes, but they also help the heroes shine. Players are encouraged to be creative, and a good GM will adapt the story to these surprising solutions. Together, the GM and players create the narrative.
No one knows exactly how the story will turn out, not even the GM, because the players’ choices and dice rolls drive the outcome. This makes TTRPGs a dynamic experience as the story develops organically through play.
Get Started On Your Campaign!
Now that you know what TTRPG is, you can get started on creating your own campaign if you are interested in being a GM. Here's a guide on outlining the fundamentals of your story. We hope you have fun!
![A close up of an intricate dragon head wall decor. Illustrates [alt text].](https://www.michaelghelfistudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dragons-of-stormwreck-isle.webp)
