During the holiday season, I found myself reflecting on all those evenings spent gaming—hours devoted to crafting characters and rolling dice. What is it that truly draws us to this hobby? I think I’ve found the answer.

There’s something very special about gathering around a table, character sheets sprawled out, dice ready to be thrown, and an air of anticipation filling the room. The moment when the Game Master begins telling the story, and players slip into their characters, is one filled with excitement and nostalgia for anyone who’s ever fallen in love with tabletop roleplaying games.

For many of us, the introduction to TTRPGs was a gateway to something much bigger than just rolling dice or defeating monsters. It was about stories—epic, intimate, and sometimes deeply personal. Whether your first campaign was in a world of high fantasy, with dwarves and elves battling orcs, or in a gritty dystopian future where survival meant making moral choices, TTRPGs have a way of sticking with you.

I still remember one of my first campaigns. We were playing a homebrew world, cobbled together by our GM who—now that I think about it—must have spent tens (if not hundreds) of hours on building. Our party was a mix of a half-elf ranger, a grumpy dwarf cleric, and my chaotic-good rogue with a penchant for pickpocketing NPCs at the worst possible moments. Every session was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and those moments of collective gasps when Lady Luck let us down.

What’s unique about TTRPGs is the way they transform us. Sitting around that table, you’re not just yourself anymore—you become the brave warrior, the cunning thief, the shadowy sorcerer. And you’re not alone; you’re in a shared story where the outcome is shaped not only by your choices but by the roll of the dice, the reactions of your friends, and the GM.

And let’s not our love/hate relation with the dice. Oh, the dice! How many of us have a special set that we only break out for the most critical rolls, or perhaps a set that’s been “retired” because of an unfortunate string of critical failures? The tactile joy of rolling a die, watching it tumble across the table, and waiting while holding our breath to see if it’s a success or a failure—it’s like a ritual that never loses its appeal.

Maybe because it provides the same thrill as gambling. Putting the fate of our character in the hands of luck?

But it’s more than just numbers on dice and combat mechanics. What always kept me coming back to TTRPGs was the emotional depth they offered. Unlike a video game or movie, where the story is on rails, in a tabletop game, the story truly belongs to the players. The bonds formed between characters (and players) can be surprisingly real. You laugh together, grieve together, and sometimes face the ultimate heartbreak when a beloved character falls. I still remember the death of my rogue—the stupid (but heroic) decision that led to his demise—and the outpouring of emotions from the entire group. We mourned him like we’d lost a real friend.

Then, there’s the creativity. The Game Master crafting intricate worlds with deep backgrounds and lore or the player brainstorming how your character might fast-talk a dragon, TTRPGs spark imagination in ways that are hard to match in any other medium. Some of my most cherished creative moments happened not in front of a computer screen, but sitting around a table, spitballing ideas and improvising solutions with friends.

And while technology has certainly changed the landscape—with virtual tabletops, online dice rollers, and apps that track your stats—it’s that core experience of shared storytelling that remains unchanged. There’s a certain joy in gathering together in person, snacking, flipping through character sheets, rolling dice or scribbling down last-minute notes. You feel connected in a way that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Even now, as I sit here reminiscing, I can’t help but smile at the thought of my old gaming group, some of whom I haven’t seen in years, but who still hold a place in my heart.

The love of tabletop roleplaying games isn’t just about the game—it’s about the stories, the friendships, the laughter, and the moments of pure, unfiltered fun. It’s about escaping into a world where anything is possible, even if just for a few hours, and creating memories that last a lifetime. It’s about the nights where you stayed up way too late because you "just" needed to finish that epic battle or figure out what was behind that mysterious door.

If you're new to TTRPGs, I hope this article will convince you that there is something deeply rewarding (and sometimes therapeutic) about playing. For those of you who’ve been around the block, I hope it reignites your passion and reminds you why you fell in love with the hobby in the first place.