In today’s… today, digital interactions often overshadow face-to-face connections, and tabletop games have carved a niche as a focal point for social engagement. These games, ranging from classic board games like Settlers of Catan to intricate roleplaying games (RPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons, offer more than just entertainment. They serve as a social scaffold, a structure that supports and nurtures interpersonal relationships. This unique role means that the tabletop gaming hobby often attracts individuals who benefit from and require such social scaffolding. And that’s perfectly okay.
The Role of Tabletop Games as Social Scaffolding
Tabletop games inherently require players to engage with one another. Whether strategising, negotiating, or collaboratively storytelling, these activities foster communication and collaboration. This structured interaction is particularly beneficial for individuals who might find socialising challenging. The game’s rules and objectives provide a clear framework for interaction, reducing the ambiguity and anxiety that can accompany social situations.
For many, tabletop games serve as a gateway to social experiences they might otherwise avoid. The predictability and shared goals within the game context create a safe environment where players can express themselves, experiment with social roles, and build confidence. Over time, these positive experiences can translate into improved social skills and relationships outside the gaming table.
Who Are the Players?
The tabletop gaming community is diverse, encompassing people of all ages, backgrounds, and personality types. Among them are individuals who might struggle with social interactions in other settings. This includes those with social anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, or simply introverts who find large social gatherings overwhelming. The structured, rule-based nature of tabletop games can make them an appealing and manageable social activity for these individuals.
This was a big focus of one of my postgraduate projects, and we found these structures to be beneficial to neurotypical players as our neurodiverse players. We actually developed a staged programme of play-based therapy, organised partially by the nature and depth of social interaction required for different games.
Embracing the Community
It’s essential to recognise and celebrate the inclusivity of the tabletop gaming community. It’s far from perfect, of course, but the hobby’s capacity to attract and support people who need social scaffolding is a testament to its value. These games provide not just an escape, but a means of connection and personal growth.
Moreover, the communal aspect of tabletop gaming fosters a sense of belonging. Regular game nights, conventions, and online forums create spaces where individuals can form lasting friendships. Just… be careful about which online forums, eh? The shared passion for gaming can bridge gaps and build a supportive network, often extending beyond the game itself. That’s certainly been my experience with our local club.
Creating Inclusive Gaming Spaces
For tabletop gaming to continue being a positive force, it’s crucial for communities and game organisers to cultivate inclusive and welcoming environments. Here are some ways to achieve this:
- Encouraging Diversity: Ensure that game nights and events are accessible to people of all backgrounds and abilities. This can include providing clear instructions, offering a variety of game types, and being mindful of physical accessibility.
- Promoting a Positive Culture: Foster a culture of respect and kindness. Encourage experienced players to mentor newcomers and create a zero-tolerance policy for bullying or exclusion.
- Offering Supportive Structures: Provide additional support for those who might need it. This could involve setting up social groups or game sessions specifically designed for individuals with social anxiety or autism spectrum disorders.
- Facilitating Communication: Use tools and resources that enhance communication. For instance, using session zero in RPGs to discuss expectations and boundaries can help create a comfortable environment for all players.
I think we could further expand on these examples, and this might be a good topic for a future blog post.
The Broader Impact
The benefits of tabletop gaming extend beyond the individual. As players develop their social skills and build connections, they contribute to stronger, more cohesive communities. The collaborative nature of these games teaches empathy, teamwork, and problem-solving—skills that are valuable in every aspect of life.
Moreover, the positive experiences and relationships formed around the gaming table can ripple outward, influencing how individuals engage with the broader world. A person who gains confidence and social skills through gaming may find it easier to navigate social situations in their personal and professional lives.
Conclusion
Tabletop games are much more than a hobby; they are a vital social scaffold that supports and enriches the lives of many. As a naturally nervous person, these games, and the relationships they have facilitated via social scaffolding, have been invaluable to me. I struggle with new people, but a game gives me a structure or focus to be able to cope with this. I largely credit this with my being able to overcome what was in childhood a quite pronounced stammer; something that would have made my chosen career much more difficult. These games offer a real lifeline to those who require a bit more support via social scaffolding. We really must Embrace this aspect of the hobby, as it not only enhances the gaming experience but also contributes to a more compassionate and connected group and, not to overstate things, society; at least in a local sense.
No Rerolls 
it’s funny, as it’s sometimes a source of complaint within the communities that we attract people that don’t otherwise socialize well. It’s not a fair complaint. But it does exist.
Often, it’s touted that the reason, often in rpg groups, that things go awry is due to the “nerd social fallacy”. This might be less common now as nerdy hobbies become mainstream, but for many nerds, we don’t exactly relish the thought of kicking people out; we wouldn’t want it done to us. So problems tend to fester as a result. Combining this with what you say in your article, it makes even more sense why this latter problem might exist. Not even a session zero may catch these things. In my experience, those that will derail a party and rpg often would do so anyways due to a fundamental disconnect they or the party don’t want to address.
In wargaming, due to the episodic nature of how it’s played, it’s easier for such problems to not emerge as quickly. And people who are problem players typically end up playing other problem players, as groups ostracize them and play with each other instead.
All of what you say is absolutely true; I merely wish to point out that conflict resolution is not helped since the same factors that make our communities more open are the same that cause conflict within them. And it takes a delicate touch to fix. We have a schoolteacher in our group who is among the best at this, and while he doesn’t like using his school skills among friends, his ability to communicate is the best among us. This has resolved a lot of problems we’ve had.
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