We at The Adventure Nexus have founded a platform that is open, accessible to all, safe, and inclusive, as well as being designed to allow for the finding of like-minded individuals like you who are keen on playing the games you are interested in. We support all tabletop roleplaying games. If there is a system that does not come up in our selector, please report the absence with our Scarab Bug reporter or a direct email to info@theadventurenexus.com. We will add it hastily. The Co-Founders, CEO Ian Gauger and I, are lifelong gamers who faced the same struggles you do as gamers. We took those pains and tried to find the solution for all of them, and we think we’re pretty close. We just need your input and imagination to find anything our vision has missed. Many things are still in development that we have designed, but we could have missed some big ideas. That’s where you come in.
The new era of gaming is burgeoning with choices. The old warhorse Dungeons and Dragons, while still king of the land, is experiencing a great migration of gamers, new and old, who are seeking new genres, new worlds, and new experiences that flick that dopamine switch in fresh and new ways.
Take the coming of systems like Daggerheart from Darrington Press and the founders of Critical Role. A fresh new system that aims to be a catalyst for roleplaying, meaning it emphasizes players actively acting in character and developing their persona, backstory, and raw emotion into a more hyper-realistic player character and raising the bar for the whole table. New mechanics and ideas can also impact the game in many ways, making it unique and hopefully a more enjoyable experience.
This is just one example of the industry's tangent of new offerings. There are way too many to mention, but when you find one that you love, you can email us if you don’t see any postings for it, and we will endeavor to advertise for GMs for that specific game and make sure it is in the system.
Here are 5 reasons to try a new TTRPG:
1. Explore Different Genres and Settings
D&D and Pathfinder are fantasy games, but the world of TTRPGs covers every genre imaginable. Trying a new system lets you explore stories in sci-fi, horror, or modern settings, offering a refreshing change from knights and dragons.
- Personal Reflection: When I reflect on my exposure to different games, genres, and worlds, I realize just how lucky I was to be a part of the coterie of gamers I fell into in high school. Against all odds, and despite the stigma often attached to "nerdom," I stumbled into the right circle after trying a few different groups. I was fortunate enough to stumble into a group of which each member was GM capable from their joining. We took turns, often cycling so that the prior forever GMs could get the chance to play as well. We played EVERYTHING. Name a game from the first 30 years of gaming, and we likely played it. From board games like Axis and Allies and Supremacy or even Risk, to TTRPGs of all genres. My favorites were: Lords of Creation, Palladium, Pendragon, GURPS (we playtested for Steve Jackson which was a thrill), DC Heroes, Champions, Werewolf the Apocalypse, and Vampire the Masquerade, to name a few. It was an epic experience to explore those different worlds. Nothing is more powerful than your imagination, and to my knowledge, there is no better exploration tool than opening yourself up to new, diverse experiences.
2. Experience Different Mechanical Focuses
Not every game is built around combat and tactical rules like D&D. Other systems use rules to emphasize different aspects of play, such as collaborative storytelling or character relationships, creating a fundamentally different gaming experience.
- Personal Reflection: To be honest, this is the last reason I rank amongst these more relevant reasons. This goes for Board Games too. I balked at the prospect of having to learn a new system quickly and feared looking like an idiot, among a literal circle of geniuses to be truthful. Again, I was very lucky. But frankly, I’m old, I’m tired, and my brain hurts. With my ADHD, not only can I not sit still for long and focus, but my focus is also constantly shifting, and it makes learning new systems challenging, so I get it. I promise you, your GM and coterie will help you acclimate. Are there horror stories out there? Sure. But they are the few and far between experiences in the vast majority of gaming that is enjoyed across the industry. I have to remind the veterans here that you are responsible for raising good stewards of your hobby and therefore should always greet new adventurers with a warm welcome and an endless supply of patience. As one of my Monk characters is fond of saying, “The Master of patience, is Master of all things…”
3. Play a More Focused Narrative
Many TTRPGs are designed with a specific type of story in mind, and their rules are built to support that particular narrative. This focus can create a more immersive and intense experience than a general-purpose system.
- Personal Reflection: This is an easy one, for who has not imagined being immersed in their favorite story or life setting and longed to experience what they daydream about for themselves? To be able to put yourself in your character's shoes and live that life and experience that story and imagery immersively. That is the sweet spot of gaming and the absolute JOY of it. Trust me, whether you are new to the experience or an old dog like me, find the world you want to experience, because in all likelihood it exists and is just waiting for you…
4. Embrace Different Tones and Themes
While you can adapt any game, some systems are specifically designed to evoke a unique tone. Trying a game that's deliberately gritty, comedic, or emotional can introduce you to themes that feel more natural and impactful within a tailored ruleset.
- Personal Reflection: This is in truth an extension or adjacent reason to the above aspect of narrative focus. There are no more powerful storytelling tools than the use of these elements as a GM, whether setting-inspired or organic to the scene or world. I can recall memories and feelings inspired by GMs from the earliest days at the table that thrilled me to the bone or set my heart racing. Nothing like that adrenaline and dopamine cocktail from a resonating scene that catalyzes emotion. Those are the moments that last forever: a friend's antics that sent the table to fits of laughter, or awe at the ingenious move or unique strategy or use of an item or spell that saved your butt. I can’t remember half of yesterday, but I will never forget those moments, and neither will you.
5. Challenge Your Player and GM Skills
Learning a new system pushes you to think differently as both a player and a GM. This challenge expands your creative toolkit and can make you more versatile in any game you play.
- Personal Reflection: I confess, this is the most daunting of reasons on the list. It is adjacent to being a newbie and trying to learn a new system, only x10 on the anxiety scale. I have always found it challenging, especially when 15 minutes of focus has always been a challenge in and of itself. Particularly though, memory issues—finding space in the hard drive is like pulling teeth. LOL! That, however, has not prevented me from dipping my toes into new systems entirely. I have recently been learning Cyberpunk Red (one of the best gaming experiences I have had. Big thank you to @Sugar Butch, who provided me with easily one of the best gaming experiences I have ever had), Covens and Crucibles, which I love for its freedom and reliance on player investment.
You can see this in action for yourself! I'm currently in a liveplay for a brand new game, Lorefell, streaming on Discord and our Twitch channel every Friday night at 10 PM EST. Join me (as the Le’Shay Bladesinger, Ozzymandius) and the game's actual designers—GM Nate Johnson and his co-founder brother Nevin Johnson. If you're a night owl, we'd love for you to drop in!
Until Next Time. Game On.
Will Moquin, Co-Founder and CMO
