At Northeastern University, students are finding community and creative expression through tabletop role-playing games. The Northeastern University Tabletop Role-playing Society, or NUTRS, is one of more than 600 student clubs on the Boston campus that allows members to act out imagined scenarios collectively.

How do these games work?

Participants in tabletop role-playing games engage in a form of collaborative storytelling that often resembles improv theater. A game master, such as senior Casper Smith, directs the session by creating a scenario for the players to navigate. These settings can range from high-fantasy worlds featuring wizards and elves to gritty settings involving gangsters or robots.

During a session, players use dice to determine the success or failure of their actions. For example, a player might attempt to steal a vehicle, but a low roll of the dice could result in a crash. To enhance the experience, some students use the following methods:

  • Mimicking specific character voices
  • Using figurines to represent characters
  • Drawing actions on whiteboards
  • Performing pantomime movements

The history of role-playing

While many students today play modern variants, the foundations of the hobby date back decades. Dungeons & Dragons, widely considered the world's first tabletop role-playing game, was created in 1974 by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game emerged from a period of cultural change in America, offering players a way to imagine themselves as "superheroes" through fantasy and science-fiction themes.

Since its inception, the category of role-playing games has crystallized into a massive cultural movement. While the core mechanics often involve dice and imagination, the hobby continues to evolve through new formats and diverse storytelling styles.

Why do students enjoy tabletop role-playing games?

The hobby offers a unique way for students to engage their imaginations. While some games focus on fantasy, others allow players to inhabit entirely different personas. The social aspect is central to the experience, as players react to one another's decisions with laughter, cheers, or boos depending on the outcome of the dice rolls.

As a student club, NUTRS welcomes first-timers to join the group. This accessibility allows students from various academic backgrounds, such as physics, music technology, and psychology, to connect through shared play.