by Wyrmworks Publishing
Tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons have inherent benefits, but what happens when people decide to level up their play by using the game to improve the lives of others? And how can YOU do the same with your game?
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
7/16/2021
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April 26, 2025
Dale discusses what could be the most radical shift in TTRPG accessibility yet. We’re not just talking about a new ruleset. We’re talking about reclaiming the tabletop for everyone.Free5e isn’t another clone. It’s a community-led, open-source, fully accessible reimagining of 5e designed for affordability, inclusivity, and actual usability. Dale explains how it stays SRD-compliant while offering more than just “good enough.” You’ll hear about:Accessible formats: Digital braille, high-contrast PDFs, large print, audio, and more Affordability: Free digital books, print-at-cost, and Kickstarter-exclusive deeper discounts Disability representation: Three modular systems for including disabled characters on your terms Flexible design: Inclusive mechanics without creating power imbalances Creative Commons licensing: Remix, translate, and adapt—without the legal minefieldOpen the Gates GamingDale talks to Chris Campbell-Bohen and Elizabeth McClain from Open the Gates Gaming, two academics who are using their expertise and lived experiences to reshape how we play and how we design for neurodivergence, disability, and cultural diversity.How Open the Gates Gaming's cognitive access tools—like simplified character sheets, modular ability/spell cards, decision guides, and explainer videos—are changing the onboarding experience Why cultural representation and narrative inclusion are as vital as mechanics The Access Forward Gaming Lounge at PAX East: an experiment in radical accessibility, cross-disability solidarity, and real-time adaptation The dangers of defaulting to Eurocentric fantasy tropes and how to tell new stories How accessibility is not just a checkbox—it’s a design philosophyWhether you're a game designer, a DM, or a player who just wants more people to feel safe at your table, this episode is essential listening.Show Outline00:00:00 What if D&D Could Be for Everyone?00:01:25 Introducing Free5e: Free, Open, Accessible00:12:38 Meet the Game-Changers Behind Inclusive TTRPGs00:15:01 How Open the Gates Gaming is Redefining Play00:22:26 Fixing Accessibility: Why "Everyone's Welcome" Isn't Enough00:30:05 TTRPGs as Empowerment: Finding Belonging at the Table00:43:00 Designing for Flexibility Without Losing the Magic01:03:00 The Hard Truth About Inclusive Game Design01:09:30 When Players Break the Script—and Why It Matters01:16:30 How You Can Start Making Your Table More Accessible01:20:00 Is Accessibility Ruining Games? (Spoiler: No)01:24:00 Upcoming Projects That Could Change Gaming Forever01:25:15 Patreon Spotlight: Shape the Future of TTRPGsLinks & Resources:Free5e Kickstarter (live until end of April): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wyrmworkspublishing/free5e-a-free-open-source-dungeons-and-dragons-alternative?ref=6orsnt Open the Gates Gaming: https://www.openthegatesgaming.org/ Access Forward Gaming Lounge at PAX East https://east.paxsite.com/en-us/features/pax-together.html Virginia Tech Disability Community Technology Center: https://discoteccenter.org/ Dots RPG: https://dotsrpg.org Wyrmworks Publishing Patreon: https://patreon.com/WyrmworksPublishing If you found this episode helpful, subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find and benefit from it!
February 14, 2025
How can we make tabletop RPGs more inclusive for blind players—and why does it matter? This episode of Gaining Advantage tackles accessibility in TTRPGs with Blind Temple, an advocate for blind gamers.Temple shares firsthand experiences, challenges, and solutions for making RPGs more accessible, from game design to play at the table. We also unveil #Free5e, our ambitious project to provide a fully accessible, cost-free alternative to D&D 5th Edition.00:00 Introduction – The Accessibility Problem in TTRPGs00:22 The Cost Barrier in D&D – What is Free5e?05:17 Meet Blind Temple – Advocate for Blind Gamers06:49 Common Challenges Blind Players Face in RPGs09:10 Exclusion at the Table – Real Stories11:32 The Role of Digital Tools in Accessible Gaming15:02 How GMs Can Make Their Games More Inclusive17:06 The Biggest Accessibility Mistakes in TTRPGs22:57 What Publishers Must Do to Improve Accessibility27:11 Debunking Myths About Blindness in RPGs34:38 Ableism in Gaming – What Needs to Change42:02 The Impact of Accessibility in RPG Communities50:04 A Message to Game Designers & Players51:27 Upcoming Projects from Blind Temple53:42 Final Thoughts & How You Can HelpJoin us as we break down myths, share practical solutions, and fight to make tabletop RPGs truly welcoming for all!Links & Resources:🔗 Free5e: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wyrmworkspublishing/free5e-a-free-open-source-dungeons-and-dragons-alternative?ref=ahzrcq 🔗 Blind Temple on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/blindtemple.bsky.social 🔗 Blind Temple on Twitter: https://x.com/BlindTemple 🔗 Dots RPG (Braille Dice & Resources): https://dotsrpg.org 🔗 Wyrmworks Publishing Patreon (Support Community Copies!): https://patreon.com/WyrmworksPublishing If you found this episode helpful, subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find and benefit from it!
December 13, 2024
Dale discusses with Stefan McNinch, founder of UnboxEd, how tabletop roleplaying games can revolutionize learning by teaching financial literacy, persistence, and teamwork while addressing educational gaps in underserved communities.
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