Rolling for Representation in Black TTRPG Spaces

For decades, tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire: The Masquerade, and Shadowrun have provided players with endless worlds to explore—full of magic, mystery, and imagination. But there’s been a noticeable absence in many of these fantasy-filled rooms: the presence of Black players, creators, and characters. It’s not because Black folks aren’t imaginative. It’s not because we don’t love fantasy, storytelling, or gaming. In fact, the Black community has always been deeply rooted in oral storytelling, creativity, and collaborative play. So why haven’t we seen more Black faces at the TTRPG table—especially until recently?

Let’s break it down.

TTRPGs, especially in their early days, were largely created by and for white audiences. The books were filled with Eurocentric fantasy tropes—knights, elves, and kingdoms straight out of Tolkien—with little to no cultural diversity. And when Black characters did show up (if they showed up at all), they were often offensive stereotypes or side characters with no depth. If you’re a young Black kid flipping through a core rulebook and you don’t see anyone who looks like you—or worse, you only see caricatures—it’s hard to feel like there’s space for you. That lack of representation sends a subtle but powerful message: this isn’t for you.

The nerd community has a long, ugly history of gatekeeping, and the TTRPG space is no different. Black players who tried to enter were often met with questions, doubts, or outright hostility. Are you “really” into this? Do you “get” the lore? Prove it. Roll to justify your existence. And for Black women or queer Black players? The bullshit is doubled. The intersection of racism, misogyny, and geek elitism makes for a toxic brew that pushes people away before they even get to roll their first d20.

TTRPGs require a lot of entry points: time, money, community, and exposure. That’s not always easy to come by—especially in communities that are already underserved, under-resourced, or just trying to make it day to day. If no one in your school, your block, or your family is playing TTRPGs, how do you even find out about them? Unlike video games or movies, tabletop RPGs are often passed down through social circles. If those circles don’t reach into Black spaces—because of racism, lack of outreach, or cultural disconnect—then the game stays niche, white, and walled off.

Let’s be real: not everyone wants to pretend to be a medieval peasant in a feudal kingdom where racism still exists but now it has goblins. Many TTRPG settings replicate oppressive systems (slavery, caste hierarchies, colonialism) and expect players to either accept them or “rise above” them—without acknowledging the very real trauma those systems cause in real life. For Black players, this can be exhausting or triggering. We already fight injustice every day; we don’t want to log into a game where we have to roleplay through it, too. If the only options are to play within oppressive structures or erase your cultural identity entirely to fit in, it’s not surprising many Black folks have said, “No thanks.”

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The good news? The Black RPG community does exist—and it’s growing louder, prouder, and more visible every day. We’re streaming games, publishing our own systems, building worlds rooted in African diasporic culture, and kicking down the doors of traditionally white nerd spaces.

Creators like Tanya DePass (Into the Mother Lands), Brandon Dixon (Swordsfall), and Honey & Dice are reshaping what tabletop looks like. Streams like Black AF: The TTRPG and groups like The Dungeon Master’s Guild People of Color showcase stories that reflect Black joy, Black pain, Black humor, and Black imagination—on our own terms. Platforms like Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube have given more visibility to Black players who have always been here, just not always spotlighted. And now? The light’s finally hitting us.

If the TTRPG community wants to be truly inclusive, it has to do more than drop a few token characters into a sourcebook. It needs to hire more Black writers and artists to shape the core stories. Create new settings that reflect cultures beyond medieval Europe. Call out and shut down gatekeeping and racism at tables and conventions. Make space without demanding assimilation. Encourage and uplift Black-led systems, stories, and homebrews. Representation isn’t a checkbox—it’s a process. One that requires honest effort and real investment.

Check out our interview with the legendary Mike Pondsmith

Black folks aren’t new to fantasy. We’ve been telling epic stories around kitchen tables, barbershops, hair salons, and cookouts for generations. Tabletop RPGs just gave us a new stage to do it on. The lack of Black presence in the TTRPG world wasn’t about a lack of interest—it was about a lack of invitation, access, and respect. But that’s changing. More and more Black players are claiming the table, flipping it over, and building new ones entirely. So if you see us at the table now, know this: we brought our own dice, our own stories, and our own gods. And we’re not asking to be let in anymore. We’re here to run the damn game.