Great Gamer Gadget (#RPGaDay2024.28)

Great. Today's #RPGaDay2024 prompt is "Great gamer gadget." If you’ve been following this series, you’ve probably already caught on to where I’m going with this one. But for those just tuning in, let me be crystal clear: roleplaying isn’t about the gadgets, gizmos, or flashy accessories that seem to multiply faster than rabbits at an overcrowded table. It’s about the storytelling, the creativity, and the shared experience. But since I’m supposed to talk about gadgets today, I’ll give it a go—if only to highlight just how unnecessary they often are.

First off, let’s address the elephant in the room: the laptop. Yes, I’ve tried using one during a session. It seemed like a good idea at the time, with the promise of instant access to digital books, online die rollers, and the ability to look up rules faster than you can say, “What page is that on again?” In reality, though, it just became a distraction. There’s something about the glow of a screen that pulls you away from the immersive experience of roleplaying. It’s like the black hole of the internet is just waiting to suck you in and spit you out two hours later with nothing to show for it but a few random Wikipedia tabs open and a severe case of FOMO. Plus, unless you’re the type to pack a power strip in your gaming bag, good luck finding an outlet for everyone’s gadgets when the battery inevitably dies mid-session.

Then there’s the infamous electronic die roller. “Never lose a die again!” they said. “It’s so convenient!” they said. And sure, the idea of never having to crawl under the table to retrieve a rogue D20 might be appealing, but where’s the fun in that? There’s something inherently satisfying about the tactile feel of rolling physical dice. The sound they make as they clatter across the table, the anticipation as they slow to a stop, the collective gasp when someone rolls a natural 1—none of that is replicated in a soulless app. Besides, electronic die rollers are notorious for sucking the joy out of rolling critical hits. A glowing number on a screen just doesn’t have the same impact as watching the die land perfectly on that all-important 20.

And don’t get me started on dice towers. At first glance, they’re kind of cool—an engineering marvel that ensures a fair roll every time. But after the novelty wears off, it’s just one more thing taking up valuable real estate on your already cluttered table. Plus, they’re noisy. That satisfying clatter of dice I mentioned? Multiply that by about ten as the dice tumble down the tower, and suddenly you’re trying to have a serious in-character conversation while it sounds like someone’s shaking a box of rocks next to your ear. Fun for about five minutes, but after that, you’re probably wishing you’d left it at home.

Maps, miniatures, and screens also fall into this category. Sure, they can add a layer of immersion, but they can also become a crutch. When you’re so focused on the exact placement of your miniature or trying to decipher a hyper-detailed map, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture: the story. The tale you’re crafting together is what matters, not whether your character is standing exactly five feet away from the goblin on a piece of grid paper. And don’t even get me started on the screens that make it feel like you’re hiding behind a fortress of solitude. Roleplaying should be about connecting with the other people at the table, not putting up barriers.

In the end, the best “gadget” you can bring to a roleplaying session is your imagination. It’s portable, requires no batteries, and won’t hog precious table space. I get it, though—gadgets are shiny, and they can be fun to try out. But after years of lugging around all sorts of unnecessary gear, I’ve realized that the magic of roleplaying doesn’t come from a gadget. It comes from the people at the table, the characters they bring to life, and the stories you create together. So next time you’re tempted to invest in the latest must-have accessory, ask yourself if it’s really going to enhance the experience—or if it’s just another distraction in disguise.

Let’s keep the focus on what really matters: the adventure, the camaraderie, and the shared moments that make roleplaying the incredible experience that it is. Gadgets are great for a quick fix of novelty, but they’re no substitute for the real thing.