Tabletop Therapy

How do you manage when players need to miss a scheduled session?

A) The show must go on! Run the session without the player or their PC.
B) Run the session without the player and the DM manages the missing player's character.
C) Reschedule to a different day / time
D) Meet up & play a one-shot or different campaign
E) Meet up & do something D&D related (painting, crafting, world building, roll characters, etc.)
F) Flip the table

This week, we had to cancel a recreational session where I was both the DM and host due to a water leak! Unfortunately, that meant we had to reschedule, but typically we would try to meet even if a player had to miss (options A, D, & E above).

Included photo for pity / misery sharing.

P.S. The good news is that none of the RPG minis, books, etc got wet! Bad news - the condenser on the HVAC cost $300 to replace. 🙃

Do you ever allow players to make a check WITHOUT rolling their dice?

I've definitely done this before:
- When the player is making a charisma check (typically persuasion) and does some excellent RP
- When the player is making a sleight of hand check to build a cool trap or gizmo and has a creative and clever plan

Some risks I have found with this approach is that by removing the mechanics of dice, you could be uneven in rewarding your players. For example, maybe your sense of humor or play style is more similar to one person, so you consistently hand wave their checks, but make others roll.

When I do this at the therapy table, it is ALWAYS done in a skill-challenge format where every player gets the opportunity to do something clever without dice, and then again to do something clever with dice. In the therapeutic play setting, clear balance should be felt by all of the players with no chance to perceive preferential treatment or favoritism.

What do you think? How have you tried this?

Critical Role's new DM just flipped D&D's most basic rule on its head (and it makes sense) Dice isn't always right

Why do you play and what are your favorite games?

As a family, we consistently come back to:
- D&D
- Carcassonne
- Sheriff of Nottingham
- Scythe ( Stonemaier Games )
- Everdell

What game do you think is missing from this list? ☺️

'People want to be connected via the tabletop' Hobbyists explain why they love tabletop games so much during the 2026 UK Game Expo in Birmingham.

Do you have a busy child in your life?

Here are my top picks for board games to try with kids who have ADHD:

Best Board Games for Kids with ADHD – Tabletop Therapy For children with ADHD, the right board game can provide opportunities to practice attention, impulse control, emotional regulation, working memory, flexible thinking, and social skills while having fun, too!

Are you struggling to fit your hobbies (board games, D&D, reading, hiking, cooking, etc.) into your daily life?

Same.

Play is important! You can always sleep when you're dead... 🙃

What is the longest D&D campaign you've ever run or played in?

I'm working on finalizing the end-game story beats for a 6 year campaign (Sunless Citadel, Lost Mines of Phandelver, heavily modified Tyranny of Dragons). Tiamat is hanging out for the vibes.

I definitely learned and grew a lot as a DM in this particular story. I made a bunch of plotlines so that the world would feel alive for my players, who very dutifully tracked down 90% of the leads. But the plentiful plotlines have made the final year of the campaign challenging as I work to thread everything together.

Key things I learned:
- You don't have to be perfect or know every answer
- Peak creativity thrives in small moments, not long hours prepping
- Remember who you're playing with and why they matter to you both inside and outside of the game
- Your planned story is not yours alone - be willing to share and change based on what your players do
- Take notes!!!

Who is the best D&D friend? For me it's obviously Peter - snacks are #1.

Follow up question - what is your top D&D snack?

Would you be a fat & friendly park squirrel, a flying squirrel, or a rabies squirrel? How about all of the above!

Play as a squirrel struggling to survive in a gritty, daunting, human-filled world. The squirrel species is a perfect addition for dark, dangerous, probably a bit silly, but nonetheless unforgettable adventures.

I made this fun FREE handout with the directions to create a variant squirrel character using D&D (2024) rules to go with my Vermin & Vagabonds 5E D&D supplement. It's easy to use because it just rethemes the existing rules, so you can drop it on the table tonight. :)

Download it for free here:
https://tabletoptherapy.org/downloads/squirrel-vermin-and-vagabonds-5e-supplement/

Have you played through Ravenloft? What did you think of it?

It's one of the gaps in my personal D&D experience - I've done Death House as a player twice, but never gone much farther in the campaign. I've heard many say it is their favorite official campaign of 5E.

I think for my typical clientele (kids) it would be too dark for me to DM, although maybe okay with older teens who enjoy that sort of thing. I think it would probably be enjoyed at a table with my friends, though.

Dungeons and Dragons Is About to Add 7 New Subclasses and 4 New Playable Species Dungeons & Dragons is introducing new and updated subclasses, terrifying species, and dark feats in its upcoming sourcebook.

What game (RPG or board game) has been most impactful in your life?

How has it changed you?

For me, I think it is D&D - but there are some board games I love that have also built lasting, meaningful friendships.

Not just a fun hobby: Board games can help build connections and reduce stress Researchers at the University of Plymouth recently confirmed what board game fans and role-playing game (RPG) enthusiasts have known for decades: that tabletop games "enhance well-being, foster inclusion, and support learning, with strong evidence that games improve engagement."