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when role-playing games come back into fashion

Jason Devide is proud of it. For several months, his Dijon association, the brotherhood that goes well (CQVB), displays good health. “We meet a lot of people, from different backgrounds: parents, students and even the elderly. At the beginning they discover, and little by little they play the game. In the end, they tell us “we love it, we’ll come back “” confides the thirty-something.

But what do we do in this CQVB? What activity is able to unite different generations around a passion? Well, it’s role playing. “The purpose of the association that I chair is to promote role-playing games to the general public, try to democratize all that a little in Dijon” explains Jason.

A fictional world where the imagination is king

A little reminder for the uninitiated. Roleplay, it is when a person embodies an imaginary character in a fictional environment. For example, you can embody a knight, whose goal will be to kill a dragon to get your hands on a treasure. The player evolves his character through the narrative by making decisions, to gain power.

This small world is governed by rules; of course, and it is the “master of the game” who enforces them. The master is the one who creates the story, who decides which encounters the players will have, and who guides them throughout the adventure..

Kévin and Jason, proud members of the CQVB association, pose with dice in hand at the game bar La Fabrique du meeple, which welcomes them for their role-playing games. © Radio France
Antoine Comte

In short, role-playing is “a creative space where you can escape and dream for a game” says Kévin, member of the CQVB and fan of role-playing games for 6 years. “When you have just spent a day at work, it feels good to tell yourself that you are going to see something else. That’s why I started role-playingconfesses Jason, because we give free rein to our imagination. It allows you to exteriorize the emotions of everyday life.

And the concept is attracting more and more : “We organize parties every Friday, and we have had 5 to 10 additional players for some time” enthuses Kevin. “Little by little, role-playing games are coming out into the streets. Look, every other Wednesday, we organize it here, in the Meeple game bar” complete Jason.

People wanted to go out, meet up, try new activities. And role-playing allows that

But what explains this rise in popularity of role-playing games? Because it must be remembered that this concept has existed for yearsand that until recently, his fans were rather seen as geekswho preferred to live in their imaginary world. “I think it’s above all a fashion effect, Jason advances. After the pandemic, people wanted to go out, meet up, try new activities. And role-playing allows that. It’s just friends meeting around a table with dice. Nothing’s easier”.

Role-playing games, an activity with social virtues?

Could role-playing, once seen as an antisocial activity, now have the opposite effect? In any case, this is the opinion of Yoan, who recently returned to his childhood passion: “Meeting around a table, having an aperitif and at the same time discovering a universe, inevitably it makes you want”.

For Kevin, these moments also have other benefits : “Since I was little, I have had major problems with shyness. Before, I had a lot of trouble expressing myself. Role-playing allowed me to gain self-confidence and free myself”. As a result, the young man has just animated, and brilliantly, these first parts as “master of the game”, a role where he must express himself in front of the other players. “Now I’m really waiting all week for when we’re going to roll the dice” he smiled.

Getting back to dreaming

The increase in players is undoubtedly also due to the publicity stunt given by the hit series Stranger Things, in which we can see certain characters playing a well-known role-playing gameDungeons and Dragons. But for Jason Devide, it’s not just that. And for proof, “the majority of people who come to see us are on the contrary adults, who, as children, played role-playing games with their friends and just want to get back to it” notes the president of the CQVB. Getting back to playing, and certainly, dreaming a little.

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