Greenville Life Winter 2022 | Page 26

assortment of guest players , including Joe Manganiello , Terry Crews , John Bradley and Vin Diesel , as they laugh and have fun while playing the game .
Yet another recent example of the gaming style being highlighted in pop culture is the Netflix original science fiction horror series “ Stranger Things ,” which not only contains scenes depicting D & D sessions but also references the game several times .
Another factor contributing to the resurgence in popularity of tabletop RPGs is the feeling of isolation felt by many in the wake of COVID-19 .
During lockdowns , some tabletop RPG players have been using online apps like Roll20 and Discord to play remotely , rather than seated together around a table . These virtual sessions have also created an opportunity for experienced players to introduce new players to their favorite tabletop RPGs . However , regardless of if groups have been meeting in person or virtually , this rapid escalation in popularity can also be seen in the surge in sales enjoyed by Wizards of the Coast ( the publisher of both Dungeons & Dragons and popular card battle game Magic : The Gathering ) in recent years . In 2020 , the publisher saw a 33 percent increase in sales for their D & D products alone .
All in all though , the increase in popularity of tabletop games , whether they ’ re story-centric like D & D or Pathfinder , card battle games like
Magic : The Gathering , or tabletop wargames like Warhammer and even chess , signifies a rediscovery of the joy of taking a break from the stresses of life by chatting with friends , enjoying tasty drinks and snacks , and playing a game for some escapist fun .
And although a majority of these games are played in players ’ homes or online , gaming community gathering places like Greenville ’ s Brigandry Games also serve a special function in “ geek culture .”
“ We like to think that we act as the ‘ geek ’ s ’ bartender and therapist ,” said Brigandry Games owner Nicholas Brigance . “ We have customers from such a wide range of ages and walks of life , and this is often the only place they can come and talk to people
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