What is TTRPG Insider?

TTRPG Insider is a weekly newsletter offering reported stories, industry insight and creator interviews — all with a critical, curious, and creative lens on the world of tabletop roleplaying games. It’s one of the best sources for diving deep into the game industry and the hundreds of people who help make the games that bring your friends together and offer a chance for roleplay.

What does TTRPG Insider do?

  • Interviews with a diverse array of creators—including industry veterans, independent game developers, Actual Play performers, and passionate fans—offering personal perspectives and creative insights.

  • Industry analysis grounded in real reporting and insider knowledge, highlighting trends, challenges, and developments shaping the TTRPG landscape.

  • Evergreen resources aimed at helping creators, performers, and Game Masters elevate their craft—featuring practical advice and strategies from leading voices in the industry.

What are TTRPGs?

Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs) are interactive storytelling games where players assume the roles of characters within a fictional setting. These games are typically played in person or through online platforms such as Discord, Slack, or Microsoft Teams. Guided by a narrative—either created by a storyteller (commonly known as a Game Master or Dungeon Master) or outlined by the game’s author—players collaboratively navigate the story, make decisions, and respond to challenges. Gameplay often involves mechanics such as rolling dice, drawing cards, or negotiating with the storyteller to determine the outcomes of actions and events.

If you want to learn more about the TTRPG industry and who plays it, click here.

Who am I?

Christopher Hutton

My name is Christopher Hutton, and I’m a veteran journalist with over a decade of experience covering politics, technology, and gaming. Since 2014, I’ve contributed to outlets including OneZero, The Daily Dot, Paste, Religion Unplugged, and MMORPG.com.

I’ve also been immersed in the world of tabletop roleplaying games since 2016—first as a player, then as a Game Master. In 2017, I began running games professionally. Today, I tell stories and roll dice for a living at Polyhedra, a company dedicated to professional Dungeon Mastering. This hobby isn’t just a pastime—it’s a passion.

I’m also a professional gamemaster with Polyhedra, where I DM D&D 5e and Vampire The Masquerade for my players every week.

How We Report

Why does this newsletter matter—and why should you care about the reporting we do?

We're committed to applying a critical, curious, and creative journalistic lens to a hobby millions worldwide love. This isn’t a space for reworded press releases or narrow coverage of just Dungeons & Dragons (though we do love the game). We're here to explore the full breadth of the TTRPG industry—from the indie developer designing PDFs after work, to the Hollywood actor appearing on Critical Role.

Our goal is to tell real stories about the people, trends, and power structures shaping the world of tabletop roleplaying.

The Three Cs:

  • Critical
    We love games, but that doesn’t mean every game—or every creator—is beyond criticism. Behind each title is a person, and behind that person is a complex web of cultural, political, and socioeconomic influences. Sometimes creators stumble, sometimes there’s a bigger story. We follow journalistic ethics as outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists, emphasizing verification, transparency, and a responsibility to hold power to account.

  • Curious
    We approach every project with genuine curiosity and humility. We don’t claim to know everything—we ask questions, seek understanding, and invite you to explore with us. There’s still so much I don’t know about this industry, and I want to bring you along as I learn.

  • Creative
    Our storytelling goes beyond articles and podcasts. We’re always looking for new, engaging ways to cover the TTRPG world—through innovative formats that reveal what’s happening behind the screen.

If you want to learn about our code of ethics, you can do so here.

If you have questions, feedback, or a story worth telling, I’m always open to hearing from you. Maybe you’re launching a new project. Maybe you’ve got a different perspective. Or perhaps you think we got something wrong. Either way, my inbox is open, and I am committed to transparency, honesty, and respectful dialogue. You can email me at [email protected] at any time.

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