Tabletop RPG Club rolls the dice with first MastodonCon

The purpose behind Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Tabletop RPG Club is to play games, but its members are always finding ways to invite fellow students into their community. It revolves around having fun, but also making connections.

“It’s a `meeting people and meeting your friends’ kind of deal,” said Therin Coyne, senior biology major and club president. “A lot of people struggle with getting out there and meeting people. We’re not forcing people to interact with each other, but we’re encouraging them to at least say something. It does start with a single word, `Like what is your favorite class? What is your favorite game system?’”

Or how about, “What is your favorite game convention?”

Tabletop RPG is throwing its dice on the board by partnering with the Department of Organizational  Leadership to present the first-ever MastodonCon on Oct. 19 in the Classic Ballroom at Walb Student Union. Play starts at 8 a.m. when the building opens and continues until 10 p.m. This is a club fundraiser with tickets purchased at the door costing $5 for members, PFW, and Indiana University Fort Wayne students, and $20 for community members. Each ticket includes a $5 snack voucher.

“The biggest things people talk about with games like Dungeons & Dragons and a club like this is that they don’t want to go to events because they don’t know the people yet,” said Vice President A.J. Hoffman, a who is the club’s vice president and a physics major. “An event like this is an opportunity to get to know people and see more people from this, and in that way, they’ll be able to join us later for more events.”

Club officers hope the event can also serve as an introduction to the members' passion. The format will include a dozen game masters running one-shot games in a trio of four-hour blocks with breaks and refreshments between sets.

The club will also reserve Student Life’s board game library to expand the options.  

The day will be similar to Speilfreaks, which means “game freaks” in German, events offered on the first Friday evening of each month in Walb’s atrium. Last month, there were 76 participants.

Two years ago, Tabletop RPG received the Building Block Award from Student Leadership. The club is full of diverse majors and interests.

“I get together with friends, and we get to roleplay and problem solve,” said Neal Birchfield, a senior majoring in computer science and data science who’s the club secretary. “The analytical things we learn day-to-day apply to this, just in a different format. Instead of story problems in a math textbook, these are story problems with characters and `risks’ associated with the games.”

MastodonCon is also going to involve students from the Department of Organizational Leadership helping with design and set-up.

“These games are like mini leadership labs where players get to practice making decisions, communicating, and thinking strategically in real time,” said Paresh Mishra, chair of the Department of Organizational Leadership. It's not just for fun—it's about nurturing these crucial leadership skills in our students. It's a perfect example of how we're always looking for innovative, research-backed ways to prepare our next generation of leaders. We do not just teach about leadership, we let students experience it firsthand.”

After building for two years, club leaders think they have a base of support to try something like MastodonCon, with hopes it can become an annual event requiring larger facilities and more resources.

“People are missing those connections, and we are trying to set up something that works with those on campus, but is also willing to accept those from off campus and give them a place to play,” said Dell Kaufeld, a sophomore majoring in actuarial science and club treasurer.

A handful of faculty members will also be participating, and some are writing one-shot games that implement some of their specialties.

Contact [email protected] for more information.