I am writing this blog post from the unceded lands of the Hul’qumi’num (Halkomelem) speaking peoples. This acknowledgment is essential to my own process of decolonizing. It reminds me of the ongoing realities of colonialism that persist in the spaces I (we) inhabit, and this affects the stories we tell.

This is not a ‘Top 5’ list or something written for clicks. Instead, it is a space to share what I have considered and strive to unlearn in my journey of deprogramming. Though I am queer and low-income, I write from a place of white male privilege. I am sharing this post to encourage reflection, learning, and unlearning in myself and others. Like all of us who are aware of our own growth, I have made mistakes in the past on topics of racism and privilege. I was able to learn from those situations. Now I want to be part of a gaming culture, and society at large, that learns from the horrors Indigenous peoples have endured at the hands of my cultural ancestors and the country I live in. I endeavour to ensure we do not continue these harms or repeat them, and instead inspire the change I wish to see in the world.

Why Are You Writing About Decolonizing Now?

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. It is a fairly new (2021) federal government holiday set on the same day as Orange Shirt day. In Canada this day is meant to acknowledge and honour the indigenous children who never returned home from, and Survivors of, residential schools (the last of which closed in 1996), as well as their families and communities.

In recognition of today I thought it would be good to look at how we can apply reconciliation in our tabletop role playing games (TTRPGS). We’re going to focus on how colonial narratives are deeply embedded in many of our tabletop games and I want to share some of my own ongoing process to learn and unlearn. By being more aware of decolonizing my games and tables, I hope to make space for diverse voices, stories, and ways of thinking.

You can learn more about the residential schools, the Truth & Reconcilliation Commission, what the Canadian government is doing, and very much what they are still not doing.

What Does it Mean to Decolonize a Game?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary: Decolonizing is ‘the process of changing something such as a curriculum…in a way that considers the cultural beliefs behind it, for example the belief that European writers, artists, or ideas are better or more important than ones from countries that were colonized.’ In the context of TTRPGs, such as D&D, this process involves being mindful of things like who was in control of the writing and design, and recognizing what may have been omitted or altered to fit a eurocentric narrative. For example, look up a castle on google as inspiration for your story. Do you see Castles from non-european nations? You’ll likely see European castles dominate the initial results, while those from the Middle East, Africa, or East Asia—are largely absent.

Non-European mythologies and worldviews also often get ignored or oversimplified, while colonial tropes like the “noble savage” or the “untamed wilderness” are frequently overused in fantasy worldbuilding. By being aware of and appropriately adjusting these narratives and consciously including voices, stories, and perspectives from diverse cultures, we open space for more authentic and respectful representation. There has been a little movement on this. Some of the different ways TTRPGs need to continue, or start to in some cases, to decolonize their content:

• Moving away from Eurocentric or colonial tropes in worldbuilding (e.g., viewing non-Western cultures as “exotic” or “primitive”). A recent example of this was the overdue conversation about savages and half-orcs in D&D
• Challenging power dynamics, resource exploitation, and other colonial themes that often appear in fantasy settings. A common example of this dynamic, that I have been guilty of, is adventurers entering a forest to defeat the “monstrous” creatures there, often overlooking or disregarding the complex cultures or ecosystems that might exist in that space.
• Centering Indigenous, Black, and marginalized voices, or at least ensuring respectful, accurate representation when telling stories that touch on real-world cultures.

I feel now is a good place to remind, this is not suggesting extremism. Saying we need consider more of one thing and less of another is not the same as saying we need to stop everything. Somethimes there is nothign wrong with going to clear the monster out of the forest.

I relate to the importance of representation by recognizing how I want to see queer people play queer roles in TV and movies, rather than having straight actors fill those roles. Or why it’s no longer acceptable for casting choices like Mickey Rooney playing a Japanese landlord or Alec Guinness as Prince Faisal. The argument was (and still often is) that “whoever is good for the role should get it”. That attitude pretends equanimity and ignores the fact that white, straight men are given far more opportunities, this means less people who are not white to get the chance to show they are good for the role. Siimlarily in gaming, marginalized voices had often been sidelined then had their stories told through Eurocentric lenses. Decolonizing means making space for these voices to represent themselves.

How to Approach Decolonization in Games

On a creator level we need to consider the writers and designers being brought into projects. We want to be aware of who we create space for and to grow alongside us in this learning journey. The last five years has seen leaps and bounds in broadening diversity within the writing and designing pools. They are vastly more diverse. It has also seen an increase in awareness for what is being written to do so with more respect and consideration. Even the shift of Dungeons and Dragons to using species instead of race, and taking ability modifiers away from said species, is a big step forward. However, it is really important to note that while there has been drastic growth – the ratios were so small that any kind of growth seems big. In our home games reconciliation and decolonization comes down to the stories we tell and the worlds we craft or create in.

With that said, what can we GMs do? We are the ones at our table who actually have a lot of say for what is presented and what isn’t. Here are some things that helped me that you might consider at your tables.

• Start with Reflection: Reflect on the narratives and structures present in your games. Are certain cultures or people always cast as “other” or “savage” even if they are ? Is the land viewed as something to be conquered or exploited? This self-awareness is a crucial first step.
• Pick Systems from Indigenous Voices: Actively seek out Indigenous creators, writers, and game designers. Learning from these voices helps break down harmful stereotypes and build more authentic, inclusive stories.
• Embrace Collaborative Storytelling: In gaming, encourage collaboration that honors multiple perspectives. Invite players to share their own insights or backgrounds when crafting game narratives. Inspire yourself by reading non-eurocentric novels, look at different ways non-eurocentric cultures interact.

Again, these are broad because they are meant as a guide, not tips on how to do this. This kind of reflection could lead to some uncomfortable but valuable conversations, both with yourself and others you trust. We can all benefit from creating open spaces where everyone, from GMs to players, can contribute their perspectives and grow together. Sharing our insights and learning from others is an important part of this journey.

Your Turn: Resources for Further Education

It’s not Candlekeep, however here are some resources I’ve compiled to help you dive deeper into decolonization. Personally, since I have started to pay proper attention to and let myself be aware of these systemic things. I have started to see stories in a different light. It has only made my games better:

• This is a brilliant compilation of articles about decolonizing your games. There is a lot to read and learn from.
• Coyote & Crow is a fantastic Indigenous TTRPG world written and created by an indigenous led team. It’s a GREAT game. 100% Recommend. 
• This Instagram feed on African mythology is amazing, and their art is stunning.
• Breaking Media Stereotypes with Indigenous Storytelling | United Nations
• It Takes More Than a ‘Tolerance’ Mechanic to Make an Anti-Colonial RPG
• Iron Dog Books | Orange Shirt Day

It Doesn’t End Until It Does.

Like leveling characters in our most epic campaigns, reconciliation and decolonization is a long, continuous process of learning and growth. It’s not going to be easy. You’ll make mistakes, and you might cheese people off. If you remain open to feedback, commit to evolving your stories, and really foster respectful gaming spaces, you’re helping to push reconciliation and decolonization forward. In this journey, they are the true Main Characters—not NPCs that can be sidelined. Like every great GM your role is to celebrate and support their story by making sure they’re given the space and attention they deserve.