TTRPGs for Accessible Gaming launches today, with 318 games from 139 community creators for a donation of $10 or more to support DOTS RPG Project and their Signature Braille RPG Dice. These dice are designed to make tabletop roleplaying games more accessible to disabled individuals.
In the TTRPG industry, physical dice are plentiful for sighted individuals but scarce and often unaffordable for those who are blind or visually impaired. While digital dice rollers may be an option, they lack the tactile experience and immersion of physically rolling dice. Sighted players themselves acknowledge the unique satisfaction of rolling traditional dice.
“Giving blind and visually impaired gamers a chance to roll their own dice inspired the creation of the DOTS RPG Project,” said Jess Dempsey, Executive Director. “Nothing compares to being in a tense situation and making that one game-changing roll! The few seconds where time seems to stop as you wait for the dice to settle and determine if you succeed or fail, those moments are some of the best. Having the ability to do that yourself, having the autonomy to roll your own dice and share the result with your party, it’s something that has always been available to many people. Not everyone has the same level of access and we’re working to bridge that gap.”
Most mass-produced polyhedral dice available through online and in-person retailers have some version of printed or shallow engraved numbers on a smooth surface. Because of this, people who are blind, have low vision, or any other type of visual impairment often have a hard time finding dice they can use.
DOTS RPG Project’s Signature Braille RPG Dice were designed with the blind and visually impaired experience as the focal point, prioritizing tactile readability by creating consistent faces across all dice with a single braille cell and no engraved numbers. Utilizing a simplified numbering system of braille letters A-J to represent 1-10 and K-T for 11-20, plus a unique Touch Point Edge design for orientation, the dice are easy to read for those familiar with braille and straightforward for anyone to learn.
With the DOTS Braille RPG Dice set, a blind or visually impaired player can have a dice rolling experience very similar to that of their sighted friends with only minor differences. In the case of the D10 and D%, both are labeled 1-0 and one die has a blunt-tipped end to differentiate dice when rolling for percentile. With the d20 about twice the size of standard D20s and all other dice only slightly larger than standard, the set is comfortable to handle and roll just like any other numbered set.
In 2018 the DOTS RPG Project partnered with Die Hard Dice to start the grand adventure of mass production. After countless rounds of prototyping, real-world testing, and design modifications over the years, DOTS is ready to make their Signature Braille RPG Dice a reality. Money raised from the TTRPGs for Accessible Gaming charity bundle will help fund the production of both acrylic and metal dice, making them the first ever Braille RPG Dice available in a retail setting worldwide. This will help make tabletop gaming more accessible for blind and visually impaired gamers as well as initiate positive discussions around disability access in the TTRPG community.
The dice come in acrylic “Molten Bronze”; metallic bronze (brownish-gold) with swirls of pearlescent dark bronze and as hollow metal dice in “Silver Ingot”; a silver metal with a semi-translucent black antiqued finish. DOTS hopes to add more colors should they surpass their initial funding goal. The bundle will cost a minimum of $10, while higher donations will be appreciated and encouraged. After funding, the dice will be available on the Die Hard Dice web store.
The bundle to support this fundraising goal launched today and offers over 300 TTRPGs, TTRPG supplements, and art packs worth $981 for a donation of $10 or more to support DOTS RPG Project. The bundle will collect donations until October 20 with a fundraising goal of $20,000. This goal would cover the initial cost of production for the DOTS RPG Projects Signature Braille RPG Dice which would then become self-sustaining.
In addition to purchasing the TTRPGs for Accessible Gaming bundle, there are several ways you can help make the DOTS RPG Project Braille RPG Dice a reality:
- DOTS RPG Project is a registered nonprofit on Tiltify and Twitch. Show your support and get your community involved with a charity stream
- Spread the word on social media and share this post with your friends and fellow gamers
- Donate directly on the DOTS website
- If your company matches donations, be sure to submit the matching gift paperwork so your gift can be doubled
To receive updates on the TTRPGs for Accessible Gaming charity bundle, subscribe to the free ChariTTRPGs newsletter.
Images via DOTS RPG Project and TTRPGs for Accessible Gaming
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