Tabletop roleplaying games are fertile ground for the unexpected, often producing stranger scenarios than any video game can replicate. As PC Gamer's RPG column, Dungeon Master, explores the unique quirks and memorable moments that arise when players gather around a table—or a virtual one.
CRPGs like Disco Elysium and Baldur's Gate 3 can certainly deliver peculiar experiences, but the unpredictable nature of human interaction in tabletop sessions frequently leads to more outlandish events. Over years of play, many players have accumulated a trove of strange anecdotes. One player recounts carrying a large table simply because they liked its appearance, only to later discover it served as an effective battering ram. Another shared an experience where a companion vomited and attributed it to a fictional "Vomit Bandit."
Real-World Interruptions
Some of the most memorable moments occur when reality intrudes on the game. During a remote session hosted by a Dungeon Master in New Zealand, the game was interrupted by a genuine earthquake. As furniture began to fall, the GM's partner rushed into the room in a panic. After a brief pause for the tremors to subside, the group resumed their adventure, finding the real-world event a bizarre and slightly thrilling addition to their fictional steampunk setting. For players in regions not prone to seismic activity, such an event stands out as particularly unusual.
Unforgettable Player Actions
Player decisions, often fueled by in-game circumstances or roleplaying choices, can lead to equally memorable outcomes. In one Mothership session, a player character infected with an alien virus began to experience disturbing physical changes, as relayed by the Game Master via private messages. This led to a moment of intense paranoia, culminating in another player character shooting the infected character in the leg. The situation escalated when the infected character's head detached, grew tentacles, and proceeded to attack their assailant. The player involved humorously noted that this particular incident might be best kept from HR.
In a separate Call of Cthulhu game, a player was driven to madness after encountering a ghost. This psychological break resulted in them shooting a fellow player with an elephant gun, effectively disintegrating the character. The player then attempted to flee the scene in a taxi, but a developing case of echolalia left them only able to repeat the taxi driver's last words, adding a layer of dark absurdity to their escape. The player expressed more sympathy for the bewildered taxi driver than for the character they had just obliterated.
These stories highlight the unique blend of narrative, player agency, and occasional chaos that defines the tabletop RPG experience. The column invites other players to share their own peculiar tales of miraculous dice rolls, eccentric GMs, and unexpected twists that have occurred at their gaming tables.