Sophie Haeder Guest Post–“From Dice to Pen: How Tabletop Roleplaying Games Are Fuelling a New Wave of Fantasy Writing”
As a lifelong lover of all things nerdy and a Dungeon Master for my own Dungeons & Dragons group, I’ve spent countless hours weaving intricate worlds, devising devious plots, and watching as my players gleefully derailed them. For me, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are more than just a pastime. They’re a way of life, a source of endless creativity, and, as it turns out, the perfect training ground for writing epic fantasy.
It’s no secret that we’re living in a golden age of TTRPGs. Critical Role has made D&D mainstream, landing its cast in Rolling Stone as the “rock stars” of geek culture. Games Workshop’s Warhammer franchise is worth a staggering £4.6 billion, proving that immersive, player-driven worlds are big business. Even Henry Cavill, the ultimate nerd king, is bringing Warhammer to life with an Amazon series. For storytellers like me, this renaissance isn’t just exciting—it’s validation of the power of collaborative, imaginative storytelling.
The Dungeon Master’s Secret Weapon: Storytelling
As a DM, I’ve always been obsessed with stories. I love crafting sprawling campaigns with rich histories, complex villains, and tough moral choices. But the real magic happens when the dice hit the table, and my players take the reins. Their decisions, their failures, and their triumphs turn my framework into something alive and unpredictable.
That unpredictability is what inspired me to write my new novel, Dohva – The Land Within. I wanted to capture that feeling of being immersed in a world where every choice matters, where the stakes are high, and where the story isn’t handed to you on a silver platter—you have to earn it.
Writing Dohva was like running a campaign for an audience of one. The book channels the spirit of D&D and Baldur’s Gate, embracing the grit, the camaraderie, and the thrill of adventure. At its heart, it’s a story about choices—about the weight of consequence and the struggle to forge your own path in a world that doesn’t care about your destiny.
Readers often tell me that Dohva feels like a game in book form. That’s no accident. I wanted to recreate the tension of a critical hit, the triumph of leveling up, and the heartbreak of a failed roll at the worst possible moment. Like a good campaign, it’s about the journey, the people you meet along the way, and the decisions that define who you are.
LitRPG: A Genre for Gamers and Dreamers
I’m far from the first Dungeon Master to turn my love of gaming into a book. The LitRPG genre is bursting with incredible authors who’ve taken inspiration from TTRPGs and video games. Aleron Kong’s The Land series is a classic, blending action, humor, and game mechanics into addictive stories. Travis Bagwell’s Awaken Online dives into the darker side of virtual worlds, while Dakota Krout’s Divine Dungeon flips the script by telling the story from the perspective of a sentient dungeon.
What makes LitRPG so special is its ability to speak directly to gamers. If you’ve ever spent hours agonizing over character builds, or felt your heart race as the Dungeon Master describes the final boss, these books are for you. They capture the joy of progression, the allure of exploration, and the thrill of triumph against impossible odds.
Why TTRPGs are a Treasure Trove for Writers
Being a Dungeon Master doesn’t just make you a better storyteller—it makes you a better listener. When you’re running a game, you’re constantly adapting to your players’ choices, improvising when they zig instead of zag. You learn to think on your feet, to embrace chaos, and to find meaning in the unexpected.
TTRPGs also teach you the importance of character-driven narratives. In my campaigns, the best moments are always about the players—their backstories, their relationships, their victories and failures. That’s the same energy I tried to bring to Dohva. It’s a story where the characters are the heart of the adventure, where their choices shape the world around them in ways both profound and personal.
A Love Letter to the Nerdy Renaissance
This is an amazing time to be a nerd. Whether you’re rolling dice with friends, painting Warhammer miniatures, or diving into epic LitRPG adventures, there’s never been a better moment to celebrate the stories we love.
For me, writing Dohva – The Land Within was my way of contributing to this incredible community. It’s a love letter to all the Sundays I’ve spent around a gaming table, to the worlds we’ve built together, and to the characters who’ve felt as real to me as any hero from a book.
So, whether you’re a gamer, a reader, or a dreamer, I invite you to step into this world. It’s a place where choices matter, where heroes are forged, and where the dice are always rolling. Who knows? You might just find a bit of yourself in the story.
Dohva – The Land Within by Sophie Haeder is available from all good bookstores: https://www.sophiehaeder.com/buy-it-here
With a lifelong passion for fantasy, encompassing everything from fairies to witches to trolls, Sophie Haeder has found solace in imaginative play since childhood. Serving as a gamemaster for her Dungeons & Dragons group eventually led her to writing. Sophie also creates all the artwork for her books herself, including illustrations. She lives in the picturesque countryside of Bavaria, Germany, where she embraces her nerdy nature alongside her roles as a mother of a little girl and a wife. For more information visit: www.sophiehaeder.com Instagram: @sophiehaeder
