Before you come

Walking into a room full of people you don't know can feel like a bigger challenge than fighting a dragon.

So here's what Valley Rollers is actually like.

Quick links

You are welcome here

Valley Rollers is for all sorts of people.

LGBTQI+ people are welcome. Trans and non-binary people are welcome. Neurodivergent people are welcome.

So are people who are shy, anxious, very chatty, not very chatty, experienced gamers or completely new to all of this.

There's no particular sort of person you need to be to have a seat at the table.

We do expect people to treat each other well. Racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, ableism or other discriminatory behaviour isn't part of the game and isn't something we'll shrug off.

We'll use the name and pronouns you ask us to use. Sharing your pronouns is welcome, but never required.

If somebody makes you uncomfortable, come and find one of us. You won't be left to sort it out by yourself.

We get it

The people who run Valley Rollers are neurodivergent too.

So new places, unfamiliar people, rules you haven't met yet and the general mystery of what exactly is going to happen when I walk through that door?... we get it.

If talking something through beforehand would help, get in touch.

Big question, tiny question, oddly specific question: all welcome.

Want to know what the room looks like? Where you'll sit? How busy it's likely to be? What happens when you arrive? What sort of game you've booked?

Keep reading. Not covered, email us.

And if something comes up on the night, you can talk to us then too.

Want to see what it's like first?

You don't have to sign up before you've seen us in action.

Feel free to pop in, have a look around, meet us and get a feel for the place.

There is no expectation that you'll suddenly find yourself holding a set of dice.

Come and see what you think.

What happens when I arrive?

You don't need to walk in and somehow know what you're doing.

One of use will be floating around the door. We are usually wearing our Valley Rollers t-shirt. If you're new, we'll show you where everything is and help you find your table.

Lots of people come on their own. It's completely normal.

Others come with friends or a partner.

Nobody is expecting you to work the room, introduce yourself to everybody or demonstrate your encyclopaedic knowledge of dice.

Once everyone is settled, your GM will explain what is happening and get things underway.

What happens at the start of a game?

Your Games Master, the person leading the story, will explain the world you're playing in, what's going on, what your character does and anything else you need before you start.

They'll also set the tone.

One game might be silly and chaotic. Another might involve mystery, horror, adventure or difficult decisions.

And if something doesn't make sense, ask.

Ask twice if you need to.

Ask five times. :)

What happens in D&D?

We've written up a mini guide.
Go check it out:

valleyrollers.com/what-is-dnd

You don't have to perform

Roleplaying doesn't mean auditioning for the drama school.

You don't need a character voice.

Nor do you need to speak in character all the time.

Eye contact isn't required.

Neither is being the loudest person at the table.

You can simply describe what your character does in whatever way feels comfortable.

What if you feel uncomfortable in the game?

Roleplaying games can take unexpected turns.

A subject might come up that you don't want to explore. A scene might go somewhere uncomfortable. You might feel your character's agency has been taken away. Or something might simply not feel right.

That's what the X Card is there for. It looks like a card or piece of paper with a big X drawn on it.

Using it means:

Something here needs to change.

That might mean changing the subject, changing what is happening, giving a player back control of their character, rewinding slightly or moving the scene on.

There's no need to justify why you're uncomfortable.

The GM may quickly check what needs changing so they know how to move forward, but you won't be expected to explain anything personal.

And you don't need to wait until something becomes a Big Thing.

If something isn't sitting right, that's enough. Tap the card and it'll change.

What does the room feel like?

T'Cure is a bit like the living room of your best friend who happens to be an eclectic goth with a big, warm soul.

It's cosy, characterful and slightly dim.

There's plenty to look at: artwork, paintings, goth portraits and all sorts around the walls.

Lighting comes from neon bats, fairy lights and lamps rather than bright overhead lighting.

On a Valley Rollers night there will be several games happening at different tables, so expect conversation, laughter and the clatter of dice from around the room.

T'Cure serves food too, so there will be food and cooking smells during the evening.

And if it all gets a bit much, there's a quiet space upstairs where you can step away for a while.

Come back when you're ready.

Food and breaks

Our RPG games normally run for a couple of hours, we stop for food and a proper break half way through.

T'Cure provides food, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and meat options available.

If you have allergies, sensory issues around food, or simply don't fancy eating, get in touch beforehand and we'll tell you what the options are.

No explanation needed.

We usually finish at around 10pm.

Physical access

What to expect at T'Cure.

Entrance: Is up a set of old stone stairs. When it rains, they can be a bit slippery to come up. Unfortunately there isn't a step free access. When you arrive you have the option to turn left into the main room or right to where the Guest table usually is, and the temperance bar. When you arrive you will usually be greeted at the door. If not, just go sit down. Lauren will bring everyone together to start the games around 6.05pm

Toilets: The toilet is up a set of wooden stairs, through the quiet space upstairs. There is a gender neutral toilet.

Seating: We reconfigure the space around tables of 6 seated. The room on the left usually has one or two tables set up. The room on the right has one table set up. The GM is sat at the head of the table, set up behind their games screen and notes.

Quiet space: Our quieter space is upstairs.

If you have an access requirement and aren't sure whether the venue will work for you, ask us.