Meet Andy, Bri, Celeste, and Cam, the visionary mavens and founders of Ladies of D&D, a San Diego-based collective of women who play tabletop RPGs with a passion for community, inclusiveness, friendship, and Dungeons & Dragons.
How did Ladies of D&D initially come together?
Bri: About a year into our home game, I was eager to branch out and meet more players. I posted in a San Diego D&D Facebook group, asking if other women might want to play together and possibly share food or potluck dishes. I was blown away when over 60 people reached out! The next time I sat down with Andy, Cam, and Celeste, I told them about the crazy response. We all shared a knowing look, and that’s the moment “Ladies of D&D San Diego” truly came to life!
Celeste: When Bri shared how many women wanted to play D&D, it sparked something in us. Starting a Discord community with the girls felt right, and I jumped in right away.
Andy: I fell in love with D&D from the moment I started playing and was so fortunate that my first experience was with our all-women table. It was creative, supportive, and full of laughter, everything I could have hoped for in a game. When I began playing in other spaces, I realized just how special that environment truly was. The four of us often talked about D&D culture and how we could help other women discover the game and find that same sense of community. So when Bri mentioned the overwhelming response to her post, that was it. We hit the ground running.
Cam: We’d been playing our all-ladies home game for about a year, and the vibe felt really special. Bri posted online to see if any other women wanted to play D&D, and the response blew us away. Everything sort of fell into place after that.
Can you share the driving inspiration behind the Ladies of D&D community and the goals you aim to achieve with the group? What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in promoting inclusivity within the RPG community, and how have you addressed them?
Bri: The inspiration behind starting this group was simple. I wanted to bring women together not only to play D&D, but to have a welcoming space to socialize and share a meal! After spending five years away and then moving back to San Diego, I realized how challenging it is to make new friends as an adult. I’m a person with nerdy hobbies, and I had no idea where to meet others who shared the same love for hobbies. When I connected with the team through Bumble BFF, we instantly clicked. A year later, it sparked an idea to create a space where other women could also discover their adventuring party.
One of the challenges I wanted to tackle was to help members who have had an initial bad experience in the hobby. I wanted to give them that safe space to ask questions and learn how to play, because it was a learning curve for me personally. The questions I would ask were met with frustration, and it was a stressful time. Our community is big on helping others learn how to play, and everyone has been amazingly supportive of one another. We have sections in our Discord dedicated to providing resources for new players to reference, as well as links to helpful videos and character creation tips.
Celeste: Ladies of D&D started because we were a small, all-women group who realized we weren’t the only ones craving a safe, welcoming place to play D&D (or try it for the first time) without feeling uncomfortable. Many traditional spaces can feel male-dominated and, honestly, a little intimidating. So, we wanted to build something different: a community that’s inclusive, creative, and where friendships can form around the table.
One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming the myth that D&D (and other RPGs) are only for a specific “type” of player. We address this by showcasing the diversity in our community, setting clear expectations for kindness and respect, and ensuring that new members feel supported from the moment they say, “Hi, I’m new here!” We are a very supportive group and try to provide beginner-friendly one-shot games, resources to play, and zero pressure to know all the rules.
Looking ahead, we aim to continue growing while staying true to our original mission: ensuring every woman curious about D&D has a place where she feels safe, celebrated, and excited to roll the dice.
Andy: For me, the biggest inspiration behind Ladies of D&D was creating a space where women could truly be themselves and play in a supportive, welcoming environment. I wanted to build a home base where women could learn the game, grow their confidence, and then feel ready to take that experience into other spaces or even start their own tables. But no matter where they went, they’d always have LDDSD to come home to.
We’ve been incredibly fortunate to receive so much support from the local community and other gaming groups. One of our ongoing goals is to ensure that while we cultivate a space centered on women, we do not isolate ourselves from the wider tabletop community. We focus on building relationships, collaborating, and showing that our group is part of a much larger, interconnected gaming scene here in San Diego. Our goal has always been to elevate the hobby as a whole while continuing to create safe and empowering spaces within it.
Cam: For me, the driving inspiration for Ladies of D&D was to create an environment where women could socialize, cut loose, and engage in collaborative storytelling in a relaxed, communal space. For as long as people have existed, we’ve shared meals and stories together, so I wanted to participate in a community that facilitated that, particularly in a face-to-face setting. Socializing in digital spaces is a wonderful thing, but there’s something irreplaceable about being in a physical place with friends and kind strangers.
We’ve faced a bit of controversy just because of our community group’s name. From the start, we’ve sought to create a woman-centered space, and we believe there’s a desire among new and veteran players for that kind of community. However, there are also those who criticize the inherent exclusivity of a group geared towards one (very broad) demographic, and others question the need for a women’s group at all. Luckily, we are just one group among many. We regularly collaborate with and promote other TTRPG groups to encourage a robust gaming scene and keep our community engaged in the wider TTRPG world.
How do you engage and support new players, especially those who may feel intimidated by the game’s complexity?
Bri: From the beginning, I wanted our Discord to have a welcoming area for those new to the hobby. It includes resources like rules, guides, and reference materials to help anyone get started. We also ensured that there was a designated area where members could ask questions and receive support from others.
Our monthly one-shots have been a great place for new players to dip their toes in! Our DMs are inviting and amazing at providing support for their players.
Celeste: When new players join, I like to tell them that D&D isn’t as overwhelming as it might look. Our one-shot events are the perfect way to playtest different characters, races, and classes in a supportive, low-pressure environment without committing to a long campaign.
I always share our resources channel, the next one-shot event sign-up, and remind them that questions are always welcome. I want new players to feel excited, not stressed or intimidated. D&D is definitely a trial-and-error kind of game. The more you play, the more it starts to click. It’s not something you’re going to learn overnight, and that’s totally okay. The whole point is to have fun and enjoy the adventure while you figure it out.
Andy: One of the biggest ways we support new players is through our amazing DMs. They’ve built a culture where connection and communication come first. Even though our events are monthly one-shots, many of our DMs still hold a mini-session zero, provide help with character creation, and maintain an open line of communication before game day. That level of care makes a huge difference for new players.
We also emphasize that our DMs are incredibly open and receptive to any and all questions. They’re patient, encouraging, and happy to walk players through their very first game step by step. By the time new players show up, they’ve already chatted with their DM and maybe met a few of their tablemates online, which helps take away a lot of the nerves. It’s a simple thing, but it creates a real sense of comfort and belonging right from the start.
Cam: As a DM, I have a few practices that I use with beginners to encourage familiarity with game mechanics, creativity, and roleplay. First, when I ask for a roll or stat info (for example, “Can you give me a perception check?”), I will guide the beginner to where on their sheet they can find the necessary information, including which dice to roll and which modifiers to apply. I’ll explain the “why” each time, for their benefit, and for the benefit of other beginners at the table. We always take as long as we need, because there’s no rush at our tables, and no silly questions.
For roleplay, I will encourage newbies to approach their character development in an organic way, without getting bogged down by unfamiliar mechanics. Since my DM style is very rooted in narration, I’ll encourage beginners to narrate what their character is doing or attempting, and then we let the dice rolls fill in the blanks. Many beginners are intimidated by the idea of doing improv or acting out their characters, so I sometimes liken the game to how we played with dolls or action figures as children, making up stories as we went along. The mechanics come with practice, but creativity can emerge right away, as long as beginners feel comfortable acting goofy, making mistakes, and taking big swings.
Can you highlight any memorable experiences or campaigns that have positively impacted the members of Ladies of D&D?
Bri: One of the biggest highlights for me has been watching how much we’ve grown since our very first mixer. I honestly didn’t think we’d fill all 45 spots, and then we did! The next event sold out again! I’ll never stop being amazed by that. It showed just how needed this kind of space was within the community.
Creating a welcoming space for women to connect and play has been incredibly rewarding. One of the moments that stands out the most was our fundraiser in September for The Goblin Guild, where we raised over $8,000 to help youth learn how to play D&D. That cause is so close to my heart. As someone who grew up on the nerdy side, I would have loved to have a program like that when I was younger. Seeing our community come together to make it happen was truly unforgettable.
Celeste: One of my favorite experiences with this group is running themed one-shots and watching new players, as well as new DMs, jump into the game for the very first time. Every event showcases how much our members rally together, whether it’s helping with setup, donating raffle prizes, cheering on first-time players, or simply thanking us for hosting (even though, honestly, we couldn’t do it without them).
A highlight for me has been seeing people who once said, “I’ve never played before,” turn into confident regulars at our one-shot events. Some are even running their own campaigns and one-shots now. We’ve also started “side quests,” which are member-led hangouts to try new hobbies and activities together. It has helped us build friendships that extend far beyond our one-time events.
This year, we even hosted our first fundraiser for The Goblin Guild, a nonprofit organization founded by one of our members to help children gain access to Dungeons & Dragons programs. We set a goal of $1,000 and raised over $8,000, thanks to the incredible support of this community.
Andy: I hope that all of our one-shots, events, and our community as a whole have a positive impact on our members. That is really the heart of what we want: to provide women seeking connection, friendship, and a creative outlet with a place to find exactly that. Whether it is discovering D&D for the first time or just finding a group of like-minded nerdy women to hang out with, our goal has always been to create a welcoming space where everyone feels they belong.
On a personal level, D&D has been such a joy and passion for me. I have been open about my struggles with mental health, particularly OCD, and without even realizing it at first, this game has helped me work through many of those challenges. The community we have built and the friendships that have come from it give me a real sense of purpose and joy. Seeing that same spark of connection and fulfillment in others is what makes this all so special.
Cam: A highlight for me is seeing newbies thrive into experienced players, and seeing new DMs spread their wings. I was definitely worried that we would have a hard time finding DMs for our one-shot events, but the DM community in our group is so strong and supportive. It’s been amazing to see the kinds of games they create, all for the love of the community. We’ve been fortunate to meet many new people and see them really come into their own.
Our fundraiser with Goblin Guild was such a fun and impactful event because not only did we raise money for a great cause, but we opened the doors to players of all identities. It’s the only one-shot event we’ve done (so far) that was entirely open to the public, and seeing how great the vibes were and how well it was received was very gratifying.
Learn more about the Ladies of D&D, connect with Bri, Andy, Celeste, and Cam, and follow their community’s journey at the links below.
Ladies of D&D San Diego
Website: lddsd.org
Instagram: Ladiesofddsd
Discord: discord.gg/lddsd
Email: ladiesofddsd@gmail.com
Andy
Discord: @candy❤️💜
Bri (She/Her)
Discord: @goingbrinanas
Instagram: goingbrinanas
Cam
Discord: @caminitosueno
Celeste (she/her)
Instagram: Celestepizzaaa
