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Listen "Accessible D&D Isn’t Charity—It’s Better Design | Gaining Advantage 43"
Episode Synopsis
Dale discusses what could be the most radical shift in TTRPG accessibility yet. We’re not just talking about a new ruleset. We’re talking about reclaiming the tabletop for everyone.
Free5e isn’t another clone. It’s a community-led, open-source, fully accessible reimagining of 5e designed for affordability, inclusivity, and actual usability. Dale explains how it stays SRD-compliant while offering more than just “good enough.”
You’ll hear about:
Accessible formats: Digital braille, high-contrast PDFs, large print, audio, and more
Affordability: Free digital books, print-at-cost, and Kickstarter-exclusive deeper discounts
Disability representation: Three modular systems for including disabled characters on your terms
Flexible design: Inclusive mechanics without creating power imbalances
Creative Commons licensing: Remix, translate, and adapt—without the legal minefield
Open the Gates Gaming
Dale talks to Chris Campbell-Bohen and Elizabeth McClain from Open the Gates Gaming, two academics who are using their expertise and lived experiences to reshape how we play and how we design for neurodivergence, disability, and cultural diversity.
How Open the Gates Gaming's cognitive access tools—like simplified character sheets, modular ability/spell cards, decision guides, and explainer videos—are changing the onboarding experience
Why cultural representation and narrative inclusion are as vital as mechanics
The Access Forward Gaming Lounge at PAX East: an experiment in radical accessibility, cross-disability solidarity, and real-time adaptation
The dangers of defaulting to Eurocentric fantasy tropes and how to tell new stories
How accessibility is not just a checkbox—it’s a design philosophy
Whether you're a game designer, a DM, or a player who just wants more people to feel safe at your table, this episode is essential listening.
Show Outline
00:00:00 What if D&D Could Be for Everyone?
00:01:25 Introducing Free5e: Free, Open, Accessible
00:12:38 Meet the Game-Changers Behind Inclusive TTRPGs
00:15:01 How Open the Gates Gaming is Redefining Play
00:22:26 Fixing Accessibility: Why "Everyone's Welcome" Isn't Enough
00:30:05 TTRPGs as Empowerment: Finding Belonging at the Table
00:43:00 Designing for Flexibility Without Losing the Magic
01:03:00 The Hard Truth About Inclusive Game Design
01:09:30 When Players Break the Script—and Why It Matters
01:16:30 How You Can Start Making Your Table More Accessible
01:20:00 Is Accessibility Ruining Games? (Spoiler: No)
01:24:00 Upcoming Projects That Could Change Gaming Forever
01:25:15 Patreon Spotlight: Shape the Future of TTRPGs
Links & Resources:
Free5e Kickstarter (live until end of April): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wyrmworkspublishing/free5e-a-free-open-source-dungeons-and-dragons-alternative?ref=6orsnt
Open the Gates Gaming: https://www.openthegatesgaming.org/
Access Forward Gaming Lounge at PAX East https://east.paxsite.com/en-us/features/pax-together.html
Virginia Tech Disability Community Technology Center: https://discoteccenter.org/
Dots RPG: https://dotsrpg.org
Wyrmworks Publishing Patreon: https://patreon.com/WyrmworksPublishing
If you found this episode helpful, subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find and benefit from it!
Free5e isn’t another clone. It’s a community-led, open-source, fully accessible reimagining of 5e designed for affordability, inclusivity, and actual usability. Dale explains how it stays SRD-compliant while offering more than just “good enough.”
You’ll hear about:
Accessible formats: Digital braille, high-contrast PDFs, large print, audio, and more
Affordability: Free digital books, print-at-cost, and Kickstarter-exclusive deeper discounts
Disability representation: Three modular systems for including disabled characters on your terms
Flexible design: Inclusive mechanics without creating power imbalances
Creative Commons licensing: Remix, translate, and adapt—without the legal minefield
Open the Gates Gaming
Dale talks to Chris Campbell-Bohen and Elizabeth McClain from Open the Gates Gaming, two academics who are using their expertise and lived experiences to reshape how we play and how we design for neurodivergence, disability, and cultural diversity.
How Open the Gates Gaming's cognitive access tools—like simplified character sheets, modular ability/spell cards, decision guides, and explainer videos—are changing the onboarding experience
Why cultural representation and narrative inclusion are as vital as mechanics
The Access Forward Gaming Lounge at PAX East: an experiment in radical accessibility, cross-disability solidarity, and real-time adaptation
The dangers of defaulting to Eurocentric fantasy tropes and how to tell new stories
How accessibility is not just a checkbox—it’s a design philosophy
Whether you're a game designer, a DM, or a player who just wants more people to feel safe at your table, this episode is essential listening.
Show Outline
00:00:00 What if D&D Could Be for Everyone?
00:01:25 Introducing Free5e: Free, Open, Accessible
00:12:38 Meet the Game-Changers Behind Inclusive TTRPGs
00:15:01 How Open the Gates Gaming is Redefining Play
00:22:26 Fixing Accessibility: Why "Everyone's Welcome" Isn't Enough
00:30:05 TTRPGs as Empowerment: Finding Belonging at the Table
00:43:00 Designing for Flexibility Without Losing the Magic
01:03:00 The Hard Truth About Inclusive Game Design
01:09:30 When Players Break the Script—and Why It Matters
01:16:30 How You Can Start Making Your Table More Accessible
01:20:00 Is Accessibility Ruining Games? (Spoiler: No)
01:24:00 Upcoming Projects That Could Change Gaming Forever
01:25:15 Patreon Spotlight: Shape the Future of TTRPGs
Links & Resources:
Free5e Kickstarter (live until end of April): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wyrmworkspublishing/free5e-a-free-open-source-dungeons-and-dragons-alternative?ref=6orsnt
Open the Gates Gaming: https://www.openthegatesgaming.org/
Access Forward Gaming Lounge at PAX East https://east.paxsite.com/en-us/features/pax-together.html
Virginia Tech Disability Community Technology Center: https://discoteccenter.org/
Dots RPG: https://dotsrpg.org
Wyrmworks Publishing Patreon: https://patreon.com/WyrmworksPublishing
If you found this episode helpful, subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find and benefit from it!
In God we trust