The Campfire - a story behind the story

The Campfire was born somewhere between Bellingham and Blaine, packed into a car full of tired friends, as we made our way back up from spending all day in a stranger's basement.

I’ve always enjoyed telling a story. As a kid, my younger brother and I would spend hours in our own worlds, crafting adventures with whatever toys we had on hand. Looking back, I realize we were playing tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) without even knowing it. Our imaginations ran wild, unconstrained by rules or the limitations of reality. Those were the early days of storytelling, when we could turn a simple afternoon into an adventure that extended far beyond the walls of our bedroom.

As I grew older, my love for stories and fantasy worlds didn’t fade. Influences like The Lord of the Rings and Dungeons & Dragons shaped my early interests and eventually guided me into a career in the video game industry. Designing games and later products became my way of bringing those childhood stories to life on a larger scale. But as adulthood shouted louder, the demands of work and life meant that I gradually drifted away from what got me into everything in the first place.

Then, everything changed during a day trip to Seattle. Packed into a car with a few friends, we had planned a day of gaming with a professional Dungeon Master for someone's wedding gift. As it turned out, this wasn’t just any gaming session; it was a full-blown production in his basement, complete with 3D terrain, miniatures, and sound effects that brought the story to life in ways I’d never experienced before. As we sat around that table, dice in hand, I felt something reawaken. The emotional roller coaster of the story as it unfolded; the laughter with friends as we tried to get out of increasingly sticky situations we got ourselves into—it was a loud reminder of what I enjoyed so much.

That day sent me spiraling down the rabbit hole of modern TTRPG culture. I immediately latched onto Critical Role and other Actual Plays, and my passion for this space flared up again. But this time, as an adult, the sense of community was coming through stronger than before. I realized how important it was to share these experiences with others, to create spaces where people could come together and tell their own stories. And so, The Campfire was born.

The Campfire is more than just a place to play D&D—it’s a space where collective stories can come to life. For me, telling stories around a table with friends has always been about more than just the game rules. It’s about connection, fun, and the magic that happens when people come together to build something unique. I want as many people as possible to experience that feeling, whether they’re seasoned adventurers or completely new to the world of TTRPGs.

One of the core ideas behind The Campfire is that D&D can be played in an incredibly high-budget environment while remaining accessible to a wide range of people. Our setup will include everything from intricate terrain and miniatures to dynamic soundscapes and lighting that immerse players in the story. Yet, at its heart, The Campfire is about making these experiences available to everyone, regardless of their experience level.

I'm in the early days right now, focusing on building a community here in Vancouver. I'm running free public drop-ins to gather momentum and introduce The Campfire to existing D&D players for feedback. So please - if anything about The Campfire resonates with you, I'd love to hear about it! There are a bunch of links below this for ways to reach out and a connect.

Until next time -

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Jed

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