Dungeons & Dragons gets talked about a lot as a space for creativity, connection, and escapism — but none of that survives if the table itself feels unsafe. Bad tables don’t usually fail because of bad rules or “wrong” playstyles. They fail because respect disappears, people stop listening, and someone ends up feeling small for the sake of someone else’s fun.

Borrowing from the person-centred psychology of Carl Rogers, this video applies four core principles to the gaming table: psychological contact, congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy. Together, they offer a blunt truth and a practical roadmap: safe tables create better stories, braver roleplay, and stronger friendships. Because when players feel safe enough to show up fully, D&D doesn’t get softer — it gets better.