A weekend of Dice, Games, and Adventures: A TTRPG Business Retreat

What happens when you gather a group of TTRPG business owners and game enthusiasts in a grand manor for an entire weekend? A legendary adventure, of course!

I recently joined fellow TTRPG business owners for a weekend of tabletop role-playing games, board games, and creative discussions. This was an incredible chance to step away from the day-to-day hustle of running a TTRPG-focussed business and immerse ourselves in the kind of adventure we all dream about - one filled with storytelling, dice rolls, and late-night laughter. Set in an incredible estate in the Peak District (UK), this retreat was a perfect storm of creativity, friendships, and, naturally, an almost unreasonable number of dice.

Largely inspired by D&D in a Castle, as well as the gaming library at UK Games Expo, a group of us decided we wanted to have a fun weekend together, playing games.

But this wasn't just about playing games (although that was a large part of it!) - it was also a great opportunity to connect with other creators who are just as passionate about tabletop RPGs as I am. At conventions and markets, we get very little chance to properly talk to and connect with fellow creatives - beyond a very quick greeting as we rush past on our precious bathroom breaks!

Whether you're a dedicated Game Master planning your next big campaign, or a casual player looking to level up your experience, there's something magical about having a dedicated weekend full of games, good company and a large range of TTRPG accessories. And trust me, none of us wanted to leave!

Caption: The Hall was set in the countryside, with no immediate neighbours.

The Setting

Set in the Peak District, this stunning manor was easily able to accommodate all 26 of us with room to spare. Surrounded by the idyllic Derbyshire countryside, we all really enjoyed the peace and quiet, as well as having the place completely to ourselves. The large dining hall was a perfect space for us to set up our own boardgame library, with many of us bringing along our favourite games to share with others.

Caption: The long dining room and tables made for an excellent gaming room!

Caption: Many of us brought along our favourite boardgames, creating a "boardgame library" for the weekend.

The Games

There were many games and sessions played throughout the weekend, from more familiar titles such as Dungeons & Dragons and Dorfromantik to Honey Heist and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners TTRPG.

Caption: A session of Cyberpunk in progress! 

Of the games I played, Honey Heist really stood out to me. It was such a simple roleplaying game, from a rules perspective (one A4 sheet had everything on it!), and it was easy to get into. We had a lot of fun creating hats to disguise ourselves - we were very obviously people and not bears! (Big thank you to Emily from Dragons And Darlings for running this!)

Caption: My hat for Honey Heist. I was very definitely a person and not a bear.

I also really enjoyed getting to play Everdell (the massive box in the "games library" photo). This was easily the largest box on the table, and that was saying something! This complete collection of the Everdell expansions was very well put together, with a lot of thought having gone into packaging and ensuring everything fits back in the box. It even had a diagram demonstrating how everything fits together to pack away. The game itself was very sweet, with players working to gather resources and build their small villages filled with woodland creatures.

Lessons from a Weekend with TTRPG Business Owners

Whilst discussing our businesses was not an aim of this weekend, the topic was brought up several times naturally through conversation. As we're each so passionate about what we do, it was bound to happen.

From conversations about our "must-have" gaming accessories to sharing how we deal with certain scenarios that come up in gameplay, everyone was super happy to help or offer their own products to help with running a session. From Jodie's battletowels providing a quick and easy map for a game (Jodie's Dice Farm), to Pete's incredible Game Master screen helping to level up the experience of running a game (Four Score Woodwork), there was something to help with every situation we came across.

Several of us also took this weekend as an opportunity to get some product photos in the incredible setting, and a few of the dice makers among the group took a lot of inspiration from nature walks.

Caption: Some of us even found some time for some cosplay (although mine was rather basic) and photoshoots!

Why Every TTPRG/Game Enthusiast Needs a Retreat Like This

As brilliant as it was to gather in this grand location for a weekend of uninterrupted gaming, the real magic wasn't in the location - it was in the people and the shared experience. As cheesy as that sounds, it's true.

A gaming retreat doesn't have to mean booking an expensive venue; what really matters is setting aside dedicated time to roll dice, tell stories, and immerse yourself in the worlds and games you love with friends.

For many of us, scheduling a game night can be a struggle. Life gets in the way, schedules never quite align, and finding enough players for a full session can feel like an arduous adventure in itself. That's why this weekend was so valuable - we all committed to putting aside real-life responsibilities (as much as possible) and focusing on what we love most: playing games. Whether you book a dedicated getaway, or simply block off a weekend at home, the important thing is making space and time for gaming.

If you're thinking about planning your own TTRPG retreat, here are a few essentials that made our weekend extra special:

• A set location. Whether it's a rented space, a cosy home setup, or your friendly local gaming shop, having a place where everyone can comfortably play for long stretches is key. For us, having a central location was essential since we had people travelling from as far as Scotland and the South Coast of England. But if everyone is local, a well-organised home game can be just as magical. (We also had to find somewhere large enough to host nearly 30 of us!)
• Must-have gaming accessories. While a set of dice, pencil and some paper are enough to get started, having immersive tools makes a huge difference. From custom dice trays preventing dice from launching off the table, beautifully designed GM screens helped keep secrets hidden, and props - like quick-to-use maps - added to the immersion.
• Snacks and drinks. No long-form gaming session is complete without fuel. We each brought various snacks and drinks for the weekend (some were fans of coffee and energy drinks, while others simply enjoyed water), but of course kept them away from games where possible.
  
• A mix of games. For some, the main focus was TTRPGs, so we had a planned schedule of different sessions running in various locations over the weekend. However, plenty of board games were also played in between. A good mix of long-form and shorter, party-style games kept the energy up and let everyone join in with something when they had the time.
• Time to connect. One of the best parts of the weekend, for me, was simply having time to talk - about our favourite games, funny stories, and our creative projects. Whether you're playing with long-term friends or new acquaintances, having time to step away from the table and just chat made a retreat like this even more meaningful to me.
  

Final Thoughts

A gaming weekend doesn't have to be extravagant - it just needs to be intentional. Whether you're gathering around a kitchen table for a marathon session, renting a cottage for an immersive campaign weekend, or setting up a game night at your local shop, the most important thing is carving out the time to play. If you've ever struggled to get a game together, I can't recommend it enough: pick a weekend, gather your party, and make it happen. You won't regret it.

Have you ever done a TTRPG weekend retreat? What games would you bring? Share your dream gaming getaway in the comments!

Also, I just want to say a huge thank you for Danielle at Bindwood Gaming for organising all this. I doubt the rest of us could have managed to arrange all this without you!