Shieldwall 2025 Wrap-Up: Community, Play, and Collective Power
What began as an idea to bring Chicago-area gamers together around mutual aid and community defense turned into an inspiring day full of learning, laughter, and generosity. This year’s Chicago Tabletop Gaming Association Shieldwall event was a reminder of what our community can accomplish when we gather with purpose, passion, and a shared commitment to protecting one another.
We’re thrilled to share that together, the Chicago Tabletop Gaming Association (CTGA) and generous gamers like you raised over $2,000! Donations went to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and Increase the Peace, two organizations whose work strengthens our city and supports those most impacted by systemic harm and instability.
Shieldwall opened with an anti-ICE training session, led by Jess Geyer, where attendees learned tools to:
better understand immigrant rights
safely intervene in harmful encounters
use whistle signals to warn community members of ICE’s presence
recognize the role we can each play in resisting systems of surveillance and intimidation
For many participants, this was their first time engaging with this type of training, and it set a tone of empowerment and collective responsibility that carried through the rest of the event.
We even received 3D printed whistles to help with the whistle protocol we learned! Whistle brigades have been a powerful tool in keeping our communities safe.
Raffle and games celebrate Chicago’s diverse gaming community
After our training was our raffle! We had a multitude of prizes up for grabs, and through our little raffle tickets, six people went home with new goodies. The raffle was a big source of donations from the crowd, and we’re grateful to all of our sponsors who donated awesome prizes.
From there, we shifted into what the CTGA does best: bringing people together around the magic of tabletop role-playing games. Shieldwall featured a wide range of TTRPGs, making sure there was something for every experience level, play style, and comfort zone.
Some tables dove into classic fantasy adventures through Dungeons & Dragons, building heroes, uncovering mysteries, and facing epic foes. Others embraced something gentler and delightfully chaotic with games like Magical Kittens Save the Day, which proved to be just as hilarious and heartfelt as it sounds.
Special thanks to all of our game runners who donated their time and energy!
Table 1 | Mothership: Year of the Rat | Run by Rich Ranallo
Table 2 | Magical Kitties Save The Day! | Run by Cath Dizon
Table 3 | Eat The Reich | Run by Morgan Parsons
Table 4 | Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast | Run by Erica Emmert
Table 5 | D&D 5E "Divinity Spilled" | Run by Liz Fritz
Table 6 | Mythic Bastionland | Run by Madeline Prelee
The variety of games meant the room was constantly alive with energy. One table would erupt in laughter while another held a collective breath during a tense narrative moment. Across the room, complete strangers became fast friends over shared dice rolls and fantastic collaborative storytelling. Even those who had never played a TTRPG before were welcomed with enthusiasm and encouragement, proof that there’s always space for new folks at the table.
Shieldwall was truly a moment of community in action. Volunteers stepped up to run tables, teach rules, answer questions, and ensure every attendee felt supported. Designers shared their passion projects. Longtime gamers guided newcomers. Attendees donated generously, knowing their contributions would directly benefit immigrant communities and violence-prevention efforts right here in Chicago.
It was a reminder that the tabletop community is capable of incredible things when we work together.
The Shieldwall stands ready
We’re extraordinarily proud of what Shieldwall accomplished this year. Beyond the funds raised, we fostered deeper connections among Chicago gamers, uplifted essential community organizations, and equipped attendees with practical skills for mutual aid and community defense. Our hope is that everyone walked away with something meaningful: a new friend, a great story, a game they want to try again, more motivation to stand up for others, or a renewed sense of what it looks like to stand together.
To everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, facilitated, DM’d, or spread the word: thank you. Shieldwall wouldn’t exist without you, and the impact you helped create extends far beyond a single afternoon of gaming.
We’re already excited for what comes next, and we can’t wait to gather again — dice in hand, community at heart — to keep building a Chicago where everyone is supported, protected, and empowered.
Until next time, fight against ICE, keep immigrants safe, and keep rolling! Want to be a part of the next CTGA event.
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