Table Manners: Your House Call Adventure
We bring Dungeons & Dragons straight to your living room — dice, story, and a DM who actually makes it fun. If you've always been a little curious, this is your sign.
◆ Serving Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park & more
Why Table Manners
D&D can feel like a world with a velvet rope — like you need to already know the rules, the lore, the lingo. You don't. We built Table Manners for the curious, the newcomers, and anyone who ever thought "that looks fun but not for me."
Your couch, your candles, your snacks. We show up with everything — dice, maps, miniatures — and leave the game store energy at the door.
Our DMs are expert teachers as much as storytellers. We'll walk you through every rule, every roll, every "wait, what does that mean?" — without ever making you feel silly for asking.
Built for women and marginalized genders. No gatekeeping, no bad vibes. Just a room full of friends making something magical together.
Want a gothic ghost mystery? A cozy village adventure? A chaotic heist? We craft every session around what your group actually wants to play.
The Quest Begins
Seriously — if you can host a dinner party, you can host a D&D session. We handle every intimidating part so you just show up and play.
Fill out our form and tell us about your group. How many of you? Where in Chicago? What sounds fun? No wrong answers.
We'll match you with a DM and spend a little time getting to know your group before the session — so nothing feels cold or scripted.
Your DM arrives with everything. Dice, maps, character sheets, the whole kit. You just need snacks and a vibe.
Three to four hours later, you'll have an inside joke, a favorite character, and probably want to do it all over again.
Sessions
Not sure which is right for you? The one-shot is where most first-timers start — one evening, a complete story, zero commitment. You'll know by the end if you want more.
One evening. A complete story with a beginning, middle, and end. Perfect for first-timers who want to dip a toe in before diving deep.
Your characters grow. The world deepens. Secrets unravel. This is the format that turns a fun night into a standing tradition.
Bachelorette? Birthday? Just want an excuse to get the whole group together? We design a fully themed adventure built around your occasion.
The Team Behind the Table
Table Manners exists because we wanted a space like this and it didn't exist. So we built it.
Shane has been crafting D&D worlds for over 15 years. He writes original stories, attends conventions, owns a custom D&D table, and has run games for anywhere from 1 to 25 players at a time. He's as comfortable teaching a nervous first-timer as he is helming a room full of seasoned adventurers. Every session Shane runs is dynamic, personal, and genuinely fun — because he's been doing this long enough to know that the story only works if everyone at the table is having a good time.
Micah has been playing D&D for over 10 years and brings a professional background in teaching, proctoring, and developing easy-to-learn instructions to everything Table Manners does. As a trans man, he has lived experience as a marginalized gender — and a deep personal investment in making sure this space actually feels as safe and welcoming as we say it does. Micah is the reason first-timers never feel lost, and the reason the whole operation runs smoothly.
Shane and Micah both found themselves in Chicago as competing front-end engineering recruiters — neither knowing the other existed. That changed when Shane noticed the rune necklace Micah was wearing and struck up a conversation. One thing led to another, a Super Smash Bros session happened, and eight years of friendship and countless game nights later — Table Manners was born. We built the space we wished had existed.
Now Launching
Every adventure has to start somewhere. Ours starts with you. We're looking for our founding adventurers — the curious, the skeptical, the "I've always wanted to try this" crowd. Early sessions are discounted, deeply personal, and genuinely shaped by the people in them.
Our first ten groups get 20% off any session format. That's One-Shots from $144, Campaigns at $120/session, and 20% off any Private Event. No catch, just gratitude.
Early players get direct input on how we run things — themes, formats, pacing. Your feedback literally builds this service.
There's something special about being the first group to play in a new world. Your campaign will be the one we tell people about.
Founding member spots are limited — we're keeping early groups small so every session gets our full attention.
Claim a Founding SpotQuestions & Answers
No question is too basic. Here are the ones we hear most.
Not a single thing. That's literally the point. We teach as we go — the rules, the dice, all of it. If you ever feel confused during the story, just ask and we'll catch you up. And if your group wants a little extra time at the start for a crash course, we're happy to build that in.
Nope. If you can remember playing "house" as a kid and getting lost in a made-up scenario with your friends, you already have everything you need. D&D is just a structured version of that — with dice and a really good storyteller. If you're with people you like, you're going to have a good time.
Absolutely. Spooky gothic mystery? Cozy village adventure? Chaotic heist? Something completely weird and specific? Tell us what sounds fun and we'll build the world around it. This is your story — we just help tell it.
Everything. Dice, maps, character sheets, miniatures, and a fully prepared story. You just need to provide the space, your friends, and whatever snacks and drinks you're into. Speaking of which — drinks are totally up to you. If your group wants to pour a glass of wine and roll dice, we love that energy. No pressure either way.
We accept Venmo, PayPal, and cash. Cash is always preferred! Deposits are due when you book your session to lock in your spot.
Totally fine — no hard feelings. You just won't finish the campaign. Keep in mind that the first and last session deposit is non-refundable, so remaining sessions simply won't be scheduled. No drama, no pressure.
Where We Roam
We travel within 8 miles of Lakeview, covering a huge swath of the city and close-in suburbs. If you're not sure whether you're in range, just ask.
✦ Home base
Begin Your Story
Tell us a little about your group and we'll take it from there. No experience needed — just curiosity and a willingness to roll some dice.
hello@tablemannersgames.com · Chicago, IL