Creating an Inclusive & Diverse Gaming Community (Game On Expo)
Recorded live at Game On Expo, this panel features Ryan, Daphne, and Emily as we explore how creators can build inclusive and diverse communities both online and offline. From tabletop games to streaming and community moderation, they share real world strategies for making sure everyone feels welcome and respected.
Follow Panelists:
Emily Grieve
Ryan Toro
Website (Gamers Guild)
Instagram (Gamers Guild)
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Transcript:
Mike: Welcome to Creating an Inclusive and Diverse Gaming Community. We’re going to talk all about making sure that everyone—regardless of gender, race, background—feels welcome when it comes to gaming of all sorts.
Wow, it’s been a long day. I do apologize for that. But we’re going to start by introducing everyone.
My name is Mike Zimmerlich. I’m the host of the Creatives Prevail podcast where I interview all kinds of people—from musicians and streamers to podcasters and influencers. I’m here with these incredible panelists. Emily, I’m picking on you—let’s start with you.
Emily: My name is Emily. I am a content creator, musician, and competitive gamer. I kind of fit into the hodgepodge of all the things. My pronouns are she/her and I’m happy to be here.
Ryan: Hi everyone. I’m Ryan, one of the owners of Gamers Guild Arizona and a professional game master. I’m excited to be here talking about inclusivity in games with some awesome people. My pronouns are he/him.
Daphne: And hello, I’m Daphne Greene—musician, avid gamer, content creator. I’m in several bands around town: Daphne and the Glitches, Fairy Bones, and most recently Ghost Moon. I’m also working on the pro DM thing myself. So—mad respect. My pronouns are she/her.
Mike: My pronouns are also he/him—forgot to mention that, thank you. Alright, let’s jump in…
Mike: So Daphne, I’ll start with you first. I know you mentioned you’re working on being a pro DM, but you’ve been DMing for a while now and have done sessions with many groups at this point. What are some things you do to make sure everyone feels comfortable and welcome in your sessions?
Daphne: Absolutely. Every group’s going to be a little different, obviously. But one of the things I’ve made almost mandatory for any game—unless I’m really familiar with the players—is a Session Zero. Setting the tone at the beginning, really getting everyone’s expectations aligned. I ask questions like: what are your pronouns? What are your character’s pronouns? What are your hard and soft limits?
Mike: Can you talk more about what you mean by hard and soft limits?
Daphne: Sure. A hard limit is a topic or element we just don’t touch. Period. A soft limit is something that might be sensitive, but if it’s handled with care and thought, it’s okay. Communication is key.
Mike: Ryan, you’ve been a professional game master for a while now—about five years, right? Do you do similar things to what Daphne does?
Ryan: Yeah, Daphne brought up some great points. Some people use the terms “lines and veils.” A line is something we don’t cross. A veil is something that might be alluded to, but never detailed or fully explored. I also like to ask players, “What do you hope to get out of this game?” It helps everyone have clear expectations. My games are often in private rooms—a neutral space—so you can meet new people and still feel safe.
As a pro GM, I’m responsible for making sure I’m not putting a “rotten apple” in the group. Everyone has to follow our code of conduct, which is consistent across Gamers Guild and my own tables.
Mike: Emily, you’re not a game master in the traditional tabletop sense, but you do moderate your Twitch stream, right? Are there similarities in how you manage your space?
Emily: For sure. I play viewer games with my community on Twitch—mostly League of Legends. I invite people to join my game live on stream. But I have a very strict rule: no flaming the people in my group. I don’t care how bad someone is—if they’re in my stream, you treat them with respect.
I also have hard lines about certain words, especially slurs. Even if someone belongs to that demographic, I don’t allow it in chat. This is my space, and if you can’t respect that, you get banned. Simple as that. My stream is 18+, and if you can’t follow explicit rules by then, you don’t belong in my community.
Mike: I want to jump a bit deeper into the online community side—specifically Discord. All three of you run your own servers. What do you do to keep those welcoming and respectful?
Daphne: Discord is such a cool tool for building community. Fortunately, it comes with great moderation features. First, clear rules right from the start that people must agree to. Then, solid mod structure. Whether it’s a strike system or straight bans, having a system matters. If you set it up right and follow through, it can be really special.
Emily: I want to add something specific to that. Saying “I’m an ally” isn’t enough—you have to show it. One of the biggest things that makes people feel safe is knowing they’re being listened to. I make sure my community knows they can DM me or my mods if something rubs them the wrong way.
Sometimes people will bring up stuff that I didn’t realize was problematic—because it didn’t affect me directly. And I’m like, “Okay, I hear you. Let’s fix it.” That combination of clear rules and a willingness to listen really marries into the kind of community I want to build.
Mike: Being conscious that—even if you say, “I’m an ally,” or you think you’ve already done the work—it doesn’t mean you’ve got it all figured out. Things can change.
I had a session once where a player and I made a joke at the table—something like, “We’re the dumb barbarians and they’re the smart wizards.” It felt harmless to us in the moment. But afterward, someone brought up that using the word “dumb” can be ableist. It really opened my eyes.
We’re all human. We’ll make mistakes. It’s about trying to be better than we were the day before, even if you don’t fully understand where someone else is coming from. The point is—other people’s feelings and thoughts are valid, and our job is to make space for that.
And I just want to give a shout-out to both Daphne and Emily because they’ve both been great with me when I’ve said something questionable in the past. They’ve pulled me aside and helped me understand—and I’m grateful for that.
Emily: Can I jump in on that? Love you, Mike—just prefacing with that. This isn’t a jab at you specifically.
But being a woman in certain spaces is a very different experience than being a man in those same spaces. Something that might seem harmless—like a compliment or saying, “Hey, I’ll put in a good word for you”—might feel totally fine between two men. But when a man says that to a woman in a male-dominated space, it can feel condescending.
And that’s not always obvious unless you’ve lived it. I really admire that Mike is open to those kinds of conversations and willing to adapt. That’s why we’ve been able to have those discussions.
But yeah, Daph can probably back me up here—as a woman in gaming, it’s rough. I don’t use voice chat in-game because it’s scary. Obviously, streaming is different, but in solo queue or online games? It can be awful.
So in our own spaces, we have to be extra intentional about not tolerating that kind of sexism or hate. Even if it seems like a “gray area” or double standard, it’s important to understand those situations through the lens of lived experience.
Mike: So let’s talk about the tougher side of community-building. When someone does cross a line—either intentionally or not—how do you deal with it?
Ryan, I’ll start with you. I know you’ve got rules on your physical server as well as in-store expectations.
Ryan: Sure. So in our store, we have a big banner with our Code of Conduct. It’s part of the tour when someone visits. We say: “This is what we’re about. This is what we stand for. This is what we expect from everyone at the Guild. You are welcome, you are appreciated, and you are safe here.”
If someone makes others feel unsafe or unwelcome, we take it seriously. We do understand that people make mistakes—we’re all human—but we also know not everyone is a fit for every community.
We have a Code of Conduct Committee that reviews issues that arise. Our rule is: “I have no problem saying goodnight or goodbye.” In other words, if this isn’t the space for someone, we’re okay with that.
We also understand not everyone feels safe coming forward publicly, so we created an anonymous reporting link. People can share things like: “Hey, I had this experience. I don’t know if it was a violation, but it made me feel icky.”
That helps us catch issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. We’ve had cases ranging from counterfeit cards to sexually inappropriate comments. If someone won’t adjust after being coached, then they’re no longer welcome.
Mike: Emily, what about your stream?
Emily: Actually, I had to deal with this recently. One of my longtime viewers got banned from playing in viewer games—not from the whole community, just from playing. He got frustrated because another player wasn’t very good, and he started spam-pinging her and using “gay” in a derogatory way.
So one of my mods reached out. We said, “This isn’t okay. You need to take a step back.” And his response was basically, “I don’t see what I did wrong, but okay.” He didn’t fight it, he stayed in the stream, and we haven’t had any issues since.
In my actual Twitch chat though, I usually don’t allow re-offenders. If you break a clear rule, you’re out. I do offer a two-week cooldown if someone wants to appeal. But my space is small and cozy—I need to feel safe there too.
Mike: That’s important though, right? Like anything else, it takes time to grow a positive community. Having a code of conduct, setting expectations, enforcing consequences—it all adds up. Over time, ideally, you’re going to have a safer space. People feel comfortable and want to join because of how much effort and attention you’ve put into it. Daphne, did you want to add anything to that?
Daphne: Yeah, I just want to echo what Emily and Ryan said. As game masters, streamers, moderators—whether it’s physical or digital spaces—we take on a lot of responsibility. And sometimes we have to have uncomfortable conversations. That’s part of the job. Letting people know the lines of communication are open, that we’re willing to listen to everyone—but also that there are lines that can’t be crossed—is essential. Following through on that is what really matters. That’s how you make sure everyone is actually having a good time.
Mike: Exactly. Sometimes you have to “uninvite” someone back. Like, “Hey, clearly we have different ideals or expectations, and maybe this isn’t the right place for you. And that’s okay.” If someone’s willing to grow, great—we welcome that. But otherwise, sometimes it’s just better to go separate ways.
Ryan: Let me tell a quick story. When we first opened the store, we had our code of conduct on display. A guy came in and pulled me aside. He goes, “What’s all this for?” pointing at the inclusion and safety section.
I explained: “We want to make the space welcoming. We specifically mention LGBTQ+ folks, women, people of color—groups that often feel excluded in gaming spaces.”
And he said, “Let me tell you something. I have a friend who’s trans and they don’t want any of this.” So I asked, “Do you really have a friend who’s trans, or do you just know someone who is?”
He kind of stumbled through his answer. So I said, “Look, there’s another store 25 minutes away that might be a better fit for you. But if you’re willing to open your mind and understand that gaming is for everyone, you’re welcome here. If not, I’ll be happy to walk you to the door.”
He didn’t come back. Never saw him again.
Mike: I want to talk more about some of the details, because I think that’s a big part of creating a welcoming environment—the nuances and small touches that show care. Ryan, I’ll pass it to you first, but I’d love to hear from both Emily and Daphne on this.
Ryan: Sure. When someone joins one of my games, I like to meet them one-on-one beforehand. It’s kind of like a mini Session Zero—just to get to know them, hear their expectations, and share what I’m trying to offer.
At the actual table, I have a few things set up: fidget spinners, keyboard clickers, those little worm-on-a-string things—basically sensory toys. A lot of players are neurodivergent, and having something tactile can really help with focus and comfort.
I also have a jar with pronoun pins. People can grab one and wear it however they want. At our store, we offer complimentary sensory earplugs too—for anyone who’s feeling overstimulated or overwhelmed.
Emily: Wait—what was that word you used earlier?
Ryan: Accoutrement?
Emily: Yeah! I like that.
Ryan: I try to have all these little accoutrements available to make the space feel comfortable.
Another phrase you’ll hear a lot at my table is “Above the table.” That’s our cue to pause the game and have a person-to-person conversation. If something is uncomfortable or needs clarification, we stop and say, “Above the table.” Then we talk, reset, and go back in.
I’ve been very lucky. I’ve had a wide variety of people at my tables—every letter of the LGBTQ+ spectrum, every age group, all kinds of backgrounds. And seeing people roll dice, connect, and make new friends? That’s the most rewarding part for me.
Daphne: I love all of that. For me, one small change that’s gone a long way is gender representation in the game world. The first time I ever played D&D, our party ran into this little gay couple in a cabin. And I remember thinking, “This is so cute—I never see queer characters in fantasy.” It made me feel seen.
Emily: I want to make sure Daph finishes this before I jump in, because her experience is more D&D focused and mine’s a little different.
Daphne: Thanks. Yeah, I also try to switch things up from the usual tropes. Fantasy can be super male-dominated by default—like, it’s assumed all the goblins and cultists are men. So I’ll change that. I’ll say, “The leader pulls back her hood…” or use they/them pronouns for random NPCs. It adds flavor, and it matters.
And I love doing voices, so it makes the experience more vibrant and inclusive across the board.
Emily: So, what I do is a little different from what Ryan and Daph do. I don’t have as much control over world-building the way you do in D&D, but I can still influence representation in other ways—especially through who I choose to uplift.
For example, after my streams, I almost always raid someone. That’s when I take my current viewers and send them over to another Twitch streamer’s channel—sort of like saying, “Hey, we’re bringing the party over to this person’s place.”
I do a lot of research ahead of time and build out a list of creators I feel good about raiding. I look for women, creators of color, people in the LGBTQ+ community—people who I believe are creating safe, welcoming spaces. It’s kind of like: would I feel comfortable leaving my audience with this person? If the answer is yes, they go on my list.
Then when I end a stream, I check who’s online, see who’s a good fit, and bring my people there. I’ve even helped some of those streamers grow their communities because of that visibility—and that feels really good.
Ryan: I love the idea that you’re not just ending your stream, you’re guiding your audience to someone else who's doing good work. Like saying, “Hey, SmileyFace30 is streaming Stardew Valley right now. Let’s go support them.”
Emily: Yeah! And when we raid, we’ll usually have a little raid message. My old Twitch name used to be Big Spooky, so we’d all go into a chat and type “Spooky raid—don’t be afraid” with a bunch of hearts. It was cute and fun. That’s Twitch culture.
So yeah, even though I can’t always control what happens in my own games the way a GM can, I still have a lot of power in deciding what kind of energy I’m supporting and promoting.
Mike: That’s so cool. And honestly, you’re interacting with so many more people at once than we are. We might have five or six players at the table—you’re working with dozens, sometimes more, all at once.
Emily: Exactly. On a consistent day, I might average 35 or 40 viewers over the course of a stream. Sometimes I peak at 70 if I get a raid myself. So while you can take a more personal approach with your group, I have to be hyper-aware all the time. I don’t always know who’s in chat or what their background is. It’s all usernames on a screen. So I have to lead with intentionality in everything I say and do.
That said, I do know a lot of my community by name—some of them I’ve gotten to know really well—but for the most part, it’s still a more public space.
Ryan: That raid concept is so powerful. You’re creating a chain reaction of community and inclusivity just by choosing who to support.
Emily: That’s the goal. Build a little bridge, one stream at a time.
Mike: Daph, one of the things you mentioned earlier was your first D&D session and that moment of feeling seen. I want to go deeper into that. When you're not running the game, but instead participating—just being a player or part of someone else's space—what are the things that make you personally feel welcome?
Daphne: Yeah, absolutely. Seeing myself and others like me in the world and characters is a big one. But I also look at the people running the game or moderating the space. Do they seem like someone I could come to if I had an issue? Can I trust them to listen and not dismiss it?
And one of the biggest things—and we kind of touched on it—is remembering that we’re all here to have fun. This is supposed to be a game. Anything that takes away from that or makes people feel unsafe just doesn’t belong.
As long as everyone shares that core goal of, “We want to have fun together,” the rest falls into place. Clear communication, expectations—it all becomes easier when everyone is aligned on that.
Mike: I love that. I might be a little off with this next question—but I’m going to ask it anyway.
Daphne: Let’s see where this goes.
Mike: So, the first Saturday of every month at our store, we do a members night. It's our way of saying thank you to our community. Everyone’s welcome to come hang out, play games, and meet new people.
What I like to do is find out who’s coming and figure out what kind of experience they’re looking for that night. Some people want a long, four-hour game. Others just want to party and play silly games.
So I try to group them together intentionally. Put the deep thinkers with the deep thinkers. Put the party players together. That way, even if they don’t know each other beforehand, they walk away with a positive experience—and sometimes even new friends.
Emily: I love that you’re matchmaking fun.
Mike: That’s exactly it. I’m just the host with the pizza. If someone walks into that environment and says, “I hate pizza,” it’s like—why are you here? We’re all just trying to make pizza together.
If you come in and start trashing the toppings or questioning whether pizza should have pronouns, then maybe this just isn’t your kitchen.
Emily: I’m going to take it back to in-person gaming again. One of the things that’s made a huge difference for me is seeing efforts to actively connect marginalized people with each other in a positive way.
I used to play competitive Pokémon, and for years, I was one of maybe two girls in my age division. It was isolating. I ended up leaving the community for a while because of some drama that came up just because I was a girl.
It was like I couldn’t exist in that space without someone misinterpreting politeness for romantic interest. It made things weird and exhausting. So I stepped away, even though I loved the game and was good at it.
Emily: So I got back into it a couple years ago. I went to a tournament in Orlando, and this girl came running up to me, super excited. She was like, “Hey! I haven’t seen you at events before. What’s your name?” And then she pointed at her little pronoun pin and asked for mine. And I was like, “Oh, okay—cool, yeah.”
She introduced me to this group called Girl Power. It’s a collective of girls in the Pokémon scene who have little stations at events with things like sanitary products, snacks, juice pouches, pain relievers—stuff like that. And they just go around supporting each other.
It was the first time I’d seen a community like that in this space. Instead of feeling like an isolated dot, it was a whole visible section of the room filled with women and nonbinary folks supporting each other.
They’re very open too. You don’t have to be cisgender or even use she/her pronouns. If you’re part of the community and want a safe space, you’re welcome. And if some guy walks up and says, “Hey, can I grab a Tylenol?”—they’re still going to help him out. They’re just about being friendly and building community.
Ryan: That’s awesome. And also, like… if I see a juice box, I want one.
Emily: The girlies get first priority, obviously.
Ryan: Fair enough.
Emily: But seriously, they were great. It made such a difference. I also work at Pokémon tournaments in a volunteer capacity—we’re called Professors, which is the title for tournament staff. It’s our job to help enforce the code of conduct and keep the community safe.
What’s cool is that the Girl Power group isn’t part of that official structure. They’re not paid. They just care enough to show up and look out for each other. And that really stuck with me.
Daphne: That’s incredible. I love how they’ve created something grassroots like that and filled in the gaps that the formal system doesn’t cover.
Mike: Does anyone here have stories like that from their local scene? Maybe something you’ve seen—or would like to see—that would make your space more inclusive?
(Audience member responds—unintelligible.)
Emily: That’s funny you say that, because I’ve noticed it too. I don’t see groups like that as often anymore either. And it’s interesting—Florida of all places is where I’ve seen the most growth lately.
Mike: That’s ironic, yeah.
Emily: Part of it is population size. Tucson, for example, just doesn’t have as big of a player base. So when 1% of your population is marginalized, it’s still a much smaller group than that same 1% in Phoenix or Orlando.
But even up here in Phoenix, while we have better spaces—Gamers Guild, Phoenix Gaming Lounge, etc.—there’s still room to grow. And in Tucson, it’s kind of hit-or-miss depending on where you go.
Mike: I’m so sorry—go ahead.
Emily: So I was saying, Tucson doesn’t have the same kind of population density that you get in places like Phoenix or Orlando. And that really affects the sense of community and representation, especially in card game spaces.
Mike: Yeah, and I know that Amazing Discoveries is one of the big card shops down there.
Emily: It is. And for the record, I’ve never had a bad experience there. It’s a smaller community for sure, but I’ve met some really kind people there.
Actually, the first trans person I ever met worked there. She was amazing. Just one of the sweetest people. And what stood out to me was how that space handled it. I was still a kid, and I didn’t really understand, but nobody made me feel bad for being confused. They explained it to me in a way that made sense and helped me grow.
That kind of environment makes a huge difference, especially for younger players or those who haven’t had much exposure to diversity before.
Mike: I think Top Deck and Castle Cards are the other shops in Tucson that come to mind. But yeah, most of the stores there are smaller, and that can make it harder for niche games or more inclusive community-building to take root.
We’re lucky in Phoenix—we have more stores, more events, and just a bigger pool of people. That creates more opportunities for positive overlap. Like, if you find five like-minded people at one of these shops, that can become a powerful little collective.
Emily: The magic community, though… it’s rough.
Mike: Yeah?
Emily: Yeah. And I say this with love, because I’m sure there are good people in the Arizona Magic: The Gathering scene—I just haven’t met many of them.
Most of the time, when I walk into a Magic event, the first thing someone asks me is, “Are you here with your boyfriend?” And it’s like, come on. It feels gross and dismissive right off the bat. Even when I try to participate, the vibes are just not it.
Mike: That’s unfortunate. And really common, sadly. But I’m glad that at least the Pokémon community here feels more positive?
Emily: Oh, absolutely. Arizona’s Pokémon community is fantastic. Tucson’s is smaller, but still great. And if you ever come up to Phoenix for the weekend, you’ve got plenty of options.
PGL does events every Saturday, Primetime in Tempe runs them on Wednesdays, and Gamers Guild also has Pokémon stuff—I’m just not sure what your schedule is.
Mike: Yeah, our north location might be too far from Tucson, but the Tempe one could be a good option. We’ve worked really hard to make sure the environment is welcoming.
I used to hate how people would refer to female players as “so-and-so’s girlfriend.” Like, why can’t she just be her own person? I’m proud to say that at our stores, no one gets referred to that way. People go by their names. That’s progress.
Emily: Time check?
Mike: Yeah. Any more questions before we wrap up?
Emily: Did anyone have any stories they wanted to share? Or feedback—anything you’d like to see change in your local community that we maybe didn’t touch on?
(No response from audience.)
Mike: Okay, cool. Awesome. Well, thank you all so much for staying with us tonight. We really appreciate it. Hope to see you back tomorrow.
Daphne: Yeah!
Mike: Daphne and I are speaking tomorrow at 4 o’clock in this same room. The panel’s about incorporating gaming into your brand—so if you’re a streamer, influencer, or just curious how gaming connects with personal identity and style, come check it out.
Emily: I’m going to plug my stuff one more time—my band is called Turn Zero, which is a card game reference.
Daphne: Yeah, when time gets called, it’s turn zero.
Emily: Yup! Turn zero is whoever’s turn it is when time gets called. So that’s us. Also, my Twitch handle is EmsleyGG—E-M-S-L-E-Y, G-G like “good game” or “get good,” depending on how salty you are.
Mike: Gamers Guild is our store—@GamersGuildAZ on social media. And my personal Twitch is @OmelettePrevail. Like the egg dish. Omelette with two T’s. Yes, that’s intentional.
Emily: You do Overcooked or Cooking Mama or anything?
Mike: I should! The name actually comes from a Smash Bros. meme from back in the Brawl days. The theme was in Latin, and someone tried to phonetically translate it into English. One of the lines came out as “Omelette Prevail.”
No one had taken the handle, so I grabbed it. I even have the original video linked on my Twitch profile.
Emily: I knew it was a Smash reference—I just didn’t know which one. That’s hilarious.
Mike: Gotta give credit where it’s due.
Daphne: Alright, plug time for me—I stream either under @DaphGreen with an extra E at the end, or @DatGlitches, which is for my band, Daphne and the Glitches. No underscores.
Emily: No underscores, Mike.
Mike: Yeah, yeah, I’m the old man with the underscores. I get it.
Daphne: Also check out my other band, Fairy Bones!
Emily: You guys didn’t hear it, but earlier I said “in my space” about my community, and under his breath, Mike goes, “MySpace.” That’s why I said he’s aging himself.
Ryan: I didn’t get it at first either, but now I do. That’s a good one.
Emily: The roast was warranted. Unprovoked, but warranted.
Ryan: Sorry, Dad.
Daphne: No underscores!
Emily: No underscores.
Daphne: The other handle you can find me at is @DaphGreen, with an extra “E” at the end of “Green.”
Mike: And tell your friends. Come hang out digitally. Creatives Prevail is the podcast—@CreativesPrevail on Instagram and TikTok. I also recently started streaming on Twitch at @OmelettePrevail. Only been at it for about eight months, so I’m still new.
Emily: We need to get you into Overcooked or something to match the omelette theme.
Mike: I really should. The Smash reference just stuck. People ask about it all the time, so I finally added a link to the original meme video in my channel bio.
Emily: That’s actually great branding. Memes live forever.
Mike: Alright, I think that’s everything. Thank you all again for coming out.
Emily: Are we doing the group theater kid pose now? Like, do we all hold hands and bow?
Daphne: Do the point! You know the one.
Ryan: Yep, I know what you’re talking about. Been in theater long enough. It’s like, “Thanks everyone!” big exaggerated bow
Emily: And then the musicians come in and do their little flourish.
Daphne: Exactly.
Mike: Alright, that’s our time. Thank you so much!