TTRPGs are only superficially similar to board games, especially the direction that D&D has evolved (it grew out of fairly mechanics heavy wargames but has slow

TTRPGs are only superficially similar to board games, especially the direction that D&D has evolved (it grew out of fairly mechanics heavy wargames but has slowly moved to have a much higher emphasis on the roleplay). That makes it a) much more free-form than a board game, and b) makes the players much more emotionally invested in the story that's being told. In addition the setting is much more likely to involve more detailed focus on dark topics, death especially (not just in a 'that unit's dead' way, but 'my brother just died' way). It's far more likely that someone's going to stop enjoying themselves because of the topic in such a game than in a board game. (Also, it's far more common that you will be doing this with a group of people you've only just met, but in general I think such games should lean more towards the lighter side)