They fight.

They bleed.

They die.

They conquer.

All vicariously, of course.

Welcome to the N.C. State chapter of the Collegiate Association of Table Top Gamers, one of only three of its kind in the country.

Fronted by Mike Roselli, a sophomore in civil engineering, and with more than 20 members, the CATTG offers a place to hang out for like-minded individuals and more importantly, to play games.

“I was interested in starting a little club of common interest, just a place for a few friends to play Magic the Gathering, and I was searching the Internet for resources and came across an organization at Fort Hays State University in Kansas called the Collegiate Association of Table Top Gamers,” Roselli said.

Roselli held an interest meeting and was elected president.

“We established dues, a schedule, a constitution and we wound up creating an official organization here at the University,” Roselli said.

Though claiming to cater to all of a table-top gamer’s needs, the primary game of choice in the group seems to be Magic the Gathering — a fantasy game in which players compete by dueling with wizards and spells, all with elaborately illustrated cards.

William Roberts, a sophomore in electrical engineering, is one of the newest members of the group and his favorite game is Magic.

“I basically came to just play Magic and for the fellowship,” he said.

Another Magic enthusiast, Conrad Corbett, a senior in aerospace engineering and psychology, came just to play Magic although he admits he “is a little out of practice.”

So have these nerds, crouched around a table shouting things about fireballs and demons, found the next big thing? Are students all going to be playing card games involving wizards and dragons by the end of the year?

Roselli, a gamer since birth, seems to think there is a sliver of a chance. According to him, table-top games are making a comeback.

“Table-top games are taking a turn toward today’s youth and are becoming much more popular,” he said. “In the same way that independent film makers have pushed interesting ideas for movies that cost less than normal movies, the table-top game industry has taken a turn toward more independent, creative projects.”

Roselli plays tons of games, including video games.

“I really like to play video games and there are a few video gaming clubs on campus, but table games are the focus of this club,” he said. “They bring a kind of nostalgia to your childhood, and when you don’t want to be burning your retinas with a TV screen, good old imagination is fun sometimes too.”

As the N.C. State chapter of the CATTG grows, Roselli would like to increase its credibility and reputation on campus through service projects.

“We have a wide set of plans, including a few philanthropic projects,” Roselli said. “We would like to work with the Toys for Tots charity event that happens during the holidays by doing a board game drive here on campus.”

The CATTG hopes to spread the table-top game love and help some people along the way.

“Anyone who is interested in joining our club should come attend a meeting,” Roselli said. “You don’t have to be a member to come. Just show up with your imagination and a desire to learn a new game.”