Exploring Life & Business with Rob Sardone of Tabletop Wargamers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Sardone.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in the little town of Jamesburg, New Jersey, where I lived with my incredible and loving family for 30 years before moving to Arizona in 2020 to be with the love of my life and her fantastic children.

I’ve always been enamored with the fantastical- latching on to fantasy-centric cartoons, anime, comics, and films from a very early age. My childhood friends and I would create games of pretend that would last for days or even weeks- involving fighting, superpowers, espionage, and diplomacy or at least that’s how I remember them.

That passion for fantasy and creation followed me through high school and college- where I, after many failed attempts, finally got my chance to play Dungeons & Dragons for the first time. And it all clicked after that.

There was no going back to a life without these games and the freedoms they allow you to feel and express, and I made a goal for myself to one day run a game shop to share these passions and help others find new passions of their own.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
About 13 years ago I began experiencing muscular and neurological issues that quickly progressed into a significant chronic pain and inflammation condition that to this day remains unidentified.

Being physically limited by your own body after just turning 20 certainly comes with…let’s call them frustrations.

There isn’t much that wouldn’t be easier without your body strictly enforcing self-imposed physical restrictions, and as silly as it sounds- one of the main things that kept me going during some of the harder parts, was role-playing games.

While I might not be able to run around and adventure and explore, Vysmond the Wood Elf sure as heck can.

And although none of his adventures actually took place, accessing the memories of those adventures feels the same as accessing memories of something that actually did happen.

If it exists in your mind in the same capacity as other memories- how fake is it, really?

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are Tabletop Wargamers, a gaming and hobby shop in Goodyear, Arizona, about 20 minutes west of Phoenix.

We specialize in all thing hobby gaming including wargames, roleplaying games, trading card games, miniatures, you name it! We host weekly and monthly events, including game tournaments, leagues, painting competitions, Learn to Play Tuesdays, Hobby Hangout days, and much more!

We boast one of the biggest miniature paint selections and offer the most comfortable playing spaces in the valley. Our oversized, standing-height tables are 3 1/2 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long- leaving you more than enough space to field your wargaming armies and have all of your belongings up on the table and out from under your feet!

For all the efforts we’ve gone to create a shop we’re proud of- what we are most proud of is the incredible community we’ve been lucky enough to cultivate here in the west valley. Our community members are among the most generous, helpful, encouraging, and welcoming folks you will ever find in not just the gaming scene, but in any scene.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Tabletop Wargamers is co-owned by Jason Fern and John Lamontagne, and I appreciate them every day for giving me the opportunity to take the reigns of this business and entrusting me with its future.

My girlfriend Mel has always supported and encouraged me to pursue my interests, and has lovingly afforded me every grace along the way.

I wouldn’t be here or frankly anywhere else without the support of my parents. They allowed me the time to learn, relearn, and learn again how to navigate the difficulties of a chronic condition. Their patience afforded me the opportunity to learn about my limitations and how to make the necessary adjustments in my life to overcome those limitations.

Thanks, guys!

Contact Info:

• Website: tabletopwargamers.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabletopwargamersAZ
• Other: https://discord.gg/c4TMyXfpks