What’s life without a little Whimsy? For Juli and JP, it was a bland and lonely life with no fun, excitement, or thrill. They were confined to their small apartment, unable to engage in their favorite hobbies like miniatures and card games. Luckily they had each other, and the communities they were a part of were supportive and inclusive of their hobbies. They realized that not many may have access to the same resources, so they decided to bring Whimsy to life. Whimsy welcomes all! VRSUS had the privilege of sitting down with the two owners at Whimsy to talk about this safe space they created, its origins, and how they want their customers to find their people at Whimsy.
“We wanted the space for all the games you could ever want to play with your friends” -Juli
It’s no secret that the hobby space can come off as cliquish to outsiders, but that doesn’t mean it should stay that way. Luckily for Juli and JP, they were on complimentary ends of the hobby world with Juli in the roleplaying space, and JP in miniatures and gaming. They claim that without each other they wouldn’t have been comfortable engaging with each other’s community, because it can be overwhelming to jump into a new hobby alone. They both opened new doors for each other and now want to open one for you. Step into a world of Whimsy with them where you’ll try new hobbies, make friends, and find your people.
“We hope people can feel that kind of passion and share it with us” -Juli
Everyone starts somewhere, and Whimsy is no different. Juli first started with Dicesuki, a dice shop she founded with the simple goal of giving affordable dice to her friends. JP began with Wartilyo, filming battle reports for the miniature games that he loves. After coming home from a convention in Baguio, they decided they wanted to give players that extra push to go and explore new hobbies. They’re all about sharing the richness of hobby experience with as many people as possible.
“All the way back from our comp shop days” -JP
The comfort of a comp shop is something only those who went to them would experience. When JP mentioned this in our interview, I felt privileged to have been part of a small but thriving community growing up. Whimsy strives to give that sense of community to their players, opening avenues for them to find their niches and immerse themselves in them. Once you’ve found your people you have a place where you know you can find and share time with them.
It’s rare to see a shop that puts this much effort towards inclusivity. Our chat with Juli and JP was eye-opening towards the realities most gamers face, and the need for more inclusive gaming spaces. We’re glad to see them take on this chapter of their journey together, and are excited for what’s to come for Whimsy. For now, we eagerly await the grand opening and future events here at Whimsy!
Our trip to Whimsy reminded us just how badass Game of Thrones was! Check out this article for some sick dragons in House of the Dragon.
Here are the Dragons in House of the Dragon (Quick Overview)
