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    Transformative Role-playing Game Design

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    Contributor(s)
    Bowman, Sarah Lynne (editor) cc
    Diakolambrianou, Elektra (editor) cc
    Brind, Simon (editor) cc
    Language
    English
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    This textbook describes theory and practice in analog role-playing game (RPG) design that encourage specific transformative impacts in participants, including tabletop, live action role-playing (larp), and Nordic and American freeform. We describe three types of transformative RPGs: transformative leisure, therapeutic, and educational. We present our model of nano-game design, offering recommendations for designing transformative goals; framing activities such as workshops and debriefs; narrative and culture design. This interdisciplinary book highlights theories from role-playing game studies, peace and conflict studies, psychology, social psychology, sociology, counseling, anthropology, pedagogy, and several other fields. Key concepts include bleed, alibi, RPGs as transformational containers, immersion, identity, transfer, ritual, psychotherapeutic techniques, group theories, and educational theories. We emphasize psychological safety before, during, and after games, as well as strategies for cultivating transformational communities. Key topics include working with specific populations; crisis management; sensitive content and representation. Then, we discuss working with myth, symbolism, and ritual, narrative, and postmodern magic as methods for transforming the stories of our lives. We cover forms of culture within and around RPGs, as well working with conflict in scenarios related to politics, culture, gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity. We share thoughts around the use of RPGs to foster activism, advocacy, inclusion, and accessibility. Finally, we offer considerations for researchers studying transformative role-playing games, including academic argument, structure, theory, method, data collection, ethics, and other considerations. We introduce key methods, including Research through Design, ethnography, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The book closes with a summary of evidence-based research available on the cognitive, affective, and behavioral effects of role-playing games.
    URI
    https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/98272
    Keywords
    RPG; role-playing games; psychology; counseling; counselling; role-playing game studies; larp; live action role-playing games; tabletop; identity; transformative; transformation; bleed; alibi; integration; safety; accessibility; narrative; ritual; conflict; culture
    DOI
    10.33063/23xd2197
    ISBN
    9789151323015, 9789151323015
    Publisher
    Uppsala University Publications
    Publication date and place
    Uppsala, 2025
    Grantor
    • Erasmus+ - [...]
    Series
    Transformative Play Research Series, 1
    Classification
    Role-playing, war games and fantasy sports
    Social, group or collective psychology
    Education
    Therapy and therapeutics
    Board, table top and strategy games
    Rights
    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
    • Imported or submitted locally

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    License

    • If not noted otherwise all contents are available under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

    Credits

    • logo EU
    • This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 683680, 810640, 871069 and 964352.

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