Story #1: Camper Drawn Out of Shell. A new series of postings sharing observations, comments, and other relevant experiences, about the effects of role-playing gaming...
Blog Collection
Just an idea for super simple introduction to d20 most basics. Can make a character in just a couple of minutes, and start playing a short, simple adventure, with the most rudimentary of RPG system concepts.
After encouragement from two different divisions of personnel at WorldCon 73 / Sasquan, I agreed to attend. I have been asked throughout the 5 days to to sit for at least 3 panels (slight chance of a 4th), run some tables, and present on a 4' x 8' poster during "Super Science Saturday". Here is some information on what I will be doing there, for those that are interested...

This was recently asked, and I hadn't really stopped to calculate it, until now. Gack!

Using the examples of Vampire: Masquerade, and Werewolf, by White Wolf, the book provides some nice examples....

An entertaining quote from the Serenity RPG...
An archived article from 2010 was recently doing the rounds in Facebook RPG groups, here is more information on the topic and some of my relevant thoughts and experiences.

This is a doctoral thesis by Christopher J. Dyszelski, Candidate for the Degree: Doctor of Philosophy. This study was a critical, archetypal, feminist ethnography and psychological inquiry into the experiences of women in tabletop role-playing gaming and its culture.

I have been mulling over an idea for about half a year now. And it solves a lot of logistics issues in trying to further the research on the effects of role-playing games. An RPG Trailer as a portable facility/office...

Let them know if you too would like to see a panel on the therapeutic effects/uses of role-playing games at the 2015 WorldCon in Spokane!
June 1st, 4:43 pm, 2016. There is an article making the rounds titled "Publishers: STOP HIRING ARTISTS WHO CAN’T FOLLOW DIRECTIONS", which includes includes issues related to some of the current research on gender experiences in the gaming industry and community...

Here are the results from our conference call with Wizards of the Coast (sub of Hasbro), regarding permissions for using Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) for education, therapy, entertainment, training, etc. in free and paid settings...
The wheelchair friendly RPG Trailer prototype is now a reality! Based in Spokane, and hoping to provide services throughout North America. The first session is scheduled for next week...

Though this is a computer-based RPG (Role-Playing Game) study, pending testing with tabletop, it seems possible that it could apply in tabletop RPG, LARP (Live-Action Role-Playing), and maybe even CYOA (Choose Your Own Adventure) forms of RPG as well? I would be interesting to perform the same style study with the other formats to see if the format changes the results (or not). Received 10/26/13; Revision accepted 12/11/13
![RPG Research on SpoCon Panel, Role-Playing [Gaming] as Therapy RPG Research on SpoCon Panel, Role-Playing [Gaming] as Therapy](https://w3.rpgresearch.com/research/archives/public/public-blogs-test/rpg-research-on-spocon-panel-role-playing-gaming-as-therapy/@@images/e458afbc-46af-4287-9705-376c09105d33.png)
Here is the audio recording from the SpoCon 2017 panel on "Role-Playing [Gaming] as Therapy". Panelists included: Gail Glass (Recreation Therapist), John Welker, and Hawke Robinson.
In conversation on Facebook yesterday, I mentioned, as I have done a number of times in recent years, about my reading two different research reports about inpatient groups and role-playing gaming. I seemed to recall the papers mentioning they were schizophrenic, and one report was a disaster, while the other was an outstanding success....

Here are notes from the January 22nd, 2018 interview broadcast at Wizards of the Coast's Dungeons & Dragons, "Dragon Talk" with Greg Tito and Shelly Mazzanoble, interviewing John Welker & Hawke Robinson of RPG Research, Spokane Area Gaming Alliance, & RPG Therapeutics LLC, about role-playing game education, therapy, and more. Currently a work in progress. I am working on it each day in small snippets of time while juggling everything else. I will let folks know when it is ready for sharing.

This was triggered by someone's question in a Facebook group, and I thought it worthwhile to repost here, in a more legible format, and more useful platform...

Significant progress made today in the paperwork process for putting together the study on "Efficacy Assessment of Role-playing Games as an Instructional Technique within the Constraints of a University Academic Setting from the Neuropsychology Perspective"...

The schedule for the Pacific Northwest American Therapeutic Recreation Association conference has been confirmed. I will be presenting at the Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Oregon, on "The use of Role-Playing Games (RPG) as an Intervention Modality" on January 29th, 2016, from 2:20 pm to 3:50 pm.
Archivist Janine Winfree created a list of open-source, free, or low-cost cataloging programs for the RPG Museum. She provides a brief summary of each of these systems as well as her personal recommendations for RPG Museum.
I've been thinking about the best way to intellectually organize the RPG Research Archives in a way that works for all material, including what is produced and stored here on the website and physical collections, and which also allows for the accessioning of new material as the collections grow.
Brief notes on embedding youtube videos and migrating internal links
A mid-level position. The Volunteer Level 1 Professional Volunteer Game Master (GM) Trainee will learn to run RPG sessions in accordance with RPG Research standards. Sessions are for a broad range of participant populations, at various locations. We do offer training for those wishing to develop the appropriate skills, and willing to regularly attend the free weekly training sessions.

I am a huge advocate for technology. Look at my tech resume, and you will see what I mean. Technology is an extremely powerful tool to help improve the human experience, but at the tabletop game setting, it can be extremely detrimental if not used in very controlled ways. This article provides a few pointers on how to keep technology your friend in such settings, and the worst of the pitfalls to easily be avoided.

We have grown so quickly, we really need administrative volunteer help for about 4-5 hours a week! 2 years ago we were were helping people with just 10 volunteers & 1-2 programs per month. Now we've hit volunteer #115, and WE NOW PROVIDE A DOZEN PROGRAMS A WEEK! 99% of our volunteers are helping directly with the programs as game masters, facilitators, transcriptions, software development, etc. NOW WE REALLY NEED ADMINISTRATIVE VOLUNTEERS A FEW HOURS PER WEEK! We desperately need people willing to help about 4-5 hours per week

For those looking for tables to join, remember that Spark Central has Drop In and RPG on the 2nd & 4th Fridays each month from 4-7 pm through the end of April.

New theory topic of the week begins today: Introduction to Tuckman's theories on small group formation, communication, & dynamics in relation to RPGs, Part 1. Tiers 1-3 GM training schedule this week.
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