There has been some misrepresentation about our focus and breadth, so here is a quick clarification for people abut the game genres, systems, settings, we use in our research and community programs, far beyond just D&D..
RPG Research and RPG Therapeutics LLC representatives are presenting at the upcoming 2018 Washington State Therapeutic Recreation Association (WSTRA) annual professional conference. The topic: "Role-Playing Game (RPG) Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (TRS) Game Master (GM) Step 1: How to Develop and Integrate Role-Playing Games as an Intervention Modality into Therapeutic Recreation Programs."
The new ASL RPG community sub-website is launched on the RPG Research server.
Unfortunately the dice we purchased were very poorly made, with holes through them, inconsistent sizing, too light, and poor design for those with visual impairment. Also I was unable to easily contact the seller for support. At this point I'm sorry to say I can't recommend them. If the issues are addressed in the future by the seller, and pending feedback from Nexus center and others, I will update this posting accordingly.
A question that came up from others elsewhere (social network poll): "How do you rather play games? Cooperatively, no preference, competitively?"
This came up in an Alignable social network thread, and I thought others might enjoy it being shared here. "What do you think is an appropriate relationship with a client/customer? " This also addresses some of the topics of RPG Professionals / Paid Game Masters, etc.
Here are excerpts from a recent email summarizing just a few of the many benefits of RPGs...
I've had a lot of students over the years, many of whom would display acts of misbehaviour in and outside of class. Today, I would like to discuss my experiences with using RPGs to correct such traits. I also have a short anecdote that would hopefully inspire parents and educators out there.
These are anecdotes and research I should have at my finger tips for media interviews, and separation between the LLC and the non-profit, and anecdotes and research numbers...
RPG Research, a non-profit charitable 501(c)3 organization, is looking for a volunteer American Sign Language proficient game master for tabletop role-playing games.
Increasingly heated debate has been growing in recent years about whether role-playing game masters (RPG GMs) should be paid or not. It depends... NOTE: This article focuses on pure entertainment RPG Professionals, not RPG Professionals in educational or therapeutic settings. To be clear, this is a blog posting, as an opinion piece, not a formal essay or research paper. For more formal essays, see the research sections of the site. This informal article is from the first-person experiential perspective, that attempts to include persuasive argument components, as someone involved with RPGs since the 1970s running many sessions per week, and paid as a GM (when desired) since the 1980s.
This document attempts to spell out what "good gaming etiquette" is, in the role-playing gaming world, depending on the RPG format...
Join us. 6 of us will be at ZoeCon III in Bellevue, WA. We'll be there with the Wheelchair Friendly RPG Trailer, running RPG sessions, speaking on panels, doing presentations, providing tours, etc.
Some interesting observations.
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.
New Years eve, 2017/2018 I consolidated resources from all over my house, into the broadcast area. Here are some early photos.
In preparation for our being on Wizards of the Coast's Twitch Channel broadcast show "Dragon Talk", I've been scrambling to get some artwork and video intro/outro files created by a variety of talented artists.
I have been parking the wheelchair accessible trailer and bus we use to help the community, in my driveway for a little over a year. Now the neighbors are complaining. Can you help in this search?
A thoughtless and quirky remembrance of Life is Feudal, the MMO
This has come up a few times and was recently renewed, so I thought I would post this page as an ongoing list to update. As far as I know, there are no _licensed_ games for these intellectual property items...
The start of my documentation and journalism of RPG games I run
From a G+ conversation, worth noting here for future reference, since it covers a lot on the topic.
November 13th, 2017 Ivan Van Norman was on Wizards of the Coast's D&D Dragon Talk with Greg Tito and Shelly Mazzanoble for their Twitch.tv Channel!
Great news! We are now scheduled to be on the Wizards of the Coast Twitch show, Dragon Talk with Greg Tito, this coming January 22nd, 2018!
Now that finals over, resuming trying to finish the 30 page textbook chapter on using RPGs for Therapeutic Recreation...
This is an initial review, with just my first impressions upon the first viewing of the brand new offering in the original The Gamers Series: The Shadow Menace. I attempt to avoid any overt spoilers by keeping this review more abstract rather than specific.
My regular Tuesday Worlds of Beru group asked that I run a special Cthulhu session for this year, since Halloween fell on Tuesday. You can view the video on our Youtube channel, and here is a brief summary of my thoughts about the session (I haven't had a chance to watch it)...
Workshop: "An Introduction to Drum Circle Facilitation" at the Indie Air Radio concert hall in Spokane, Washington, Saturday, November 4th, 2017. Space is limited to 35 people, so book you seat right away. Proceeds go toward building the Wheelchair Friendly RPG Trailer fundraising campaign. We also use drum circles as part of the RPG / LARP experience, to summon for gathering, to build cooperative attitudes, paying attention and following directions, excite or relax participants depending on the goals of the adventure. We have more than enough drums for you, or you are welcome to BYOD (Bring Your Own Drum) if you wish. See you there!
Just in time for this week's Fan Nexus convention at downtown Spokane Convention center, we have printed significantly updated and improved trifold brochures about RPG Research.
After 13+ years operating as a non-entity group of volunteers. Today we received our certificate of incorporation of RPG Research as a Washington State Non-profit.
