RPG Trailer Benefits FAQ

From FAQs: http://rpgtrailer.com/faqs - Do you have a short list of what the RPG Trailer's benefits would be?
The RPG Trailer makes it possible to meet the needs of many populations (Autism spectrum ASD / PDD / ADHD, at-risk & troubled youth, the Deaf, brain injury (stroke, TBI, etc.), Cerebral Palsy, and many other individuals, groups, and facilities throughout North America, by addressing all these issues:

1. Optimal Gaming Environment
A comfortable, quiet, wheelchair friendly, gaming-focused environment free of distractions and competing demands, that includes air conditioning, self-contained generator, kitchenette, refrigerator, stove/oven (gamers and munchies of course), and a fully ADA/wheelchair friendly bathroom. This trailer can be easily transported and setup at locations convenient for the participants, such as a parking lot, as needed. The trailer will comfortably seat 8-10 participants, or about 5 wheelchair-bound participants for tabletop and computer-based RPG, and provide other benefits for many more during Live-Action Role-Playing events. All of my gaming materials would be readily accessible, requiring very little setup and tear-down time, and no risk of “oh I forgot that book/resource back at the other office/facility/home” (which could be in another state/country)

2. Efficiency, Wear & Tear
A fully stocked mobile gaming office that addresses wear-and-tear and organizational issues. Currently I have several smaller dedicated gaming rooms at my house. Each seats between 5 to 8 players per game room. I also have an office in the downtown Spokane area with 3 different gaming rooms that can seat between 6 to 14 players. You can see photos and video of some of the game rooms and materials here.

To run my sessions, I have to pack up the gaming materials necessary for the groups scheduled, take them to the location (my office, community setting, rehabilitation facility, etc.), set everything up, etc. For example using a typical tabletop RPG session this would include:

Multiple copies of game system books, character sheets, client assessment forms, client/participant case files, writing utensils, dice or other randomization tools, various tokens, battle mats, miniatures, egg timers, cards, tape, glue, and other accessories.

Load all the materials into my vehicle.

Arrive at the location (my home or office, Saint Luke's Rehabilitation TBI department in Spokane, Nagios rehab in Seattle, PAVE group in Tacoma, etc.).

Unload the boxes of materials from the vehicle.

Set everything up in the room/facility.

Run the game.

Pack everything back up.

Load the vehicle.

Drive home.

Unload the vehicle.

Put everything back on the shelves.

At one point I was doing this for 12 different groups (about 30 sessions per month).
This becomes even more involved when setting up computer-based gaming sessions, especially those with bio and/or neuro monitoring and/or feedback equipment. The trailer also helps increase the carrying capacity of a lot of LARP gear which can takes up considerable of space.

The trailer will allow everything to be located in the trailer, ready-to-go. This will reduce general wear-and-tear on the supplies (books, miniatures, etc.), as well as my own back and knees, and greatly increase the number of actual “gaming hours” I can provide to participants, rather than hours of pre-and-post gaming setup and tear-down requirements.

A number of Recreation Therapy organizations have trailers for hauling their many paraphernalia for their programs. For example the adaptive bicycle, kayaking, skiing, and rock climbing programs I participated in last year regularly makes use of trailers.

The RPG Trailer is a logical solution in this profession to provide recreation services to a broad range of people.

3. Fully Wheelchair-friendly ADA Facility.
My downtown Spokane office is a shared law-firm building built long ago that is, while affordable, unfortunately not at all wheelchair friendly, neither is my 1964-built home in a semi-rural location. Saint Luke's and other facilities often have trouble booking a room for a group any longer than 1 hour due to competing scheduling from other recreation therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, music therapists, and general “diversionary” recreation activities. Most of the facility does not allow participants to be “noisy”. Many of these facilities do however often have plenty of spare parking lot space, and regularly take clients outside in wheelchairs. It was while I was volunteering at Saint Luke's that I came up with the idea of the trailer, and discussed the possibility of it with the lead Recreation Therapist at Saint Luke's. She agreed the RPG Trailer would be the ideal solution for their clients.

4. Portability, Expanded Coverage, & Affordability.
The RPG trailer will make it easier and more affordable to provide RPG services to rural locations that do not have facilities for gaming, as well as metropolitan areas requesting my specific services. Many small towns and rural locations do not have any kind of “Friendly Neighborhood Gaming Stores”. The trailer is not only a complete office and gaming facility, it also greatly reduces my costs for hotel and food expenses when travelling to provide RPG services, further the RPG Research Project, and attend conferences/conventions when on panels and providing presentations.

Currently, I not only have the gasoline expenses to drive to a location, but additionally the costs of a facility (for example an office) can add up quickly. Flying is not feasible with all of the equipment.

Additionally, if the location is more than a few hours from my home, there are often food and hotel costs that can range from $50 to $200+ per night/day. The trailer has a large bed in the ceiling that can be pulled down for use, a full kitchenette (water, sink, stove, oven, refrigerator, cabinets), bathroom sink, toilet, and shower, and both game table couches can flip over to become additional single beds for any assistants (especially when running LARPs).

This means I can continue to provide free services to far more people over the next several years, and when I do begin to transition to a billable service, will be able to keep the costs, and thus the rates charged to participants/insurance, at a much lower price point.

This will also make it more affordable to attend conventions/conferences throughout North America, since it will greatly save on my hotel/motel costs during 3 to 5+ day events. The goal is to attend up to 4 events per year. I have spoken at 3 conventions/conferences in the past 9 months. I am slated to attend the Living Games Conference in Austin, Texas in May 2016, and the HBO Documentary group “VICE” indicated a desire that I come to New York and New Jersey to see the LARP groups that have Autism spectrum participants if possible.

5. Planning for the Future.
Though I am a Washington state registered Recreation Therapist ...
... the rest of this answer here http://rpgtrailer.com/faqs