See the valid points he brings up in the video here:
See the valid points he brings up in the video here: https://youtu.be/JFojvzuQb04
Then here is my short response:
Good points!
This is one of the (several) reasons why I like to have the GM make a number of rolls behind the screen (or have the player drop their die in the tower behind the screen).
The player doesn’t see the result, then ROLE-play through their "lie" or persuasion without knowing what the roll result is, and then try to role-play it out.
This is because I/we prefer the game to be more ROLE-play than ROLL-play.
If their character is exceptional in a stat (high or low), that is where RPGs let the PC excel beyond the player's abilities, but if average or inline with perceived abilities of the player, let the ROLE-play be more a factor.
If their argument/topic/attempt is too far off from reasonably possible, the GM can guide them, one way or another, through the interaction to help them be more on track with the result, or deal with the consequences of being too far off base if not able to be guided.
Back in the 70s and 80s, unless I was running as school classes or teaching programs to help their math develop, I had some groups where I handled about 90% of the rolls behind the screen.
Most of my gamers were happy with this, and it made for a faster game (I generally could do the math much faster than most of the players). This was especially so for Rolemaster's chart lookups, but even many of my D&D, Twitlight 2000, Cthulhu, Star Wars, and other players ended up preferring this option letting them focus more on the story than the mechanics.
They would get to roll really pivotal dramatic moments, but I handled the rest for them.
This helped the players focus more on the game and less on the numbers, seeming to add to immersion.
I retested this hypothesis around 2010-2012, and found a LOT more resistance from players not wanting to relinquish control of the dice rolls.
However, for those groups that accepted this approach, they had notably higher average immersion scores, enough so that in the future I hope to be able to test it again more formally.
A quick side-note, I also generally have all systems I GM add Comeliness/Appearance as a separate stat from Charisma to all PCs and NPCs. Appearance and Charisma are very different in real life, though one can affect perception of the other, they are NOT directly linked and should always be separate.
I hope in the future I will have time to write a more in depth discussion on this topic, but for now wanted to share with you wonderful Patreon supporters. And I am curious, what are your thoughts on these topics?
We are looking for an American Sign Language proficient volunteer Game Master for tabletop Role-Playing Games.
In needed, we will train an ASL proficient person interested in becoming a Game Master (GM) for one or more of the above systems.
RPG sessions on the 2nd & 4th Friday each month, at free and open to the public 501(c)3 Spark Central near downtown Spokane, Washington.
From 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm (setup at 3:30 pm, be out the door 7:00 pm sharp).
Spark Central: 1214 West Summit Parkway, Spokane, Washington 99201, USA. Contact RPG Research (not Spark Central) for more information.
Here is the related schedule: Spark Central Drop in and RPG.
Qualifications:
Please contact Hawke Robinson for more information if interested:
Here are some links to the older programs going back as far as 2007:
Spark Central if a non-profit 501(c)3 community services center.
RPG Research is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization freely providing RPG sessions to Spark Central serving the greater Spokane area community.
The "Power Up Gamers: Roleplayers for Accessibility" (PUG) Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PowerUpGamers
has put out a call for those interested in some regular webcam-based RPG using ASL! The goal is to build more awareness in the public:
https://www.facebook.com/RPGBrigade/posts/616361975198408
If you have a Facebook account, join the PUG group. If you are one of the many people that hates FB and does not have an account, You can contact the organizer on their Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg_X0xqkBMcPAe3d-O_u8wQ
Here is a copy of the posting in case you do not have access to the FB posting:
Hi Power Up Gamers!
INTEREST POST: Upcoming Sign Language Game, hosted Power Up Gamers: Roleplayers for Accessibility.
If you know ASL (American Sign Language), and would like to participate in a Broadcast Game, please contact one of the PUG Moderators, or comment below!
Goal:
* To promote understanding and awareness of disabilities in gaming
* Play some D&D!
* Have Fun!
Requirements:
* Web cam
* Know how to play D&D 5E
* Know American Sign Language
Please share this with your gamer friends!
first began interacting online with Timothe Loya through Facebook using my RPG Research account, on March 22nd, 2013.
This interview took place via email and Facebook, the full transcript follows.
----------------------------------
Sunday, May 5th, 2013.
[HAWKE] Greetings Timothe, Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. Here are some rudimentary questions to start with. Depending on your responses to these, I could ask more specific and targeted questions, but hopefully this is a helpful starting point for you as well.
[TIM] Just Tim's fine, and thanks for asking the questions. I was actually kind of surprised when you originally asked if you could interview me period as I originally intended just to updated the RPG advocacy group on the status of the project and wasn't sure if the project would get much community support. PTSD is one of those things that seems to get a lot of media hype with very little actual fact behind it.
[HAWKE] Where are you currently residing (town/city)?
[TIM] Bremerton, Washington- right across the water from Seattle by ferry.
[HAWKE] What is your educational background?
[TIM] I hold an Associates of Applied Technology in Web Development, which I rarely use at all. It was at college I started writing at the student newspaper after writing a pointed letter to the editor that the current staff thought highly enough of the writing to ask me to join their staff.
[HAWKE] What is your military background (if any)?
[TIM] Six years as a US Marine, including two tours in Iraq for OIF and OIF II ('03 and '04). Also served as a PSC (Private Security Contractor) and did a stint in Pakistan for the US Department of State.
[HAWKE] What is your RPG (and related) background (how were you introduced to it, how much did you, and do you participate, and in what roles (GM, PC, etc.))?
[TIM] Well I started in middle school back in the early 1990s so I don't have a lot of the old school experience that some of the more knowledgeable people around the net might have. I was introduced via AD&D second edition (and still have some of those old books). Started as a player and quickly moved to being a GM as I always had a flair for telling a story. I also quickly left Dungeons and Dragons as it felt to generalized and moved to several different games looking for ones that fit. Shadowrun, Paranoia, Cyberpunk, Macross... quite a few.
[TIM] I didn't play all that much for the seven years I was "out of the world" (Marine and PSC time) but I quickly got back in to the hobby discovering two editions of D&D had come as well as some other editions of the games I used to play. But I quickly got tired of it, the commercialist aspect of mainstream RPGs, how they always strove to come out with new supplements and new editions just to continue sales. That pretty much pushed me in to the indie games market.
[TIM] I also play quite a few CRPGs and any electronic game with an immersive enough story to keep my interest. I have a few favorites there, but the tabletop variety will always be more important in my life.
[TIM] I've also recently gotten in to design. Well that term is relative, I've been designing games ever since I was a GM because the given rules were never "good enough", or at the very least could be improved upon. So now I'm actually at the point where I've decided that my ideas are may be at least someone's attention and money. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the company currently bares my name, but that's mostly because we want to make sure we're legal and do a business plan and all the paperwork before operating under a different name.
[HAWKE] What is your professional background?
[TIM] Well I've worked as a grocery store stock boy and a fast food clerk, but that was during high school. I was a US Marine, a Private Security Contractor, a regular security guard, a bouncer, a developmental assistant, a library aide, and a Roving Manager for a state-wide children's charity thrift store.
[HAWKE] Where are you currently employed?
[TIM] Most of the time. I currently write freelance and search engine optimization, my family is in a position to allow me to stay home and write and that also allows me to spend more time than I would normally with my son. We're lucky enough to all be doing what we actually want to be doing,or at least relatively close to it.
[HAWKE] What is your current title and role in this location?
[TIM] Well besides freelance writer I am also the Owner and Lead Designer for Tim Loya Games, but that really doesn't mean as much with a staff of four people and a bare bones budget and revenue stream.
[HAWKE] If this is not at the VA, what is your relationship with the VA?
[TIM] I am currently being treated at the VA for, among other things, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In their own parlance I am a service-connected disabled patient. This basically means in addition to the care I would receive from the VA anyway for being an honorably-discharged veteran, a lot of the costs incurred are differed because the conditions for which I receive a majority of my care for were incurred during my service.
[HAWKE] What is your background, relationship, and understanding of PTSD?
[TIM] Well, I hate the word victim and was recently introduced to the term "survivor". So I am a PTSD survivor. Unfortunately I am one that did not seek care immediately and went almost six years before getting treatment. This is due to a combination of both my own laziness and unwillingness to fight the government and the VAs initial insistence that I was simply "adjusting". I have also had the unfortunate experience of a major relapse.
[TIM] As for my understanding of PTSD, because of the variety of symptom that can present it's often difficult to explain, but the simplest way I've heard is this: PTSD causes survivors to begin responding irrationally to stressors That could otherwise be managed healthily by other individuals.
[HAWKE] What lead you to think about proposing using RPG for veterans diagnosed with PTSD?
[TIM] A few things actually, and not just for PTSD. In the military we roleplay a lot already. Every field exercise, every hand to hand training drill, every time we get in dress uniform for a ball or parade. So the foundation is already there even if most military members and veterans don't know it. So there's that.
[TIM] But the original thought actually came during one session where my friend and GM at the time was discussing how his therapist was wondering at his progress and recovery from his TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). It seems he was doing so at a rate faster than his peers. He suggested it could be his roleplaying, and of course had to explain what that was. His therapist agreed based on our hobby's dependency on certain areas of the brain that control speed of processing, creativity, etc that in the average person don't actually get that much day to day use.
[TIM] Then lastly there was the realization at one of my sessions with my own therapist that we were basically roleplaying. I was being given scenarios and being asked how I would react to them, and then how I thought I should react to them. I thought to myself, that's the basis of every roleplaying game I like (but then I don't like dungeon crawlers or hack and slashers). So I presented the idea.
[TIM] I was then asked to present the idea in written form, and I did that. Most recently I was told the idea is being considered but that it would have to wait until the Fall Semester when the fresh crop of Interns from University of Washington comes in. If any of them showed interest we might be allowed to collaborate. And then if we can put together a good presentation and get it by the board there (and then get participants) we'll be allowed to move forward.
[TIM] A lot of "if"s, but I'd rather have "if"s than "no"s.
[HAWKE] Where are you in the process of proposal stages, and what stages remain for actual planning, trials, and implementation?
[TIM] Well, no where really. Besides as mentioned in the previous question. I throw together notes here and there, mostly for the GM side of things, as that would be my role. It's hard without knowing who I'm to be working with and their knowledge of the hobby just what to prepare for as of yet. Hope this gives you some clarity as to my intent as well as the project's current status.
---------------------
UPDATE - Friday August 30th
[TIM] I have received an intern to work with and we have a phone meeting tomorrow (today) actually.
--------------------
UPDATE - Saturday, August 31st
[HAWKE] How did the meeting go?
[TIM] Pretty well, it was very preliminary. Ideas and thoughts being tossed back and forth. She and I will be meeting up next week at the VA to actually share notes and talk about proposals and planning.
--------------------
UPDATE - Tuesday, September 3rd
[HAWKE] Which VA hospital is this you are working with? Is there one in Bremerton? I only see listings for either Seattle or Roseburg.
[TIM] Well originally I was working with American Lake, Bremerton only has an outpatient clinic, but now I am working with the VA in Seattle proper, which has more access to UW students, and hence interns, but the entire Puget sound is one VA system.
--------------------
I will post additional updates to this page as more information becomes available.
1. Accessibility!
2. 2 separate core rule books, 1 for players, 1 for GM, do not bundle both into a single larger book.
3. Lower the Barrier to Entry
4. For introduction/basic/starter sets, see the whole subsection of recommendations to this the "right way" versus the majority of sets that do it the "wrong way".
5 ...
6 ...
7 ...
8 ...
9 ...
10 Other Optional Inclusiveness Considerations
Stop relying on the Mentor/Apprentice model for new games/settings, it doesn't scale.
If an introductory/starter/basic set, actually design it as such. See the postings on the neuroscience of learning, and learning in layers. With a starter set, assume nobody at the table has any prior
First, log-in to both www2.rpgresearch.com and w3.rpgresearch.com
It is best to work with www2 open in one page and w3 next to it, so you can easily copy+paste between the two.
Next, find the material on www2 that is next to be moved, and also find the appropriate place to create the new item on w3. For example, when moving blogs, find the next blog on www2.The last item that has been moved will be posted in the Odoo chat, so the one following that will be the next in line. Searching on the page for the title can help locate the blog, but keep in mind there are multiple pages to search. Double check the comments in case the item has already been moved.
Open the blog and select "Edit" mode to allow for efficient copy+paste
On w3, go to Research>Archives>Public>Public Blogs
(This tutorial uses Public Blogs as the example, but other content may go in a different place based on type and privacy setting, i.e. Research>Archives>Internal(Private))
To add a new blog (or any new content item), go to "Add New" in the black menu on the far left and select the appropriate content type, in this case "blog posting."
Next, simply copy+paste each box from www2 to w3. Some things to watch out for:
To add tags, go to the "Categorization" tab on each site. Add the tags listed, as well as any that you think are missing/relevant. Be sure to tag blogs as "Blog Posting"
Next, you will need to change the date of the w3 content to match the day it was posted on www2. Select the "Dates" tab and assign the correct year, month, and day for the "Publishing Date." Don't worry about changing the time.
In the "Ownership" tab, it will default to your name. Look to see who wrote the content on www2, and assign that user as "Creator" on w3.
In the "Settings" tab, set "Allow Discussion" to "yes" -- this allows comments on the new content.
Finally, you'll need to add a "change note" on w3. This should have your name and the date it was moved in YYYYMMDD format. For example, a blog I moved today would have the change note "Moved from www2 to w3 by Victoria J. on 20201121"
Don't forget to click "Save" on the new content item in w3, and cancel the edit on www2.
Next, add the same change note as above in a comment on www2, showing that it is content that has been moved and when.
On w3, after saving, go to "State" in the black menu on the left and change the state to "Published"
Finally, when you've finished a working session, put the name and link of the last item you've worked on in the Odoo archivists' chat. This lets the other archivists know how far we've gotten, and know to start working on the following content item.
"I’m trying to make a program for student with test anxiety. I thought of relaxation and meditation but I’m not sure if there’s other activities I could do for them. Any advice?"
https://www.compassprep.com/the-neuroscience-of-test-anxiety/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321368904_Using_Role-Playing_Games_to_Enhance_the_Learning_Process_from_the_Cognitive_Neuropsychology_Perspective
Youtube vids:
Instagram vids:
Audio:
Other clips:
Text:
A video summary about the Wheelchair Friendly RPG Trailer and why donating will help so many people throughout the North American continent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBPbCMKVf2I&feature=youtu.be&t=12m45s
It isn't just the US, but considering the intensity to which RPGs took off in the 70s and 80s in the US, and all the media generated, it does become the most visible.
Also, I think my "Hypothesis of the Role-Playing Gamer 'Floater'" may be applicable, though I don't know how I could ever test/prove it. http://www.rpgresearch.com/blog/hypothesis-of-the-role-playing-gamer-floater
The mockery of gamers and gaming goes back (at least) decades. And LARPing, especially the popularity of "boffer" LARPs in the US are the most visible form of RPG.
A combined line from the movie "The Gamers 3: Hands of Fate": "Furries are people LARPers make fun of, LARPers are people [tabletop] gamers make fun of, and gamers are people that people make fun of." -- https://youtu.be/mFAX-_CZ2bM?list=PLwDmZhGpP6STJJfNqCdQ2IOTHaHSydmJ1&t=485
(and here is her later counter to the mocking: https://youtu.be/Wq1rfvg0h08?list=PLwDmZhGpP6STJJfNqCdQ2IOTHaHSydmJ1
The whole stigma against gamers in all forms (including video games for a long time), has been going on since at least the 70s (and arguably even the early 1900s with H.G. Wells Wargaming book "Little Wars" - http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22777029 ), and really peaked in the US in the mid-to-late 80s.
For some areas, it took decades for the popularity of various forms of RPGs to spread throughout other countries.
While nowhere near its previous peak in the US, it is still quite prevalent, and there are now thoroughly inculcated myths that the general population accepts and is further fanned by popular culture (for example The Big Bang Theory: https://youtu.be/4aNUuGOUreg?t=59 ).
Here are several articles on the topics (including other countries), covering tabletop, LARP, computer-based, and related topics:
Here is the FB thread of the original conversation:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/147092455420/permalink/10153646067805421/
" At the risk of oversimplification, one could argue there are actually two forms of escapism: self-suppression and self-expansion. Self-suppression as running away from unpleasant thoughts, perceptions and emotions; self-expansion is actively seeking new skills, stronger relationships and positive experiences. According to Jane McGonigal, the difference between these two is comparable to the difference between saying, 'Everything sucks, so I'm going to go play games,' versus "Life is better when I have time to play games." - Washington State Therapeutic Recreation Association, by W.A. Hawkes-Robinson President of RPG Therapeutic LLC, and Founder of The RPG Research Project Community Website http://www.rpgresearch.com
You can view the entire presentation file here: wstra-2016-rpg-research-presentation-20160329zzf3.pdf
The videos from the variants of the presentation (shorter versions can be viewed here:
At long last the original "The Gamers" movie cast is back, to finish what began so many years ago.
Help make it happen today!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deadgentlemen/the-gamers-episode-1