PinnedThe Unboxed Model of Roleplay GamingSince there are lots of different ways that people approach TTRPGs, today I’m going to describe my own. I’m going to try my best to stick to the point and not veer off into rebuttals of various popular misconceptions, though that will be hard since sometimes that contrast is required…Ttrpgs4 min readTtrpgs4 min read
Sep 2, 2023Dots of Concentrated ColorDoes anybody else remember “paint with water” books? If not, the short description is they were sort of like coloring books, but the fields of white space between lines had dots of color which, when given water, would spread out like paint. …Ttrpgs3 min readTtrpgs3 min read
May 29, 2023Trying to Define Roleplaying GamesAnyone acquainted with me knows I have capital-O Opinions about tabletop roleplaying games. I think there are lots of people in the TTRPG space who don’t actually like roleplaying games, maybe don’t even know what they are, and are doing other things and calling them roleplaying games. So if I’m…Roleplaying Game9 min readRoleplaying Game9 min read
Apr 2, 2023Dolls & CatsI promise this ends up being about tabletop roleplaying games. Bear with me. Dolls are passive; they have no agency of their own. They don’t move unless you move them. They sit where you put them. They are wholly under your control. They will never act on their own or…Ttrpgs3 min readTtrpgs3 min read
Feb 18, 2023The Endless Cycle of TTRPG DiscourseTabletop roleplaying games. They’re the source of endless hours of fun for lots of people, but the community has its share of conflict as well. …Dnd5 min readDnd5 min read
Nov 27, 2022Oracles & Portals: The Role of Rules in RPGsPeople argue about rules a lot in tabletop RPGs. So let’s talk about the role of rules, our failure to delineate the possible approaches, the resulting clash between tool and intent, and the friction all this causes within the TTRPG space. There are two big delineations I want to cover…Roleplaying Game6 min readRoleplaying Game6 min read
Oct 2, 2022What Is “Roleplay” in RPGs?The tabletop RPG community struggles with the concept of “roleplay.” Everybody knows it’s important — we’re talking about “roleplaying games” after all — but nobody can agree on what exactly roleplay is. Definitions are varied and sometimes contradict each other, and most people are just working from vague notions they…Rpg4 min readRpg4 min read
Oct 2, 2022What is a Roleplaying Game?Tabletop roleplaying games are in a weird place. On the one hand, the most popular title in the field, Dungeons & Dragons, is dominant to a shocking degree; the awareness gap between D&D and the rest of the field is so extreme that its fans often have a stunted understanding…Rpg4 min readRpg4 min read
May 17, 2022Unbridled ImaginationLike any area of human activity, the tabletop roleplaying game community has its share of under-examined assumptions, common misconceptions, and popular myths. …Ttrpgs8 min readTtrpgs8 min read