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A reflection on this discovery activity

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“That Was Really Beautiful”: A Review of Dimension 20: Dungeons & Drag Queens ||REVIEW|| 

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“That Was Really Beautiful”: A Review of Dimension 20: Dungeons & Drag Queens ||REVIEW|| 

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Popular actual-play shows celebrate the diversity of communities that can come together over TTRPGs.

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“That Was Really Beautiful”: A Review of Dimension 20: Dungeons & Drag Queens

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Join Patrick as he dives into the first episode of Dimension 20’s latest D&D campaign, Dungeons & Drag Queens.

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How to Choose Your First TTRPG: A Beginner's Guide ||GUIDE|| 

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How to Choose Your First TTRPG: A Beginner's Guide ||GUIDE|| 

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This resource will help guide you through the process of choosing a game. The site also offers a large directory of TTRPGs, both large publishers and indie!

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How to Choose Your First TTRPG: A Beginner’s Guide

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Choosing your first tabletop RPG can be overwhelming. This guide helps you navigate story types, rule complexity, and group dynamics for a fun experience.

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What's a TTRPG? Why Does it Matter? ||WEB ARTICLE||

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What's a TTRPG? Why Does it Matter? ||WEB ARTICLE||

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For many people, TTRPGs are a way to share time with your community and explore new worlds as a community. TTRPGS offers a low-cost and consistent way to bring people together.

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What are TTRPGs?

Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs) are collaborative storytelling experiences where players gather-either in person or via online platforms like Discord, Slack, or Microsoft Teams-to create and inhabit fictional characters within an imagined world. Guided by a shared narrative, players interact with each other and the setting, making decisions that shape the story's direction.

At the heart of a TTRPG is a narrative framework typically overseen by a Game Master (GM)-also known as a Dungeon Master (DM) -who acts as both narrator and referee. The GM sets the scene, portrays non-player characters, and manages the game's rules and challenges. Some games provide pre-written scenarios, while others rely on original storytelling and improvisation. Players describe their characters' actions, and game mechanics-often involving rolling dice, drawing cards, or other systems-determine the outcomes of those actions.

While Dungeons & Dragons is the most widely known TTRPG, the hobby spans a wide range of genres and styles. Iconic titles like Call of Cthulhu, Pathfinder, Vampire: The Masquerade, Lancer, and Avatar Legends offer diverse settings-from cosmic horror to high fantasy to science fiction and beyond.

Major publishers such as Paizo, Magpie Games, and Modiphius release new systems and supplements regularly, helping to shape the broader industry. At the same time, the TTRPG space is home to a vibrant indie scene, where individual creators publish innovative, experimental, and deeply personal games. Many of these are funded through platforms like Kickstarter or produced entirely independently-sometimes as polished releases, sometimes as small PDF rule sets born from a single creator's vision.

Why Tabletop Roleplaying Games Matter

Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs) are a unique and growing part of the tabletop gaming world. While most people are more familiar with board games or card games, TTRPGs offer something different: the chance to tell stories, build worlds, and connect deeply with others through collaborative play.

Although the TTRPG market is smaller than the broader tabletop industry- estimated at around $1.92 billion in 2024-its cultural impact is far greater than its size might suggest. Millions of people around the world play these games. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wizards of the Coast estimated that 50 million Americans had played Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Online platforms like Roll20 consistently rank D&D as the most-played game, though titles like Call of Cthulhu and Pathfinder also have passionate communities and continue to grow in popularity.

The hobby is especially popular among young adults and professionals aged 20 to 40, but it also includes longtime fans who've been playing since the 1970s, when D&D first launched. One of the most inspiring aspects of the TTRPG community is its diversity: players come from all walks of life, including POC and LGBTQ+ communities. While the hobby still has work to do regarding inclusion and representation, it is increasingly becoming a space where a wide range of people feel welcome.

More Than Just a Game

So why should someone new to all this care about TTRPGs?

As modern life becomes more demanding-and as social spaces like bars, clubs, and community centers become less accessible or affordable-TTRPGs fill an important gap. They give people a reason to come together. Whether it's meeting friends at a local game store, hopping on a Discord call after a long day, or spending a weekend with friends immersed in storytelling, TTRPGs are about connection, creativity, and shared experience.

They won't fix the world's problems, but they offer a meaningful way to process them-with friends, with laughter, and with imagination. In a time when loneliness is on the rise and community can feel out of reach, TTRPGs help bring people back together.

An inside look at the scene shakers, content makers and upstarts in the tabletop gaming industry

© 2025 TTRPG Insider.

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Why should we care about tabletop roleplaying games? They remain a constant form of social engagement in a society eager to drive us apart.

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TTRPGs Can Help Build Positive Communities ||WEB ARTICLE||

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TTRPGs Can Help Build Positive Communities ||WEB ARTICLE||

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This article discusses community building, creating safe spaces, and using TTRPGs as therapy interventions. Creating a healthy environment for these benefits to thrive requires care and planning.

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TTRPGs Can Help Build Positive Communities

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Exploring how TTRPGs can be used to develop friendships, bring people together, and make a real material difference

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Literary Arts Blogspace - Mississippi School of the Arts

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So You Want to Make Your Own TTRPG… ||GUIDE||

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So You Want to Make Your Own TTRPG… ||GUIDE||

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Want to try your hand at making your own? Here is a simple guide with examples to get you started.

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So You Want to Make Your Own TTRPG… – Literary Arts Blogspace

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If you’ve ever participated in a tabletop roleplay game, listened to a podcast of a campaign, or simply read through a TTRPG handbook, you’d understand the vast and limitless worlds within these stories. Maybe you’ve thought it’s simply too hard or time consuming to try and create your own TTRPG. I’m here to present you with an easy-to-follow guide for how to create your first TTRPG experience, no matter your skill level.

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Explore the top 80 actual-play podcasts "ranked by listens, ratings, comments, subscriptions and shares" on the Goodpods platform.

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It started with friends at home. Now Dungeons & Dragons is in its stadium era ||WEB & AUDIO ARTICLE||  

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It started with friends at home. Now Dungeons & Dragons is in its stadium era ||WEB & AUDIO ARTICLE||  

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This NPR article and explores the explosive popularity of D&D and TTRPGs. One actual-play show, Dimension 20, sold out Madison Square Garden in NYC - over 20k seats. And that those fans are finding a place in the community.

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It started with friends at home. Now Dungeons & Dragons is in its stadium era

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In the past decade or so, actors and comedians have adopted D&D as a performance medium. Podcasts and web series have expanded into stadium tours – and fueled growing interest in the game more broadly.

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New study suggests tabletop games offer benefits to reduce anxiety ||JOURNAL ARTICLE|| 

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New study suggests tabletop games offer benefits to reduce anxiety ||JOURNAL ARTICLE|| 

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An overview of a study conducted at Harrisburg University found that "On average, the data collected from five different TTRPG groups over the course of 10 months suggests that TTRPGs, both as a casual form of entertainment and modified for cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce general anxiety, reduce social anxiety, and improve social skills."

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New study suggests tabletop games offer benefits to reduce anxiety

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HU partnered with The Bodhana Group to run an exploratory study on whether intentionally introduced cognitive behavioral therapy.

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Want To Go Beyond D&D? Give These 5 TTRPGs A Try In 2025 ||LIST|| 

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Want To Go Beyond D&D? Give These 5 TTRPGs A Try In 2025 ||LIST|| 

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Offering different playstyles, genres, and settings, check out this list of games to explore TTRPGs that offer something different.

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Want To Go Beyond D&D? Give These 5 TTRPGs A Try In 2025

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Branching out from D&D can be a great time.

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How to Watch Dimension 20: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide ||SHOW GUIDE|| 

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How to Watch Dimension 20: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide ||SHOW GUIDE|| 

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Dimension 20 is one of the most popular actual-play D&D show, with over 20 stand-alone seasons. This guide offers an overview of the show and how to watch (including some free content).

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How to Watch Dimension 20: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

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New to Dimension 20 or wondering how to start watching? This ultimate beginner’s guide covers everything you need—where to start, all the campaigns explained, and answers to common questions. Jump into the best D&D actual-play show today!

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Top 10 Solo Tabletop RPGs You Can Play Alone ||LIST||

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Top 10 Solo Tabletop RPGs You Can Play Alone ||LIST||

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These games offer unique entry points into gaming for those daring to take a solo adventure.

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[Top 10] Solo Tabletop RPGs You Can Play Alone

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Here’s a list of solo TTRPGs you can play by yourself!

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Oddities and Wonders: A Selection of Unusual Artifacts for TTRPG Players ||GAME RESOURCE|| 

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Oddities and Wonders: A Selection of Unusual Artifacts for TTRPG Players ||GAME RESOURCE|| 

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A digital resource of magical items, weapons, and armor to use in your games.

"The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Special Collections is excited to present a free catalog of items that can be used to supplement Dungeons and Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs)! Each in-game item was inspired by a real-life object in the Library's Special Collections."

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The Free Library of Philadelphia's Special Collections is excited to present a free catalog of items that can be used to supplement Dungeons and Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs)! Each in-game item was inspired by a real-life object in the Library's Special Collections. Check out the Oddities and Wonders: A Selection of Unusual Artifacts catalog online.

Unsure of what to do with the catalog, or even exactly what it is? Here's the breakdown:
What are Special Collections?
Special Collections is exactly what it sounds like: collections that are special! Unlike the rest of the Library, where you can check out materials, the materials in Special Collections cannot be brought home. They're unique objects that have special value, like old historical books or fine art prints. Because of this, they need special care. That being said, anyone is welcome to see the objects in Special Collections! We just ask that folks make an appointment first, so that the staff has time to research, pull, and care for the materials that you'll be viewing. You can learn more about Special Collections and all the different collections contained within them (as well as how to contact us) on the Special Collections Department page.
What is a Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG)?
Let's break it down into two parts:

Tabletop: This designation means that the game is played communally. Oftentimes, that means in person, around a table, with paper and pens. Many people in the modern age play TTRPGs electronically via apps like Discord and Roll20; however, they are still interacting in real-time with other players. This distinction is what differentiates a TTRPG from a video game.

Role Playing: This term refers to the fact that the participants are playing characters, often of their own creation, and working together to construct a story. There are many different types of role-playing games. Many popular video games, such as Assassin's Creed, Stardew Valley, and Mass Effect, are considered RPGs because the player assumes the role of a character in a fictional world. In some games, players can think and act as complex individuals with nuanced motivations and backgrounds that are developed over time. In others, a character can be as simple as " a bear who is a criminal."

The Library has TTRPGs that you can learn about or play in our catalog.
What is Dungeons and Dragons?
Dungeons and Dragons, often abbreviated as D&D or DnD, was one of the first popular TTRPGs. Created in 1974 by Gary Gygax and David Arneson, it evolved from wargames, where players would simulate battles between armies. The game is currently on its fifth edition, and has a plethora of adventures and lore to learn about. The setting of D&D is a medieval fantasy world, where magic abounds and humans live with creatures such as elves, dwarves, and orcs.

D&D and many other TTRPGs have one person running the game alongside the players. This person is known as the "Dungeon Master" (DM) or the "Game Master" (GM). The GM does not get to participate as a player, but instead controls the world that the characters are in. To get started with D&D, you can check out their official books in our catalog.

It's important to note that while D&D is the most popular TTRPG, there are a multitude of other options. While Dungeons and Dragons has a high-fantasy vibe, the sky's the limit when it comes to the setting of the world you are playing in. There are sci-fi games, superhero games, horror games, and realistic games. Rather than long rulebooks, there are lots of easy games for beginners, where the rules are less than one page. There are TTRPGs where there is no Game Master, and instead, everyone works together to shape the setting during play. You can even create your own game! I once played a friend's Accountants and Actuaries game, where the characters were white-collar workers in an office (I swear it was more fun than it sounds). This catalog was created with Dungeons and Dragons in mind, but can be used for any tabletop role-playing game!
Why did you make the catalog?
A few years ago, the Map Collection and Children's Literature Research Collection (CLRC) collaborated on an exhibition called Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building, which explored the creative and artistic choices that mapmakers use to build worlds and enhance storytelling. Included in the exhibition were some Dungeons and Dragons materials held by CLRC. The popularity of those materials was what inspired this project. To learn more about what Dungeons and Dragons objects are housed in the Children's Literature Research Collection (including an early 1981 edition of the D&D rulebook!), take a look at the Dungeons and Dragons Reference list. Remember: you can view these materials by making an appointment.
How do I use this catalog?
Your imagination is the limit! The catalog is composed as if it's a catalog from a fictional library in the Dungeons and Dragons world, called the Free Library of Roraz Ást. You can incorporate this library and all of its objects into your game, or pick and choose specific objects to drop in as rewards (or punishments) for your players. Each object was written so that GMs (Game Masters) can make changes to fit their specific campaigns and playing styles. Use them as a jumping-off point to create your own fun, magical items!

Want to learn more about the Special Collections objects featured? Many of them are available in our Digital Collections.

Currently, the catalog is only available in digital format, although individual pages can be printed. A bindable version is in the works, so make sure to check back for that!
How can I share feedback?
How do you feel about this catalog? Do you have ideas that can improve it? We want to hear from you! Fill out the feedback form!

Have a question for Free Library staff? Please submit it to our Ask a Librarian page and receive a response within two business days.

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Blog: Oddities and Wonders: A Selection of Unusual Artifacts for TTRPG Players

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The Free Library of Philadelphia's Special Collections is excited to present a free catalog of items that can be used to supplement Dungeons and Dragon s and other tabletop role-playing...

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A relaxed examination of basic table etiquette and how to play together from master GM Matt Mercer.

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TTRPG content creator offers basics on getting into character.

The TTRPG world is ever-expanding, and there is a ton of video content with tutorials, tips, and other in-depth looks at different games.

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Roleplaying 101: How to embody your D&D character

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The 15 Best Virtual Tabletops for Immersive RPG Gameplay in 2024 ||LIST|| 

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The 15 Best Virtual Tabletops for Immersive RPG Gameplay in 2024 ||LIST|| 

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A wealth of digital tools to use to support your games and help play online.

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The 15 Best Virtual Tabletops for Immersive RPG Gameplay in 2024 (D&D, Pathfinder and More) - TGN - Tabletop Gaming News

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As virtual tabletops (VTTs) continue to gain popularity in the world of tabletop role-playing games, it can be challenging to determine which platform is the

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Arguably the one that started it all... Critical Role began in 2012 as a live-streamed D&D game with 8 famous voice actors at the helm. From the dining room table to a million dollar company, Critical Role offers a wealth of longform campaigns, oneshots, and other content. All major campaigns are available for free on YouTube as well.

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We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

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What began in 2012 as a bunch of friends playing RPGs in each other's living rooms has evolved into a multi-platform entertainment sensation. Now in its third campaign storyline, the show features seven popular voiceover actors diving into epic adventures, led by veteran game master Matthew Mercer.

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Exploring Identity Through Gameplay: The Intersections of Tabletop Role-Playing Games, Game Design, and Queerness ||JOURNAL ARTICLE|| 

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Exploring Identity Through Gameplay: The Intersections of Tabletop Role-Playing Games, Game Design, and Queerness ||JOURNAL ARTICLE|| 

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An open-access article discusses how design mechanics can be used to meet needs for representation that do not rely on tokenism and how LGBTQIA+ players use games to explore and play with identity.

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Skip to main content

posted on 2022-11-07, 00:52 authored by Morris, Emily

<p>Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are an effective vehicle for exploring facets of personal identity, but are a product of masculinity and have historically only catered to heterosexual, cisgender, white men. LGBTQIA+ players have long been ignored as a minority in the TTRPG sphere, particularly those that have more intersectional and marginalised identities. Based on the opinions of 331 queer TTRPG players and concepts surrounding roles, identity, character creation, game design and queerness, this research portfolio discusses how TTRPG design can better meet the need for LGBTQIA+ identity play and exploration via queer mechanics, systems, themes and premises instead of mere representation and tokenism, and provides an example of a play-tested game designed by such principles. This will allow game designers to gain a better understanding of queer game design, and rainbow players' wants and needs in this ever-expanding field of research and design.</p>

History

Publisher

Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington

Rights License

Author Retains Copyright

Degree Discipline

Design Innovation

Degree Grantor

Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington

Degree Name

Master of Design Innovation

ANZSRC Type Of Activity code

3 Applied research

Victoria University of Wellington Item Type

Awarded Research Masters Thesis

Victoria University of Wellington School

School of Design Innovation

Advisors

Horrocks, Dylan; Maxey, Sarah

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Exploring Identity Through Gameplay: The Intersections of Tabletop Role-Playing Games, Game Design, and Queerness

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Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are an effective vehicle for exploring facets of personal identity, but are a product of masculinity and have historically only catered to heterosexual, cisgender, white men. LGBTQIA+ players have long been ignored as a minority in the TTRPG sphere, particularly those that have more intersectional and marginalised identities.

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Deernicorn’s Guide to TTRPGs for Libraries and Schools ||GUIDE|| 

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Deernicorn’s Guide to TTRPGs for Libraries and Schools ||GUIDE|| 

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A guide for libraries and schools to learn more about hosting games as well as games recommended for library events.

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Deernicorn’s Guide to TTRPGs for Libraries and Schools – Heart of the Deernicorn

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Heart of the Deernicorn is excited to support the Washington State Library’s “Tabletop Roleplaying Games For All” project, an initiative to integrate tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) into library collections and programming.

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Bringing Tabletop Role-Playing Games to the Library ||ARTICLE|| 

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Bringing Tabletop Role-Playing Games to the Library ||ARTICLE|| 

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An article discussion the positive reasons to bring TTRPGs into the library, as well as information on programming and accessibility.

"What better place for tabletop games to find an audience than a library? Libraries are all about community and learning, and there is an RPG for everyone these days. Roleplaying games encourage social skills, problem-solving, and math skills; they encourage players to imagine and tell stories—all in a collaborative setting outside of school so it doesn’t feel like “work.”"

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Bringing Tabletop Role-Playing Games to the Library

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Table top role-playing games can be popular programming for all ages in school and public libraries.

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A non-profit with a mission to provide materials and resources to schools and libraries.

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A 501(c)(3) Non Profit dedicated to providing TTRPG materials and resources to after school programs for free. This includes books, dice, digital materials, and consultations.

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Tabletop role-playing games at school and public libraries ||BOOK|| 

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Tabletop role-playing games at school and public libraries ||BOOK|| 

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A book tailored to helping libraries with their programming and development related to TTRPGs.

“Let's Roll: A Guide to Setting up Tabletop Role-Playing Games in your School or Public Library”

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Tabletop role-playing games at school and public libraries

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Published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, “Let’s Roll: A Guide to Setting up Tabletop Role-Playing Games in your School or Public Library” is a practical guide to delivering a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) within the time constraints imposed on library sessions. Author Lucas Maxwell speaks to novices and current aficionados alike, demonstrating how librarians, teachers, and other educators can offer TTRPG programs that deliver significant benefits on a budget. Featuring case studies from librarians around the world, this guide’s coverage includes: • a step-by-step guide to setting up a TTRPG program in your school or public library, including an example of a TTRPG proposal; • advice on bringing senior management on board to a TTRPG program; • how to attract players, basic table rules, and preparing as a game master; • the health and learning benefits of TTRPGs including creativity, teamwork, cooperation, boosting confidence, and encouraging reading; and • a comprehensive list of TTRPG games and how to implement them.