Beyond Dungeons & Dragons: Therapeutic Roleplaying Across Genres

Tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) have been shown in research and practice as helpful therapeutic tools for creative group therapy, offering immersive storytelling experiences that promote social interaction, problem-solving, and emotional exploration. While Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is popular and a significant part of the cultural landscape, a diverse range of RPG systems exists, each with its own unique mechanics and themes. This presentation aims to showcase the therapeutic potential of various RPG systems beyond D&D, highlighting how different systems can cater to diverse therapeutic goals and player preferences.

Vampire: The Masquerade: Set in a Gothic-Punk world of hidden darkness, Vampire: The Masquerade allows players to take on the roles of vampires navigating the intrigues of undead society. Emphasizing personal horror and political manipulation, it delves into themes of power, morality, and existential angst.

Cyberpunk RED: A dystopian RPG set in the aftermath of societal collapse, Cyberpunk RED plunges players into a gritty world of megacorporate dominance, cybernetic augmentation, and urban chaos. With its focus on high-tech heists, moral ambiguity, and transhumanism, it offers a cyberpunk experience rich in narrative depth and societal critique.

Kids on Brooms: Designed for younger players, Kids on Brooms invites participants to step into the shoes of young witches and wizards attending a magical school. Drawing inspiration from Harry Potter and similar stories, it emphasizes friendship, discovery, and whimsical adventures filled with spells, secrets, and fantastical creatures.

Pathfinder: Pathfinder offers a rich and detailed fantasy setting, perfect for players seeking intricate rules and extensive character customization. Set in the world of Golarion, it provides a vast array of player options, from classic sword-and-sorcery adventures to epic quests filled with mythical creatures, ancient ruins, and legendary treasures.

Star Wars Roleplaying Game (by Fantasy Flight Games): Set in the iconic galaxy far, far away, the Star Wars RPG allows players to immerse themselves in the epic conflicts between the forces of light and dark. With its narrative-focused mechanics and cinematic gameplay, it enables players to embark on daring missions, engage in lightsaber duels, and explore the moral complexities of the Star Wars universe.

I will draw from my three years of experience as a therapeutic game master, having run over 25 campaigns in a diverse range of games for diverse presentations, including queer peer support groups, anxiety management classes for adults, neurodivergence affirming support groups, and mindfulness classes, to explore the value of other roleplaying games, not to the exclusion of Dungeons & Dragons, but for the therapeutic aims of clients with presentations that would be better suited to storytelling elements outside of traditional Western fantasy.

Objectives: Participants will be able to

• Identify the unique therapeutic benefits and applications of different role-playing games (RPGs) in therapeutic settings.
• Apply principles of therapeutic RPG facilitation to select the most appropriate game system based on the specific therapeutic needs and preferences of their clients.
• Develop tailored RPG sessions that leverage the unique settings, themes, and mechanics of various RPGs to achieve specific therapeutic outcomes.
• Evaluate and critique the effectiveness of using different RPG systems in therapeutic settings.

References:

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