The Fantasy of Community: The Transformative Potential of Table-Top Roleplaying Games

Abstract

This paper explores the potential of Table-Top Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs) as a pedagogical tool for social and personal learning. The focus is on how storytelling serves as an educational tool to impart cultural lessons and values to construct a shared understanding, and how building upon a shared understanding is crucial in building stronger and healthier systems of interaction within communities. The paper proposes that the unique incarnation of storytelling in TTRPGs can function as a conduit for transformative learning and development to occur within communities. Through the immersive and collaborative storytelling of TTRPGs, players can learn to work together, solve problems, and develop new perspectives on the world around them. This, in turn, can lead to personal growth and a deeper sense of community and connection. The paper concludes that by embracing these tools of education and transformation, we can build a brighter future for all.