Playing a Flawless Character? Exploring Differences Between Experts and Novices in Tabletop Role-Playing Games and Potential Benefits for Well-Being

Susanne Poeller; Martin Dechant; Regan L. Mandryk

doi:10.1145/3582437.3587180

Playing a Flawless Character? Exploring Differences Between Experts and Novices in Tabletop Role-Playing Games and Potential Benefits for Well-Being

Susanne Poeller, Martin Dechant, Regan L. Mandryk

extern

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Tabletop role-playing games are experiencing a peak in popularity and prior work shows that role-playing can be beneficial for
mental health. While little research effort has been invested into
this area, most studies point towards positive outcomes of playing
tabletop role-playing games. This work explores the potential for
the acceptance of flaws through role-playing by comparing how
novice and expert players approach character creation. The results
of this exploratory study show that experienced role-players are
more likely to report that they want to play a character with weaknesses and less likely to be interested in playing a flawless character.
Additional findings and implications are discussed in the paper.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	FDG '23: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games
Editors	Phil Lopes, Filipe Luz, Antonios Liapis, Henrik Engstrom
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
Number of pages	7
ISBN (Electronic)	9781450398565
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3582437.3587180
Publication status	Published - 12 Apr 2023
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

tapletop
role-playing
TTRPG
Dungeons & Dragons
D&D
character creation

Access to Document

10.1145/3582437.3587180

Cite this

Poeller, S., Dechant, M., & Mandryk, R. L. (2023). Playing a Flawless Character? Exploring Differences Between Experts and Novices in Tabletop Role-Playing Games and Potential Benefits for Well-Being. In P. Lopes, F. Luz, A. Liapis, & H. Engstrom (Eds.), FDG '23: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games Article 58 Association for Computing Machinery . https://doi.org/10.1145/3582437.3587180

Poeller, Susanne ; Dechant, Martin ; Mandryk, Regan L. / Playing a Flawless Character? Exploring Differences Between Experts and Novices in Tabletop Role-Playing Games and Potential Benefits for Well-Being. FDG '23: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games. editor / Phil Lopes ; Filipe Luz ; Antonios Liapis ; Henrik Engstrom. Association for Computing Machinery , 2023.

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title = "Playing a Flawless Character? Exploring Differences Between Experts and Novices in Tabletop Role-Playing Games and Potential Benefits for Well-Being",

abstract = "Tabletop role-playing games are experiencing a peak in popularity and prior work shows that role-playing can be beneficial formental health. While little research effort has been invested intothis area, most studies point towards positive outcomes of playingtabletop role-playing games. This work explores the potential forthe acceptance of flaws through role-playing by comparing hownovice and expert players approach character creation. The resultsof this exploratory study show that experienced role-players aremore likely to report that they want to play a character with weaknesses and less likely to be interested in playing a flawless character.Additional findings and implications are discussed in the paper.",

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Poeller, S, Dechant, M & Mandryk, RL 2023, Playing a Flawless Character? Exploring Differences Between Experts and Novices in Tabletop Role-Playing Games and Potential Benefits for Well-Being. in P Lopes, F Luz, A Liapis & H Engstrom (eds), FDG '23: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games., 58, Association for Computing Machinery . https://doi.org/10.1145/3582437.3587180

Playing a Flawless Character? Exploring Differences Between Experts and Novices in Tabletop Role-Playing Games and Potential Benefits for Well-Being. / Poeller, Susanne; Dechant, Martin; Mandryk, Regan L.
FDG '23: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games. ed. / Phil Lopes; Filipe Luz; Antonios Liapis; Henrik Engstrom. Association for Computing Machinery , 2023. 58.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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AB - Tabletop role-playing games are experiencing a peak in popularity and prior work shows that role-playing can be beneficial formental health. While little research effort has been invested intothis area, most studies point towards positive outcomes of playingtabletop role-playing games. This work explores the potential forthe acceptance of flaws through role-playing by comparing hownovice and expert players approach character creation. The resultsof this exploratory study show that experienced role-players aremore likely to report that they want to play a character with weaknesses and less likely to be interested in playing a flawless character.Additional findings and implications are discussed in the paper.

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Poeller S, Dechant M, Mandryk RL. Playing a Flawless Character? Exploring Differences Between Experts and Novices in Tabletop Role-Playing Games and Potential Benefits for Well-Being. In Lopes P, Luz F, Liapis A, Engstrom H, editors, FDG '23: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games. Association for Computing Machinery . 2023. 58 doi: 10.1145/3582437.3587180

Playing a Flawless Character? Exploring Differences Between Experts and Novices in Tabletop Role-Playing Games and Potential Benefits for Well-Being

Abstract

Keywords

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