Session #1: Why Do We Play?
by Jason on Feb.01, 2010, under Sessions
We play table-top roleplaying games. Why? We start off our first session with GNS theory, sockets, drama therapy, and escapism. Does it really answer the question to just say “fun” and leave it at that, or do we get something from a tabletop roleplaying game that we just can’t get anywhere else?
- 0:25 “Because they’re fun.”
- 2:18 Tabletop Games vs. Video Games
- 4:41 GNS Theory
- 6:20 Sockets
- 11:03 Drama Therapy
- 13:54 Phil Jones, Drama as Therapy: Theatre as Living
- 20:30 John Hughes, "Therapy is Fantasy: Roleplaying, Healing and the Construction of Symbolic Order"
- 24:40 Wayne Blackomon, "Dungeons and Dragons: The Use of a Fantasy Game in the Psychotherapeutic Treatment of a Young Adult"
- 28:24 A Disclaimer.
- 29:55 Escapism
- 34:31 Roleplaying games make you a better person.
- See also Joel Shempert’s blog post, "Reinventing ‘Us’"
February 1st, 2010 on 12:20 AM
Pretty much every podcast puts out a crappy first episode. And while some might argue the point, I consider myself a traditionalist. So, we have not broken this tradition. Our first episode, too, sucks. But I can report with great happiness that we have already begun improvements even in the second episode, which you can expect next week.
March 9th, 2010 on 7:27 AM
I think this is an excellent first show, but I do disagree with how you presented Gamism as ‘system mastery’. My understanding is that the G stands for the thrill of rising up to the challenge and using all resources (not just the rules) available to overcome great odds, while system mastery is something that may serve any agenda.
March 9th, 2010 on 6:36 PM
Thanks, Rick. I won’t pretend to be enough of a master of GNS theory to contradict you!