Roleplaying Games in the Digital Age: Essays on Transmedia Storytelling, Tabletop RPGs and Fandom

The Digital Age has brought about significant changes in tabletop role-playing, with millions watching and listening to podcasts and streaming platforms, and virtual tabletops connecting online players. This collection explores the transmedia ecology, the boundaries of virtual tabletops, and the growing diversity of the TRPG fandom. It also includes interviews with content creators, board game designers, and fan artists to reflect the future of role-playing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2021
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

The Digital Age has brought about significant technological and disciplinary transformations in tabletop role-playing, leading to a heightened appreciation for games like Dungeons & Dragons. Millions of people tune in to watch and listen to RPG players on podcasts and streaming platforms, while virtual tabletops connect online players in real-time. These shifts have sparked new scholarly perspectives on the evolving landscape of role-playing.

This collection comprises essays exploring the transmedia ecology that has bridged analog and digital spaces, as well as the boundaries of virtual tabletops and the ways in which users interact with various technologies to enhance their role-playing experiences. The authors also map the growing diversity of the TRPG fandom and examine how players engage with RPG-related podcasts.

In-depth interviews are conducted with content creators such as Griffin McElroy of the popular podcast The Adventure Zone, Nolan T. Jones, co-creator of Roll20, board game designers Nikki Valens and Isaac Childres, and fan artists Tracey Alvarez and Alex Schiltz. These essays and interviews provide valuable insights into the future of role-playing and expand the academic perspective to encompass the ever-evolving world of tabletop gaming.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 178 x 255 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476676869