Memorable Play in Dungeons & Dragons: Understanding the Relationship Between TTRPG Design and Peak Play Experiences
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2024-01-03
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2684
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This paper presents results from an online survey (n=354) which aimed to better understand the appeal of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons [D&D]. Here, we focus on responses to the open-ended survey question: “What has been your most memorable moment in a D&D game? Please describe an example from your own play.” Common themes in responses were connected to three key elements of D&D’s design: gameplay, role-play, and storytelling. We subsequently identify 1) the importance of D&D’s “critical” dice-roll mechanic, 2) how D&D enables memorable role-play, and 3) the enduring appeal of heroic stories. By emphasizing how elements of D&D’s design can impact players’ experiences and enjoyment of the game, this paper offers new insights into the appeal of D&D which go beyond simplistic descriptions of the game being ‘fun’ or ‘social’.
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Games and Gaming, dice, dungeons & dragons, gameplay, memorable play, role-play, storytelling
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10 pages
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Proceedings of the 57th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
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