Kara Waltersdorff

HUM-402
Research Proposal
Importance of Collaborative Storytelling in Dungeons & Dragons
Abstract

The objective of this project is to discuss the important social and creative aspects of

collaborative storytelling – specifically in the popular tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons &

Dragons (D&D). I’m planning on collecting previous research – one quantitative – as well as

using interviews, both recorded with “professional” players and, hopefully, a few personal

interviews of people in the roleplaying game club at York College. The result will be a summary

of the important aspects of Dungeons & Dragons– both socially and creatively.

I think that, socially, D&D, can create lasting friendships, as well as help with teamwork

and collaboration amongst a group of people. Creatively, it gives players a long-form

improvisation exercise – it all comes down to dice rolls and decisions made by other players in

the end and, on the other hand, if you are the Game Master (leader of the game) you are

responsible for creating a story, a world your players want to play in.

Proposal

The objective of this project is to discuss the important social, moral, and creative aspects

of collaborative storytelling – specifically in the popular tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons &

Dragons. I plan to do some research into past studies – at least one quantitative – on the topic, as

well as speaking to people about their firsthand experiences playing Dungeons & Dragons. I am

also planning on using recorded interviews from the cast of Critical Role – a weekly online
livestream of Dungeons & Dragons – to add more personal, subjective experiences to the

project.

In the end, the goal of this project is to show some connection between collaborative

storytelling and the social, creative development of people who work together to create tales in a

world like Dungeons & Dragons. I want to add on to the current viewpoints in regard to the

importance of Dungeons & Dragons and add the viewpoints of more people into the mix.

I think that, socially, D&D, can create lasting friendships, as well as help with teamwork

and collaboration amongst a group of people. Creatively, it gives players a long-form

improvisation exercise – it all comes down to dice rolls and decisions made by other players in

the end and, on the other hand, if you are the Game Master (leader of the game) you are

responsible for creating a story, a world your players want to play in.

There have been several small-scale studies on the impact that collaborative storytelling

and Dungeons & Dragons have on the people that participate. With this project, I would like to

expand on that knowledge and draw from my own experiences, as well as the experiences of

other people that I know, to simply add to the pool of information that exists on this topic.

I think that this is a valuable topic to do research on, because of the subsections of people

who are under the impression that people who play Dungeons & Dragons are Satan worshippers

or “bad kids.” This is, simply, not the case. Storytelling with Dungeons & Dragons creates more

creative, understanding, and social people.

I’m planning on finding players in real life – I’m going to try and speak to people in the

roleplaying game club on campus – to speak to about this, because I’d love to hear personal

stories of how Dungeons & Dragons and collaborative storytelling has impacted people. Since I
 don’t have those people yet, they aren’t included in the below bibliography, but they will be

included in the final project.

This is interesting to me because of my firsthand experiences with Dungeons & Dragons

and I really think that tabletop RPGs are a crucial tool to social and creative development in

players.

Working Bibliography

Liam O'Brien Talks Friendship, Characters and Endings, D&D Beyond, 10 Oct. 2017,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-AS6C5vBhM.

{This is one of the interviews with “professional” players that I was referring to. In this, Liam O’Brien talks a lot

about the friendships he has made with the group he plays D&D with, as well as how it has influenced him

personally & emotionally.}

Lis, Eric, et al. “Psychiatrists’ Perceptions of Role-Playing Games.” Psychiatric Quarterly, vol.

86, no. 3, 2015, pp. 381–384., doi:10.1007/s11126-015-9339-5.

{I have included this, because it is a look at how a psychiatrist was introduced to the influence and development

capabilities of D&D. They had a problematic patient, who came in discussing D&D and they began using it as a tool

in their therapy sessions.}

Maccallum-Stewart, Esther. “Productive Violence and Poststructural Play in the Dungeons and

Dragons Narrative.” Encyclopedia of Play in Todays Society,

doi:10.4135/9781412971935.n118.

{This article speaks a lot about the social impacts of D&D. How the game and the way it is structured creates healthy

conflicts and resolutions in groups, as well as how it makes a positive impact on lives.}
 Mizer, Nicholas J. “The Paladin Ethic and the Spirit of Dungeoneering.” The Journal of Popular

Culture, vol. 47, no. 6, 2014, pp. 1296–1313., doi:10.1111/jpcu.12213.

{This article discusses some of the morality that D&D can help develop, but the main reasons I included it is because it

also speaks on the creativity elements and how the randomness of the game adds a new, interesting creative

storytelling element.}

“Speakin' Geek with Critical Role.” Speakin' Geek, 5 Feb. 2016,

speakingeek.podbean.com/e/speakin-geek-with-critical-role/.

{This is a podcast interview with several of the members of Critical Role. The reason I have included this is that

Marisha Ray, a member of the gaming group, says a fantastic quote towards the end of the podcast about her opinion

on how D&D could change the world.}

Taliesin Jaffe on 4 years of Critical Role's Campaign, YouTube, 11 Oct. 2017,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRWM-mfPCTU.

{This is another interview with “professional” players that I was talking about, in which Taliesin Jaffe discusses

similar things to what Liam O’Brien did in his interview – he speaks on the friendships he has made or strengthened

by playing D&D, as well as personal ways he has been impacted by the game.}

Research Question(s)

Does Dungeons & Dragons influence mental development in players?

How does Dungeons & Dragons influence social and creative development?

How has Dungeons & Dragons impacted real players of the game?

How does Dungeons & Dragons inspire creativity in the community and create massive

storytelling opportunities?

Other Possible Issues

 The biggest issue I can think of off the top of my head right now, is finding people in real

life to speak to about the impact of storytelling in Dungeons & Dragons. Luckily, Artemis

informed me about a roleplaying game club on campus, so I’m going to reach out to them and

see if any of them would be willing to speak to me about their personal experiences.