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Parenting with Role-playing games, from the Blog turned book - Geek Dad by Hawke, last updated: Jun 24, 2010 06:30 AM: For father's day, my terrific girlfriend gave me an excellent book, initially meant partially as a gag, but really quite wonderful for me because of the combination of my being a single parent of 3 boys, a techie, a role playing gamer, running an RPG Research project on the therapeutic aspects of role-playing games ( http://www.rpgresearch.com ) and someone slowly working towards degrees in recreation and music therapies, this book is a wonderful addition. Originally started by Chris Anderson (Editor in Chief of Wired Magazine) as a blog - http://www.wired.com/geekdad/ - (and a great story about his combining LEGO robotics with Radio Control planes, and GPS, to create a home made UAV (Unmanned Arial Vehicle) with his kids, and many other interesting topics, something on the cover immediately caught my attention, the silhouette of a dragon and a 20 sided die. The blog, and subsequent book were then handed over to the care of Ken Denmead, http://geekdadbook.com/ . Sure enough, in the table of contents is "Parenting with Role-playing games". All 3 of my boys (10, 12, and 14) are now regular RPGers. Currenty the eldest is very much into Zombies, and a new RPG based on the TV series Supernatural. I started them all out 5 years ago with MERP (Middle-earth Role Playing), and later D&D, and now many others over those years. They now have groups with their friends at school, in the neighborhood, and through camps. The book proposes using RPG benefits as a merit reward system for daily life to develop a "character" that is loosely based on themselves. "Since RPGS are a way for using mathematics and imagination to turn the life of a created character into a game, why not try applying RPG concepts to managing day-to-day life?" Many of Ken's comments in the early description I found very much appealing and in agreement with a number of philosophies I have had on the topics he brings up, though I do disagree with the initial premise that telling some you play pen and paper RPGs is "one of the geekiest things you can tell a person", but that's just me, and i also feel that just further reinforces negative (depending on context) and incorrect stereo types (though I know many "geeky" RPGers, I know many others who would not otherwise fit that classification in the rest of their lives and mannerisms, but many shy away from consideration, due to such labels. Anyhow, some of the positive statements made.... "I don't think you can overstate the value these games have for fostering creative play in kids."...."appealed to all the classic geeky traits, especially depth of knowledge...But the game was also intensely social, and many of the bonds made over afternoon expeditions to the Barrier Peaks have lasted a lifetime." I very much agree on that last part especially. ...."The best thing, and the thing that separates them from video games, is that they use the imagination. and they bring people together to play, face-to-face. Sounds like a perfect thing for GeekDads to do with their kids, doesn't it?" "Beyond just the game play, there are the figures to be painted, the dice to be collected, and even hundreds of licensed novels to be read about the worlds the games are set in. RPGs can be a lifelong hobby that grows with your kids." Basically he uses roughly the d20 system and sets up awarding experience point to the kids for good grades on a test, doing chores well, etc, to which their character increases in level. As they make levels, they gain more skill points an feats, and thus the kids get rewards such as (his suggestions, not mine), an extra hour of TV for the week, or getting to use the lawnmower, etc. Another quote I've said many times myself for years regarding my boys, and kids in general, "Kids like structure, like having a framework so that they understand what they need to do to receive certain benefits. They also like to have goals to work toward to prove they are growing up and earning new responsibilities. Sounds an awful like what you do with a D&D character, huh?" He continues with his premise: "So, instead of simple chore charts on the fridge and a weekly allowance, why not turn your kids' duties and benefits into a role-playing game?" He even includes a full character sheet for copying in the back of the book! I have quoted far more than I probably should, but it is getting late, and I am too weary to paraphrase so much tonight, so pardon the laziness is so much blatant copying (at least it's fully attributed). ;-) Anyhow, I have only read a small portion of the book, but have enjoyed it very much so far. It's fun light-hearted tone, and the many topics covered are definitely areas I at least can relate to, and see as great ideas for summer fun with the boys. Hopefully others will check it out, and enjoy as much. I will definitely report on any successes or failures in experimenting with what he suggests. I will probably have to wait until the school year resumes to fully realize the benefits of this approach, so will probably wait until a few weeks into August before beginning. I will report on my RPG Research project website more detail than here, but I'll let folks know when there is anything significant to report. Cheers! -Hawke http://www.rpgresearch.com http://www.wired.com/geekdad/ http://geekdadbook.com/ -- ------ The RPG Research Project Mission: A large scale, long term, multi-variable, triple-blind research study on the therapeutic aspects of role playing gaming. The purpose is to determine the causal characteristics of role playing games, rather than relying on correlative data as other studies have done in the past.

Parenting with Role-playing games, from the Blog turned book - Geek Dad by Hawke, last updated: Jun 24, 2010 06:30 AM

News reports mentioning role playing gaming by Hawke, last updated: Jun 24, 2010 06:24 AM: This is an archive of any news reports about role playing gaming. If any article is clearly biased in any particular direction (pro-rpg, or anti-rpg or blaming rpg), then they will get sub-categorized accordingly.

Research list from other projects by Hawke, last updated: Jun 24, 2010 06:24 AM: This is a list of the currently known research projects on role playing gaming. Initially it will just be a single page listing all the known projects, but will over time be broken into categories, with additional data and commentary added to each entry. Much of this list started out thanks to the list on the CAR-PGa website.

Content from Others by Hawke, last updated: Jun 24, 2010 06:23 AM: This is to create a central repository of the documentation found elsewhere. Every effort will be made to provide full attribution to the author(s) whenever provided/possible. If you are the owner of any content posted here, and you would prefer it to be removed, please do not hesitate to contact webmaster at rpgresearch dot com and we will promptly remove it. Most of these documents are not viewable by the general public unless specific permission has been given by the author. However project members CAN see all of these documents. This should make it much easier to research and coordinate information between project members.

Essays by Hawke, last updated: Jun 24, 2010 06:22 AM: This is an amalgamation of related essays

Tests for Consideration by Hawke, last updated: Jun 24, 2010 06:21 AM: This is a list of relevant tests considered for use in various stages of the RPG Research projects.

Relationship of role-playing games to self-reported criminal behaviour. by Hawke, last updated: Jan 05, 2010 10:19 PM: Abyeta, Suzanne and Forest, James (1991, December). Gamers are lower in criminal tendencies than rest of population.

Dungeons & Dragons by Hawke, last updated: Jan 05, 2010 10:11 PM: D&D was the first commercially known paper and dice RPG. It evolved from earlier modifications based on war gaming. It is generally a fantasy based settings with humans, humanoids, fantastical creatures of myth and legend such as elves and dragons, and includes combat and magic rules and situations. D&D has been the main focal point of anti-RPG campaigns since the 1980s by various groups. It has however become the largest single role playing gaming product series. The owners of the product have changed hands many times, and D&D is now owned by Hasbro Inc. via the "Wizards of the Coast" division......

MMORPG by Hawke, last updated: Jan 05, 2010 10:11 PM: Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game

RPG by Hawke, last updated: Jan 05, 2010 10:11 PM: Role Playing Game

LARP by Hawke, last updated: Jan 05, 2010 10:11 PM: Live Action Role Playing

Roleplay by Hawke, last updated: Jan 05, 2010 10:03 PM: To assume or act out a particular role.

Glossary Definitions by Hawke, last updated: Jan 05, 2010 09:59 PM: Glossary of terms.

About by Hawke, last updated: Jan 05, 2010 09:30 PM: The RPG Research website supports the Role Playing Gaming Research Project. The RPG Research Project is a study on the therapeutic aspects of role playing gaming. The project will use a series of multi-stage, small & large scale, short & long term, and multi-variable studies with many different populations using various formats of role playing gaming (tabletop, computer-based, MMORPG, live-action, etc.). The purpose is to determine the causal characteristics of role playing gaming on participants, rather than relying only on correlative data as most other studies on the subject have done in the past. The first stages of this project began in 1985, with an active revival in 2004 through interaction with various universities and organizations. The project has been incrementally progressing each year since.

Throwing out a salad of ideas, attempting to bring some order eventually... by Hawke, last updated: Nov 23, 2009 06:52 AM

Re: Throwing out a salad of ideas, attempting to bring some order eventually... by Hawke, last updated: Nov 23, 2009 06:52 AM: How about an even simpler study, bias about RPGing, and RPGers. Simple test. Have you heard of Role Playing Games? What kind, Computer, Paper & Dice (D&D), or Live Action, or Other? Even know the difference? If you were asked to join an RPG, how would you feel about it? (positive-negative scale) What do you generally think of RPGers' social skills? (positive-negative scale) Intellect? Work success? Academic abilities? etc. This would be much simpler to implement early on.

Re: Throwing out a salad of ideas, attempting to bring some order eventually... by Hawke, last updated: Nov 23, 2009 12:24 AM: How about a plain old comparative study between different RPG gamer types? Lets compare IQ, Mood, and Personality test resutls between: * Paper & Dice only/mostly RPGers * Online/MMORPG only/mostly RPGers * Wargamers * None of the above (control group) See if any interesting correlations appear based on MMPI, Beck, and IQ tests. Also include some sort of TR-related and/or physical activity tests, and include BMI and height/weight/age information (to compare to NorthWest test).Could do all this through EWU as sample group to start out. This should be pretty simple and straight forward, and get some momentum and connectiong going. Can we use the MMPI, Beck, and IQ tests if through EWU without cost? Or does this incur fees to use those tests? Later this test could be performed on a larger scale, but starting it at EWU would be a good start.

Schizophrenics and role-playing 1980 by Hawke, last updated: Nov 04, 2009 07:01 AM: Johnson,David R (1980): Fluid and rigid boundaries of paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenics on a role-playing task. Journal of Personality Assessment 44, 5.

Long list of research projects by Hawke, last updated: Nov 04, 2009 07:01 AM: This is the long list of research projects. It will over time be superseded by the more categorized, organized, and detailed pages created later on based on this list. This is to provide a starting reference point, but this page will eventually be phased out for the other detailed pages and commentary notes.

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