CAR-PGa NEWSLETTER
Vol. 26, No. 7
An international network of researchers into all
aspects of role-playing games
July 2017
David Millians, Editor
Paideia School, 1509 Ponce de Leon Avenue,
Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA
ARTICLES
by W. A.
Hawkes-Robinson
[Editor’s Note: we are trying something a little different with
this article. Clicking on the link in the title above or typing www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbtma-4qUl8&t=3s into your
browser will allow you to view the video. A complete transcript is below.]
Overview
Flow is a core component in Therapeutic Recreation (TR) /
Recreation Therapy (RT). This video briefly touches on the key topics of Flow
theory, including some video clips to illustrate the concepts in action. This
is a very high-level overview, significantly limited in depth due to duration
course requirements.
Script
[TITLING ONLY - NO VOICE] [MUSIC BY SYNTHETIC ZEN]
This short video briefly summarizes the concepts of Concentration,
Immersion, and Flow State, including examples from sports and Role-Playing
Games (RPGs). See the end of the video for a complete list of references.
[HAWKE SPEAKING TO CAMERA]
Greetings. My name is Hawke Robinson, I am a student at Eastern
Washington University, working on an interdisciplinary degree in Recreation
Therapy, Music, Neuroscience & Research Psychology. This video was created
in relation to a course assignment for the Psychology of Adjustment class
taught by Professor Paul Spurgeon. I am registered with the Washington state
Department of Health as a Recreational Therapist, and working toward the
Therapeutic Recreation and Music Therapy national certifications, the CTRS
& AMTA.
First some very short definitions in my own words:
• Attention is, "The degree to which an entity is able
to process sensory stimuli, motor functions, or cognitions."
• Concentration is, "The degree to which an entity
focuses upon a task and excludes irrelevant stimuli or cognitions."
• Immersion is, "The degree to which a participant's
concentration leads to being engrossed in an activity."
• And Flow State is, "An optimal state of immersion
that can lead to maximal performance by the participant."
The Hungarian Psychologist Mihalyi Csíkszentmihályi is perhaps
best known for the concept of "Flow". In 1975 he defined flow as
"... the holistic sensation present when we act with total involvement."
(p 136) Flow shares some distinctive features with "What Maslow has called
'peak experiences'.
The textbook, Psychology of Adjustment - The Search for
Meaningful Balance, on page 218 states about flow that ..."Flow is the
state of being in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in
what is happening. It is characterized by a feeling of energized focus, full
involvement, and enjoyment in the process."... ..."Furthermore,
activities that are characterized by flow state should involve continuous
learning where one always feels challenged to learn more. Thus, the true
hallmark of flow is a feeling of spontaneous delight and complete
absorption."
This flow state can be experienced in sports, outdoors
recreation, music, religious experiences, various hobbies, video games,
tabletop games, live-action games, and even in the workplace.
Many sports aficionados call it being "in the zone".
Here is a brief clip from basketball player, Kobe Bryant, a pupil of Michael
Jordan, about this concept:
[SHORT VIDEO CLIP FROM KOBE BRYANT ABOUT BEING IN THE ZONE CLIP
#1]
According to Jeanne Nakamura and Csíkszentmihályi (1975, pp
135-153), there are 6 key factors leading to a Flow experience:
Number one, focused
concentration in the moment, to an intense degree. Here is another short clip
from Kobe Bryant about this concept:
[VIDEO CLIP EXAMPLE] [KOBE BRYANT CLIP #2]
Number two, Merging of
action and awareness. Here is a third clip from Kobe Bryant on this concept:
[VIDEO CLIP EXAMPLE] [KOBE BRYANT CLIP #3]
Number three,
reflective self-consciousness is suspended. Here is a clip from Zombie Orpheus
Entertainment's The Gamers: Dorkness Rising, illustrating this concept.
[VIDEO CLIP EXAMPLE] [GAMERS CLIP SHE IS STAFF FIGHTING ON
STAGE]
Number four, a strong
sense of internal locus of control. Here is another clip from the same Gamers
movie, illustrating this concept.
[VIDEO CLIP EXAMPLE] [COMBAT SCENE WITH HER WIPING OUT THE ORCS]
Number five,
significant alteration of the experience of time. Here is another clip from the
same Gamers movie, illustrating this concept with a tabletop role-playing game.
[VIDEO CLIP EXAMPLE] [PAST 2:00 AM CLIP]
Number six, Autotelic
experience, aka, strong intrinsically rewarding experience (1975, pp 145-146).
Csíkszentmihályi, described an autotelic activity as an "activity
rewarding in and of itself, quite apart from its end product or any extrinsic
good that might result from the activity." From Greek, autos equals self,
and telos = goal. Here is another clip from, The Gamers: Dorkness Rising,
illustrating this concept.
[VIDEO CLIP EXAMPLE]
[CLIP: I LIKE THE WAY YOU GAME, AND MAYBE ALSO AT END FROM CASS, I DON'T WANT
IT TO END?]
Though research indicates that role-playing games, appear to
provide many potential benefits to participants, they provide an exceptional
opportunity for interested participants to enjoy an autotelic activity with the
possibility of a significant flow state experience, whether alone or
participating in groups. Csíkszentmihályi said "In games, the rules define
what the relevant stimuli are, and exclude everything else as irrelevant"
(1975, p 140).
These six factors can happen to varying degrees by themselves,
but for a true flow experience, according to the theory, all six factors should
be experienced simultaneously.
There are also three conditions in Flow Theory that are required
to improve the likelihood of this optimal experience, and role-playing games
are excellently suited to meeting these requirements:
Wikipedia:
1.
The activity provides
a clear set of goals and measures of progress, helping to provide structure and
direction for the participants. Most RPGs do this very clearly as part of the
entire activity, they provide rulebooks with clearly defined rules, clear mechanisms
to determine success or failure, character sheets for tracking progress, etc.
2.
Clear and immediate
feedback, so that the participant(s) can adjust their actions as needed. RPG
game system rules and play etiquette generally provide this throughout the
activity.
3.
Balance between
perceived challenge level and the participants perception of their own skill
level, with confidence that though challenging, they can succeed. This can be
tricky for game masters to find the right balance, since different players may
be at different levels of ability, but when a gaming group is performing well
[see Video #2 on Group Dynamics of RPG], then a variety of skill mastery and
good group performance, can allow this to happen for all participants. Being
out of balance could lead to a Total Party Kill (TPK), or bored players
overcoming the adventure challenges too easily.
[SLIDE OF THESE]: Arguably the most important consideration for
achieving a flow experience, is hitting the "sweet spot" of an ideal
balance between the maximal Challenge Level of the activity, appropriate to the
participants' Skill Level. Too much challenge and/or too low a skill level,
will likely lead too much anxiety, while too low a challenge for the skill
level could lead to boredom.
Role-playing Games, when all the variables are properly aligned,
may be able to provide some of the more readily accessible and intense
experiences of flow state, and this experience may, under the right
circumstances, be simultaneously shared by the entire group, not just one
individual.
[SCRIPT]
To summarize, the key to maximizing the potential of optimal
performance through increased likelihood of flow experience, is to balance,
among other variables: participant abilities and intrinsic motivations with
challenge level and environmental variables so that the participant has an
intense, distinctive experience leading them to perform at their maximum
capacity.
[TEXT OVERLAY, NOT READ] Hawke: There are a number of other
variables and components related to this topic that are beyond the time
constraints and scope of this video. If you would like to learn more about Flow
and the related topics, there is an excellent two volume set of Mihalyi
Csíkszentmihályi's collected works published in 2014, The Systems Model of
Creativity and Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology.
References
Moritsugu, J., Vera, E. M., Jacobs, J. H., Kennedy, M. (2017). Psychology
of Adjustment, The Search for Meaningful Balance. Los Angeles: Sage
Publications.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2014). The Systems Model of Creativity,
The Collected Works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Berlin: Springer.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2014). Flow and the Foundations of
Positive Psychology, The Collected Works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
Berlin: Springer.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2004). Flow, the secret to happiness.
Video, Ted Talk, www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.
Vancil, M., Dobyn, B. (2008). The Gamers: Dorkness Rising.
Seattle: Zombie Orpheus Entertainment.
Convention Report: Heroicon III May, 19 - 21, 2017 in Decatur, IL
(Region II)
By Bob Bledsaw II
Recent Rain and flooding in the area took a toll on
attendance, as many county highways and roads were closed. Even so, they had
approximately 300 attendees, raising nearly $9,000.00. Less expenses, the con
generated roughly $7,000 for charity and Games for Troops, Inc. Games for
Troops provides games to servicemen in remote areas.
There were a total of 7 Game Vendors, of a total 18
vendors. Many of the vendors were craft related or independent artists, and some
were non-game related. Buyers were predominantly local females, many with
children. An Auction for rarer titles and donations was held.
Table-top games included D&D, miniatures,
strategic wargames, and card games.
The organizers were very pleased with the turnout,
considering the poor weather, and informed me that Heroicon will continue at
least until 2019. As for future changes, they are considering a cosplay event as
is now common at other cons. Heroicon is family friendly in a spacious
convention hotel with plenty of room to grow. All above board; they promotes
RPGs, and no offensive material was seen.
Convention Report: North Texas RPGcon (NTRPG) - Gravevine, TX (Region
IV)
By Bob Bledsaw II
Attendance is held at a maximum of 300, and private
guests. It works as a quiet place for industry leaders to meet and coalesce
projects. This year was the first time at a new location, much nearer the main
airport: an improvement. Fort Worth area location allows for both East and West
Coast convenience. The location offers fine-dining and other dining
establishments are nearby.
The con does some fundraising for charity and
promotes innovation in RPG gaming. It also holds an prominent industry rare
items auction.
This con is considered by many industry leaders as the Best Annual Convention for leaders to attend. It hosts more than 20 leading RPG game vendors and prominent artists of the field and awards special guests of the industry, authors, and game designers.
This con is considered by many industry leaders as the Best Annual Convention for leaders to attend. It hosts more than 20 leading RPG game vendors and prominent artists of the field and awards special guests of the industry, authors, and game designers.
Table-top games included mostly D&D, science
fiction, play-testing of new designs, and card games. Many games are afforded
private rooms to assist play.
Buyers tended to be males age 25-35, serious
hobbyists and well-versed in RPG play. Male to Female Player ratios at tables
averaged 4 to 1.
NTRPG is Family Friendly, yet drinks are served in
some areas. Everything is above board, and it promotes RPGs and the industry as
a whole. It displays no offensive material.
Convention Report:
Atlanta Sci-Fi & Fantasy Expo 2017
By Ted Skirvin
This convention was held on the first
weekend of March. It is a free convention that takes place at North Dekalb Mall
in the Eastern suburbs of Atlanta; various store locations within the mall are
used for it. The mall is very old and run-down. Middle income and lower income
households are in the immediate area near the mall. There is a store in the
mall called Challenges Comics and Games. The owner of the store had organized
this convention and this year was the third such. There are many empty
storefronts in the mall so a large one was used as a gaming room. The food
court was used as a dealer's room with around 25 vendors showing up.
There were two tracks of discussion
panels. One was in an African-American heritage store. The other one took place
in the back gaming room at Challenges. I presented a panel on Saturday at 1 pm
focused on an intro to RPGs for newbies. Another guy did a "GMing
101" panel at 5 pm the same day. At my panel, only three of the seven
attendees were actually new to RPGs. At the end of my panel, I offered to go
with the newbies to the gaming room and run them through a one-shot scenario.
We did that, and they all seemed to enjoy it. The system I used is Weird
Fantasy Role Playing/Lamentations of the Flame Princess. It's based on the B/X
version of basic D&D.
As to demographics, the ethnic makeup
was about 60% black and 40% white; I saw no others. The male/female ratio was
about 90%/10%.
This con has been getting a little
larger every year. And, it is getting better organized each time. I'll be back
there next year.
NEW MATERIAL
FROM
DAVID MILLIANS
Dominus,
Susan (2017 June 9) Exit the Dungeon Master. Tonys Rehearsal is Calling. www.nytimes.com/2017/06/09/theater/exit-the-dungeon-master-tonys-rehearsal-is-calling.html. Visiting playwright
J.T. Rogers’ youthful game group.
Laskow,
Sarah (2017 June 13) These Maps Reveal the Hidden Structure of ‘Choose Your Own
Adventure’ Books. www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cyoa-choose-your-own-adventure-maps. Textual analysis in
flow charts.
Liu
Jue (2017 June 2) Wildest Fantasy. www.theworldofchinese.com/2017/06/wildest-fantasy. Current state of
fantasy literature in China.
Sanderson,
Chris (2017 May 18) Battlefield Bangkok. site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/battlefield-bangkok-from-dream-to-community. History and
development of tabletop store and community in Thailand.
Whemeier,
Tom (2017 June 1) Europe Meets China – How the Games Industry is Evolving. news.atomico.com/europe-meets-china. Investment in digital
games.
FROM
HAWKE ROBINSON
Robinson,
Hawke (2017 May 25) Confirmed: Writing entire chapter for RPG for 4th
edition textbook “Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation. www.rpgresearch.com/blog/rpg-chapter-tr-facilitation-book. Great news from Hawke!
Robinson,
Hawke (2017 June 14) Lilac City Comicon 2017, Sat, June 3. www.rpgresearch.com/Members/JWelker/lilac-city-comicon-2017-sat-jun-3. Accessibility issues
and no games.
Robinson,
Hawke (2017 June 21) Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, “No” to any
of Wheelchair Friendly RPG Trailer or other helping services. www.rpgresearch.com/blog/wizards-tier-1-no-to-everything. WotC snubs Hawke’s
requests for permission and support, and he’s looking for advice.
FROM
MICHAEL TRESCA
Tresca,
Michael (2017 May 19) Quora Answer: What made Dungeons & Dragons a
classic?. www.quora.com/What-made-Dungeons-Dragons-a-classic/answer/Michael-Tresca?srid=XzH9. D&D and its
influences today.
Tresca,
Michael (2017 June 6) Quora Answer: Why do you play role-playing games? www.patreon.com/posts/quora-answer-why-11272004. Creativity and psychological
flow.
CALENDAR
New listings this month were
provided by Paul Cardwell and Lou Zocchi, and others are urged to submit
information. If you attend a convention, be sure and check the conventions
table and let us have a copy of the fliers (or at very least the when, what,
where, and contact information) for upcoming conventions available there. CAR-PGa
is international, so this includes anywhere in the world.
Dates, precise venue, contacts' URLs
or phone numbers, and other information, where missing from this list, would be
particularly appreciated.
"[LARP]" means only LARP
events as many RPG cons include at least some LARP, as likewise applies to the
mention of specific game systems. The same bracketed information applies as
well to game systems when the con will have only those games present.
In an attempt to get more
face-to-face meetings of the membership, we list who will be going to what
convention, if they will tell us. Get this type of information in at least two
months before the convention itself, so we can run it at least once. Support
your local cons by helping in the staff. It is a good way to promote RPG, and
you generally get in free for the brief time spent helping.
[Your humble editor will be at
Dragon Con all weekend, running Runequest Glorantha games.]
A review of any attended convention
afterwards for the Newsletter would be appreciated too. These reviews should
include demographic data such as attendance, percentage male/female, white/ethnic
minorities (or whatever is the majority/white/others), games in addition to
tabletop RPG, and more subjective matters such as unusual events, quality of
games and dealers' room, encouragement of new gamers, and whatever seems worth
reporting. We need to work to restore CAR-PGa's reputation as the media's go-to
on gamer demographics, especially since the media are still citing a study that
cut off all those over 35 - at a time when that was the median age of gamers -
it is closer to 40 now - which indicates we also need to work on recruiting
younger players, although some increase in college age players at conventions
has been noted.
Conventions are currently being
compiled by archivist Paul Cardwell, 1127 Cedar, Bonham, TX 75418 or plcardwell@gmail.com, so send them there.
July 2017
12-16: Historicon, Fredericksburg
Expo, 2371 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA; historicon.org [wargaming]
18-20: Flying Buffalo's T&T Con,
Holiday Inn Express, 3131 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ; flyingbuffalo.com
20-23: Amber Central, Embassy Suites
Minneapolis Airport, 2901 34th Ave. S, Bloomington, MN; ambercentral.com
20-23: Ambercon, Embassy Suites Minneapolis
Airport, 7901 34th Ave. S, Bloomington, MI; ambercon.com [Amber
diceless only]
21-23: Fan World, Niagara Falls
Conference Center, Niagara Falls, NY and Crowne Plaza, Niagara Falls, ON; fanworld.us
23-25: Border City Game Convention,
Adventures in Learning, 7230 Gateway Blvd. E, El Paso, TX; bordercitygameconvention.com
August 2017
4-6: Ohio Comic Con, Greater
Columbus Convention Center, 500 N High St, Columbus, OH; wizardworld.com/home-ohio
16: Akua Con, Universal Lazer Family
Fun Center, 15 1st St NW, Watertown, SD;
17-20: NecronomiCon, Providence
Biltmore, Providence, RI; necronimicon-providence.con.com [Lovecraft]
18-20: Geekfest, Mayborn Space
Theater, Central Texas College, Killeen, TX; starsatnight.org/geekfest
18-20: Starfleet International
Conference, Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport, New Orleans, LA; ic2017.org
19-20: Pensacola Comic Con,
Pensacola Interstate Conference Bldg, 6655 Mobile Hwy, Pensacola, FL; pensacolaparacon.com
24-27: Wizard World Comic Con
Chicago, Stevens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Rd, Chicago, IL; wizardworld.com
25-27: Bubonicon, Albuquerque
Marriott Uptown, 2101 Louisiana Blvd NE (at I-40), Albuquerque, NM; bubonicon.com
25-27: Couleecon, La Crosse Center,
La Crosse, WI; Couleecon.com
September 2017
1-4: Dragoncon, Hyatt Regency, 265
Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA; dragoncon.org Your humble
editor will be at Dragon Con all weekend, running Runequest Glorantha games.
1-4: Pacificon, Santa Clara
Marriott, 2700 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA; pacificongameexpo.com
1-4: PAX West, Washington State
Convention Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA; west.paxsite.com
1-4: TCEP, Hampton Inn
Washington/Dulles Airport, 22700 Holiday Park Dr, Sterling, VA; barkingmad.org
8-10: Queen City Conquest, Buffalo
Niaagra Convention Center, 153 Franklin St, Buffalo, NY; queencitycon.com
8-10: Wizard World Nashville, TN
Music City Center, Nashville, TN; wizardworld.com/comiccon/nashville
23-24: Monster-Con, Wonderland of
the Americas Mall, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX; monstercon.com
28-October 1: Hurricon,
International Palms Resort, Orlando, FL; hmgs-south.com [miniature
wargaming]
29-October 1: Monsterama, Marriott
Alpharetta, GA 400 & Windward Pkwy, Atlanta GA; monsteramacon.com
30-October 1: Geek Girl Con,
Washington State Conference Center, 800 Pike, Seattle, WA; geekgirlcon.com
30-October 1: Schweinfurter
Fantasy-Festival, Jugendhaus, Franz-Schubert-Str, Schweinfurt; fantasy-festival.de
30-October 2: MOAB, Sylvania Heights
Community Club, Box Rd, Sylvania, NSW; [mostly wargame including fantasy]
October 2017
4-8: NordlichtCon, Evangelischer
Jugendhof Sachsenhain, Am Jugendhof 17, Verden an der Aller; nordlichtcon.de
6-8: OctoGones, l'Espace Tête d'Or,
103 boulevard Stalingrad, Lyon/Villeurbanne. France; octogones.org
13-15: Con-Stellation, Four Points,
Huntsville Airport, 1000 Glenn Hearn Blvd SW, Huntsville, AL; www.con-stellation.org/constell/wiki/index.php?title=Con†Stellation_Main_Page
14-16: NEWGamepalooza, Gruenhagen
Conference Center, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI; newgamepalooza.com
21-23: Milwaukee Summer Revel,
Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield, 375 S. Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI; coldiron.roseocon.net
27-29: Atlanta Game Fest, Atlanta
Marriott Alpharetta, 5750 Windward Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA; atlantagamefest.com
©
Copyright 2017 by the Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games
(CAR-PGa), ISSN 1071 7129. The CAR-PGa Newsletter is a monthly publication. For
more information contact David Millians, Editor, Paideia School, 1509 Ponce de
Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA, phone (404) 808-1070, fax (404)
377-3491, e-mail millians.david@paideiaschool.org. Back issues are
available. Contributions of material from the membership are urged, and the
byline is responsible for content. Deadline is the last weekday of the month,
email preferred. Permission is granted to copy anything in the Newsletter,
provided we get a credit line in the publication copying it, and it doesn't
have someone else's copyright on it. Information, including details on joining
CAR-PGa, can be obtained on the Internet at car-pga.org.
