Semester Topic: Mechanics of Role-Play

This summer semester at Let's Get Mechanical! we will look at role-playing games as a medium for storytelling, artistic expression, and critical play.

The focus of the class will be on the most accessible form of role-play – tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), but we will also touch on computer RPGs, live-action role-play (LARP), and experimental narrative games. Rather than approaching RPGs as rules systems or entertainment products, we will look at them as frameworks of social interaction that use game mechanics to create and convey meaning.

Through close reading and hands-on play, students will explore in-depth how such games help us tell stories, communicate ideas, (re-)frame history, and build empathy. We will play and analyse games like Dialect: A Game about Language and How It Dies, 500 Year Old Vampire, Desperation, Night Witches, Fiasco, and others.

Attendance and participation

Submission of a short paper or essay

This course is held in English.

The class will take place at the Experimental Game Cultures main studio – GCP (former: PSK) Georg Coch Platz 2, 1st floor (studio 152).

Class capacity might be limited, priority will be given to Experimental Game Cultures students. Please attend the first session to confirm your registration!