An international network of researchers into all aspects of role-playing games
David Millians, Editor
Paideia School, 1509 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA
millians.david@paideiaschool.org
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
Hello All,
Our last guest of the year was CAR-PGA member Hereward Proops. Hereward is a lecturer at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland, a practicing psychotherapist in private practice, and a dedicated researcher in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). Currently pursuing a part-time PhD titled “We Can Be Heroes: How Co-Constructed Play in Tabletop Roleplaying Games Builds Positive Social Relationships,” his research examines the relational dynamics of TTRPGs through the lens of Carl Rogers’ core conditions of therapeutic growth. This work highlights the powerful potential of role-playing games to foster empathy, collaboration, and positive social interactions. You can view the video of our discussion on our YouTube channel.
Speaking of YouTube, I’m also pleased to report that this year our YouTube channel got 387 views, had a watch time (in total) of 50 hours, and we gained 12 subscribers. That’s right in line with our goal of one member a month. Our LinkedIn group has 124 members, 32 of which are active. We had 78 posts and 1,239 views. Our Facebook group has 178 followers. Most importantly, we have increased our membership by 11 members. Not quite as high as I’d like (we’d like to reach 12 each year), but still a decent amount, and many of these members were guest speakers as well, so hopefully we’re doing something right. You can see all the details in our annual report.
I’ve made it clear I’m done with Twitter/X in a previous letter, but the good news is we’ve had great engagement on Bluesky! I hope you’ll join me there, and if you do, let me know so I can add you to the CAR-PGA list.
As much as I was hoping 2025 would be an opportunity for the CAR-PGA to branch out—I still would love to have in-person gatherings at major conventions—it looks like we’re going to have to buckle down. So our first order of business for 2025 is to ensure the board reflects our current membership. Elections begin this month (see David’s note below for more details). We look forward to hearing your voice when you vote for whomever puts themselves forward. I hope we get enthusiastic participation.
In 2025 I hope we can use the strength of our network to both push for RPG advocacy and shore each other up at a time when there are forces looking to tear down the most vulnerable.
Take care of each other, stay safe, and I look forward to voting for board nominations next month!
Sincerely,
Mike Tresa
Committee Chair
ANNUAL REPORT & CALL FOR BOARD NOMINATIONS
Attached is the 2024 CAR-PGa annual report. The board met on December 11, 2024, and approved this document. We hope it creates a firm foundation for this coming year. It is also available online.
As we do annually, it is time for our board elections. If you would like to be considered for the Board, please let David Millians know before the end of January. The voting will begin February first and run for a few weeks. We will know the results in late February and announce them in the March issue of this newsletter.
As the Board of Directors has wrapped up 2024, several topics have been under discussion and may be considered by the board in 2025, depending on the interest of the membership and the elected board members.
It may be time for revisions to the CAR-PGa by-laws to clarify the operation of the board and the expectations for individual board member’s engagement in the work. The task of a board member is not at all onerous, as we only have a few meetings each year. One question is how often to expect an individual board member to participate in meetings, and another is an old theme in this organization, how do we note work in the various fields of game advocacy? It is important to create an accurate picture of CAR-PGa membership and service on the board.
The current board, myself included, are all hoping for greater turnover of board members and the involvement of new people and discussions. Any given leadership is only informed by its own experiences and will overlook important topics through ignorance. The current board is undoubtedly unaware of elements and constituencies in our hobby, and a more frequent rotation will support the conversations we need to be having now and in the future.
If you find these topics of interest or have ideas of your own, please become a candidate for the board!
NEW MATERIAL
This is a compilation of articles and other resources that have come to the editor’s attention over the last month. Everyone is welcome to send bibliographic information about anything you discover that fits the mission of CAR-PGa and this newsletter.
Aida (2024 Dec 11) Deck the Dice 2024. https://www.rascal.news/deck-the-dice-2024. EUphoria livestreams to raise funds for War Child UK charity.
Birch, David (2024 Dec 27) Hallucinations And Hope: Dungeons And Dragons, AI And The New Economy. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbirch/2024/12/27/hallucinations-and-hope-dungeons-and-dragons-ai-and-the-new-economy. Bringing games of imagination and social engagement into a new era of society and technology.
Campbell, Steph (2024 Dec 5) TTRPGkids on Ludology Podcast, Episode 18: Let’s talk about Arithmagine, a maths teaching TTRPG. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2024/12/05/ttrpgkids-on-ludology-podcast-episode-18-lets-talk-about-arithmagine-a-maths-teaching-ttrpg. Educational goals and arithmetic.
Campbell, Steph (2024 Dec 9) Review of Dice the Halls, a Kid’s Christmas TTRPG Adventure. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2024/12/09/review-of-dice-the-halls-a-kids-christmas-ttrpg-adventure. Christmas season adventures made specifically for kids.
Campbell, Steph (2024 Dec 12) Review of Cora Quest, a TTRPG board game published by a parent + kid team. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2024/12/12/review-of-cora-quest-a-ttrpg-board-game-published-by-a-parent-kid-team. Easy to run mix of whimsy and adventure.
Campbell, Steph (2024 Dec 14) Tabletop Non-Stop Feb 2025 on Crowdfundr: Sign up your projects now. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2024/12/14/tabletop-non-stop-feb-2025-on-crowdfundr-sign-up-your-projects-now. Focus on fundraising for all tabletop games.
Campbell, Steph (2024 Dec 16) Tabletop RPG Classroom: In-Game Social Studies Lesson for Middle School Kids. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2024/12/16/tabletop-rpg-classroom-in-game-social-studies-lesson-for-middle-school-kids. Planning and deploying goal-focused game scenarios.
Campbell, Steph (2024 Dec 19) Interview with John from Heroes Wanted about online D&D for kids, The Heroes’ Pact, and more. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2024/12/19/interview-with-john-from-heroes-wanted-about-online-dd-for-kids-the-heroes-pact-and-more. Kids, advocacy, and online game play.
Campbell, Steph (2024 Dec 23) Review of DnDoggos, a graphic novel about dogs playing D&D. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2024/12/23/review-of-dndoggos-a-graphic-novel-about-dogs-playing-dd. Graphic novel playfully exploring and modeling RPG play.
Campbell, Steph (2024 Dec 26) DIY Creature Dice Box. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2024/12/26/tips-and-tricks-diy-creature-dice-box. Craft your own mimic container.
Campbell, Steph (2024 Dec 30) Review of Goblin Quest. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2024/12/30/review-of-goblin-quest. Zany world building and hijinks for all ages.
Chase, Carter (2024 Dec 10) Funko inadvertently disables itch.io’s whole website, blames third-party brand protection. https://www.rascal.news/funko-inadvertently-disables-itch-ios-whole-website-blames-third-party-brand-protection. IP control and its effect on others.
Chase, Carter (2024 Dec11) Tabletop Workers United secures “key non-economic demands” after a year of fraught negotiations. https://www.rascal.news/tabletop-workers-united-secures-key-non-economic-demands-after-a-year-of-fraught-negotiations. Avoiding a strike for now.
Clarke, James (2024 Dec 12) 50 years of Dungeons & Dragons: art and insights from Tony DiTerlizzi, Ralph Horsely, Anne Stokes and other leading illustrators. https://www.creativebloq.com/art/50-years-of-dungeons-and-dragons-art-and-insights-from-tony-diterlizzi-ralph-horsely-anne-stokes-and-other-leading-illustrators. Art and artists retrospective.
The Economist (2024 Dec 6) How did “Dungeons & Dragons” win?. https://www.economist.com/culture/2024/12/06/how-did-dungeons-and-dragons-win. Becoming the mainstream.
Ellis, Caelyn & Chase Carter (2024 Dec 20) Vallejo workers allege extensive factory neglect and “authoritarian” management amid ongoing strike. https://www.rascal.news/vallejo-workers-allege-extensive-factory-neglect-and-authoritarian-management-amid-ongoing-strike. Fits and starts towards an agreement between labor and management.
Free RPG Day (2024 Dec) Free RPG Day is June 21, 2025. https://freerpgday.com. Hobby store event returns for summer.
GAMA (2024 Dec 17) Game Now Accepting Nominations for Power Retail Awards. https://www.rascal.news/gama-now-accepting-nominations-for-power-retail-awards. Excellence and innovation in brick-and-mortar retail.
Gilsdorf, Ethan (2024 Dec 23) How Dungeons & Dragons Taught Me How To Be Brave In The Real World. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dungeons-dragons-taught-brave-real-104512457.html. Joy and growth in games with friends.
Girdwood, Andrew (2024 Dec 5) Golden Fez: Solarian announce new tabletop games awards. https://www.geeknative.com/170006/golden-fez-solarian-announce-new-tabletop-games-awards. Celebrating games in a tribute to James Carpio.
Girdwood, Andrew (2024 Dec 5) Tales of Riches: D&D partners with online gambling company embroiled in spying row. https://www.geeknative.com/170004/tales-of-riches-dd-partners-with-online-gambling-company-embroiled-in-spying-row. D&D&Gambling.
Girdwood, Andrew (2024 Dec 16) D&D: The Lost Episode “resurfaces” in a Brazilian ad campaign. https://www.geeknative.com/170177/dd-the-lost-episode-resurfaces-in-brazilian-ad-campaign. Final encounter with Venger.
Girdwood, Andrew (2024 Dec 23) The top selling products on DriveThruRPG in 2024. https://www.geeknative.com/170294/the-top-selling-products-on-drivethrurpg-in-2024. Sales analysis is challenging.
Girdwood, Andrew (2024 Dec 31) Dungeons & Dragons made this obscure Scottish word well-known. https://www.geeknative.com/170390/dungeons-dragons-made-this-obscure-scottish-word-well-known. Some of the etymological past of RPGs.
Girdwood, Andrew (2024 Dec 31) Your dice aren’t random, and probability probably does not exist. https://www.geeknative.com/170404/your-dice-arent-random-and-probability-probably-does-not-exist. What are the odds of that?
Groh, James (2024 Dec 4) Dungeons & Dragons 50th Anniversary: How a room in Lake Geneva changed the fantasy world. https://www.tmj4.com/news/walworth-county/dungeons-and-dragons-50th-anniversary-how-lake-geneva-changed-the-fantasy-world. 330 Center Street in Lake Geneva is a place of play and pilgrimage.
Hewitt, Megan (2024 Dec 15) Mechanical Storytelling in D&D: Strahd in Relation to the Gothic. https://analoggamestudies.org/2024/12/mechanical-storytelling-in-dungeons-and-dragons-strahd-in-relation-to-the-gothic. Game play emerging from the interaction of literature and game rules.
Hisham, Khairul (2024 Dec 5) The Swiss Extraction Operation. https://hishgraphics.com/mini-six-the-swiss-extraction-operation. Intrigue, action, and games for kids.
Jesthehuman (2024 Dec 6) DOTS RPG Project launches Signature Braille RPG Dice. https://www.rascal.news/dots-rpg-project-launches-signature-braille-rpg-dice-2. More accessible gaming.
Linward, Timothy (2024 Dec 28) DnD’s doomed attempts to make Orcs unproblematic will please no-one. https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/problematic-orcs. Orcs as foes, and orcs as people.
Livesey-Stephens, Bea (2024 Dec 15) The Rule Book: The Building Blocks of Games. https://analoggamestudies.org/2024/12/book-review-the-rule-book-the-building-blocks-of-games. Review of Jaakko Stenros and Markus Montola’s new book analyzing the rules and other constraints on forms of play.
Manuel, Thomas & Lin Codega (2024 Dec 13) Wyrmwood’s bitter medicine is proving hard for audiences to swallow. https://www.rascal.news/wyrmwoods-bitter-medicine-is-proving-hard-for-audiences-to-swallow. Filming and sharing the company’s struggles with itself.
Manuel, Thomas (2024 Dec 19) The Brazilian fans keeping the Street Fighter TTRPG alive. https://www.rascal.news/the-brazilian-fans-keeping-the-street-fighter-ttrpg-alive. Fan support is game longevity.
Marsh, Calum (2024 Dec 16) How the Swedish Dungeons & Dragons Inspired Helldivers 2. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/arts/helldivers-2-arrowhead-studios.html. RPGs and video games.
Martin, Cathlena (2024 Dec 15) Roll to Hit: Comparative Mathematical Probability in Tabletop Role-Playing Games. https://analoggamestudies.org/2024/12/roll-to-hit-comparative-mathematical-probability-in-tabletop-role-playing-games. Probability analysis across game systems.
Meadowlark Productions (2024 Dec 16) Meadowlark Productions presents A Meadowlark Winterfest. https://www.rascal.news/meadowlark-productions-presents-a-meadowlark-winterfest. Live stream even to raise money for Project Hope.
Mendiola, Eric (2024 Dec 26) At a half-century, Dungeons and Dragons counts growing interest among US troops. https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2024-12-25/dungeons-dragons-humphreys-army-16280361.html. Creating community and reducing stress from South Korea to Ukraine.
O’Brien, Cortney (2024 Dec 30) Dungeons & Dragons causes controversy with rule change over identity. https://www.foxnews.com/media/dungeons-dragons-causes-controversy-rule-change-about-identity. Quoting heavily from Marc Tracy’s article below, Fox News fans controversy.
Peregrine, Andrew (2024 Dec 17) Christmas Gifts for All Year Round. https://www.enworld.org/threads/peregrines-nest-christmas-gifts-for-all-year-round.708394. Beautiful, quality fun for any season.
Peterson, Jon (2024 Dec 31) A Fiftieth Anniversary Year. https://playingattheworld.blogspot.com/2024/12/a-fiftieth-anniversary-year.html. Supporting, publishing, and events this year.
pookie (2024 Dec 27) Dungeons & Dragons Museum. https://rlyehreviews.blogspot.com/2024/12/friday-faction-dungeons-dragons-museum.html. Review of volume of visual artifacts of the history of the game.
R, Shardae (2024 Dec 12) What We Can Learn From D&D’s Sexist History. https://www.rascal.news/what-we-can-learn-from-d-ds-sexist-history. RPGs have a deep element of misogyny and racism.
SAG-AFTRA. ‘Roll’ with Advantage. https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1530033-fall-winter-2024/0. Fall/Winter 2024, Volume 13, Number 4, page 98.
Tracy, Marc (2024 Dec 30) Dungeons & Dragons Rolls the Dice With New Rules About Identity. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/arts/dungeons-and-dragons-rule-changes-race-species.html. The complexities of an evolving game, its terminology, and the society around it.
Tresca, Mike (2024 Dec 9) Gift Ideas for Your GM 2024. https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-evolution-gift-ideas-for-your-gm-2024.708285. Fun tools for game masters.
Tresca, Mike (2024 Dec 16) Gift Ideas for Your Gaming Group 2024. https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-evolution-gift-ideas-for-your-gaming-group-2024.708291. Delightful game table accessories.
Tresca, Mike (2024 Dec 20) Stocking Gifts for Your GM 2024. https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-evolution-stocking-gifts-for-your-gm-2024.708292. Whimsical with a hint of practicality for your favorite game leader any time of the year.
Tresca, Mike (2024 Dec 23) Stocking Gifts for Your Players 2024. https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-evolution-stocking-gifts-for-your-players-2024.708293. More small, playful gift ideas.
Voorhees, Gerald & Sarah Klein (2024 Dec 15) It’s All Fun and Games ‘Till Somebody Loses an I: Ethnomethods of Bleed. https://analoggamestudies.org/2024/12/its-all-fun-and-games-till-somebody-loses-an-i-ethnomethods-of-bleed-for-table-top-role-play. Bleed, live streaming, audience effects, and player safety.
Whitehead, Adam (2024 Dec 10) Games Workshop and Amazon agree to proceed with a WARHAMMER 40,000 screen project. https://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2024/12/games-workshop-and-amazon-agree-to.html. Ironing out the details for a series.
Zenopus Archives (2024 Dec 21) The Mirkwood Tales RPG: the link between the original D&D rules and text-based computer games. https://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-mirkwood-tales-rpg-link-between-od.html. Tracing the connections that flowed from one new medium into another.
Zeoli, Rowan (2024 Dec 3) 826NYC’s secret superpower is tabletop gaming. https://www.rascal.news/826nyc-dungeons-and-dragons-writing-course. Safe spaces for stories, games, and learning the craft of writing.
Zeoli, Rowan (2024 Dec 11) Dungeons & Dragons is too big for Amazon’s Secret Level anthology. https://www.polygon.com/entertainment/493915/dnd-secret-level-amazon-episode-anthology-review. Challenges to bring diverse IP to the screen.
© Copyright 2025 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, email 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.