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
ANNOUNCEMENT – NEW BOARD CHAIR
By David Millians
Ted Skirvin has stepped up as our new chair, replacing Mike Tresca. I appreciate his willingness to help us all forge ahead. I am thankful for Mike’s imagination and determination in these recent years.
Ted and the board have some new plans for 2026, which you will hear more about in future newsletters. If you have ideas for projects or anything you would like the board to explore, please send it in!
ARTICLES
Adam’s Educational Electrum
February 2026
Welcome to my educational contribution to the monthly CAR-PGa newsletter! For those readers out there who work for or support schools, districts, or youth, I am flattered, humbled, and grateful for the chance to share a modest trinket of treasure to help you on your instructional quests. This might be a gaming resource, a full out TTRPG, or a particular educator’s story.
As the winter weather is still making it cold outside (at least in the northern hemisphere), consider cozy ways to warm the instruction inside your classroom. This month, let’s talk about a resource that has many ways of being implemented: the multiple card decks of The Story Engine.
The first deck created for The Story Engine was for “storytelling prompts,” and its original audience (to help gamemasters or authors brainstorm through writer’s block) is readily apparent. As a person pulls cards out in a certain order, potential narrative and character arcs are built. Cards touch and sprawl out from the first card played; while you could deploy them on any surface, The Story Engine also sells playmats similar to what trading card games use. Each card provides two or more options, so there is choice along the way. For example, an Agent card might have Caretaker, Curator, Gardener, or Conversationalist, so the subsequent cards will give your chosen Agent an Aspect (descriptive adjective), Engine (motivation), Anchor (important object, location or event), and a central Conflict. There are various rule sets provided in the deck box, particularly for multiple players. However, so long as The Story Engine successfully spurs your thinking, there’s really no wrong way to “play.” The Story Engine has many helpful videos on their YouTube Channel; here’s a quick one to give you an overview of how the system works.
The Story Engine has since expanded their line to include a Deck of Worlds for creating environments and world-building and Lore Master’s Deck to create “powerful factions and notable figures to earth-shaking events, must-see locations, legendary objects, precious materials, and mythical creatures”. While the default theme is fantasy, they also have expansion card sets to incorporate other genres, such as sci-fi and horror.
How might The Story Engine be implemented in a school or library setting? Students might play with them individually to get past the stress of a blank page, or you can show the power of what it feels like to be a member of a “writer’s room” by using The Story Engine in small groups. The Deck of Worlds might be incorporated into a geography or science lesson, helping them learn the impact and interaction of landscapes and ecology on civilizations. If you have some Polyhedral Pedagogy planned for your extracurricular club or classroom, The Story Engine could be good warm-up practice for what it’s like to co-create TTRPG narratives. Ultimately, the system is a very clever analog tool to develop imagination and critical thinking, building up the “what if?” muscle of young (and older!) minds.
Before we end the column, I should point out that The Story Engine has proven to be a good friend of educators! There are occasional giveaways where they will ship a free deck to a school or learning space, based on donations made and special limited time fundraisers where The Story Engine will give away a deck for every deck purchased (I’ve received one of these and use it for the “TTRPG Playground” portion of my free Dungeons & Desks professional development series); there are also lesson plans and activity sheets on their website, downloadable at no charge, for a more intentional implementation in a classroom setting.
As a metaphorical motor engine, The Story Engine can be a powerful part of your imagination car, but you are still the driver of the vehicle, traveling from one place to another. See how it can help propel your students through their own narrative journeys.
Until our next time together at the table,
Adam Watson
Adam Watson is an award-winning public school educator, writer, and frequent presenter of professional development at regional and national conferences such as Gen Con, Serious Play, and GAMA Expo. In 2022, he launched Kentucky Educators for Role Playing Games, sharing how TTRPGs can positively impact student learning. His book Tabletop Role-Playing Games in the Classroom: Infusing Gameplay into K-12 Instruction was published by McFarland in 2025. For more about Adam, visit his personal site.
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.
Appelcline, Shannon (2026 Jan 1) 2025: The Year in Roleplaying. https://www.designers-and-dragons.com/2026/01/01/2025-the-year-in-roleplaying. Elders passing on, business roller coaster, AI, and censorship.
Botter, Aaron (2026 Jan 2) The 1 Million Dollar RPG Maps Bundle Scam. https://professor-grimm.com/blogs/ttrpg/the-1-million-dollar-rpg-maps-bundle-scam. Methods of marketing to apparently great profit.
Campbell, Stephanie (2026 Jan 6) TTRPG Tips & Tricks: The Chaos Dragon, a tool for keeping attention and facilitating fun chaos. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2026/01/06/ttrpg-tips-tricks-the-chaos-dragon-a-tool-for-keeping-attention-and-facilitating-fun-chaos. An interlocutor to bridge some of the challenges when running a game, especially with children.
Carter, Chase (2026 Jan 21) Why We Fight sees a connection between dice and direct action. https://www.rascal.news/why-we-fight-sees-a-connection-between-dice-and-direct-action. Play, principles, and community action.
Carter, Chase & Rowan Zeoli (2026 Jan 19) Battle over Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast contracts leaves the book, relationships, torn apart. https://www.rascal.news/battle-over-yazebas-bed-breakfast-contracts-leaves-the-book-relationships-torn-apart. Messy legal fallout from disputed contracts and print costs.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2026 Jan 6) Asian vampires in Vampire: the Masquerade have been getting an unofficial facelift. https://www.rascal.news/asian-vampires-in-vampire-the-masquerade-have-been-getting-an-unofficial-facelift. Revisiting and revising stereotypes.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2026 Jan 14) Venezuelan studio Ludic Pen is meeting the ongoing political crisis with creative passion. https://www.rascal.news/venezuelan-studio-ludic-pen-is-meeting-the-ongoing-political-crisis-with-creative-passion. Creativity, challenges beyond control, and gaining support.
Chua, Sam (2026 Jan 20) Rolling for Belonging: How Queer Singaporeans Use D&D to Reckon With Real Life. https://www.ricemedia.co/singapore-queer-community-solace-dungeons-and-dragons. Creating community and safety through shared play.
Codega, Lin (2026 Jan 8) Steve Dee, game designer and community builder, has passed away. https://www.rascal.news/steve-dee-game-designer-tin-star-games-obituary. Sudden loss of thoughtful Australian advocate.
Corley, JD (2026 Jan 2) Old RPG Gamers and the Streaming Youth. https://jdcspot.bearblog.dev/old-rpg-gamers-and-the-streaming-youth. Some insights into varying styles of play.
Ellis, Caelyn (2026 Jan 16) Short institutional memory can’t excuse wargaming’s most insidious cultural issues. https://www.rascal.news/short-institutional-memory-cant-excuse-wargamings-most-insidious-cultural-issues. Calling out assumptions, fears, and bad habits.
elmcat (2025 Dec 30) 2025 in Blog Data. https://elmc.at/2025-in-blog-data. RPG blogs this year and over the past 20 years.
Dennison, Kara (2026 Jan 6) RPG books that are kid-friendly. https://theresattrpgforthat.tumblr.com/post/804909625431474176/theme-grade-school-appropriate-ttrpgs. Resources for running games with grade school kids.
Gen Con (2026 6) How One Facebook Post Sparked the Ladies of D&D Movement in San Diego. https://gencon.blog/2026/01/06/how-one-facebook-post-sparked-the-ladies-of-dd-movement-in-san-diego. Inclusion and community.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Dec 30) Safeguarding concerns raised as Honiton gaming figure jailed. https://www.geeknative.com/219843/safeguarding-concerns-raised-as-honiton-gaming-figure-jailed. Second such conviction for sexual abuse.
Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jan 2) Exalted Funeral’s 2025 list proves OSE is the king of indie RPGs. https://www.geeknative.com/220268/exalted-funerals-2025-list-proves-ose-is-the-king-of-indie-rpgs. Other indie titles, as well as boxed sets, favored.
Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jan 9) Atlas Games saves university library waste from landfill. https://www.geeknative.com/221021/atlas-games-saves-university-library-waste-from-landfill. Obsolete plastic magazine holders becoming game components.
Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jan 15) Gaming for Good: Asmodee UK and Mind team up to tackle loneliness. https://www.geeknative.com/221417/gaming-for-good-asmodee-uk-and-mind-team-up-to-tackle-loneliness. Collaborating around social engagement.
Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jan 16) The Human Touch: The growing list of tabletop companies banning AI. https://www.geeknative.com/221420/the-human-touch-the-growing-list-of-tabletop-companies-banning-ai. Commitments from many publishers.
Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jan 17) Infinite Black hit by massive inventory theft; Nocturnus RPG postponed. https://www.geeknative.com/221481/infinite-black-hit-by-massive-inventory-theft-nocturnus-rpg-postponed. Inventory discrepancies under investigation.
Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jan 18) The Death of the Safe Bet: How community toppled the IP giants. https://www.geeknative.com/221556/the-death-of-the-safe-bet-how-community-toppled-the-ip-giants. Examining excitement cycles for forthcoming RPGs.
Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jan 20) The Binding of Isaac and Smurfs board games target better localisation with new deal. https://www.geeknative.com/221880/the-binding-of-isaac-and-smurfs-board-games-target-better-localisation-with-new-deal. Adapting games to various markets and getting them there.
Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jan 21) New D&D-inspired ‘Tabletop’ beer brewed specifically for long gaming sessions. https://www.geeknative.com/222006/new-dd-inspired-tabletop-beer-brewed-specifically-for-long-gaming-sessions. Less alcohol per can for those long game sessions.
Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jan 31) Women in Games 2026 Manifesto demands strategic shift in industry fairness. https://www.geeknative.com/224902/women-in-games-2026-manifesto-demands-strategic-shift-in-industry-fairness. Expanding a healthy, creative industry into the future.
Griepp, Milton (2025 Dec 31) Alliance Game Distributors Rebranded to Universal. https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61309/alliance-game-distributors-rebranded-universal. Plans to upgrade technology.
Habeeb (2025 Dec 17) the default dungeon is colonial. https://beeboobubie.substack.com/p/the-default-dungeon-is-colonial. Digging deeper than invade, kill, and take treasure.
Hutton, Christopher (2026 Jan 21) D&D Comes to Fortnite: A Digital IP Crossover. https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/fortnite-nintendo-and-third-party-content-a-d-d-news-roundup#dd-comes-to-fortnite-a-digital-ip-c. Games inside games.
Hutton, Christopher (2026 Jan 21) Why Does This Matter?. https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/fortnite-nintendo-and-third-party-content-a-d-d-news-roundup#why-does-this-matter. Growth of D&D lifestyle.
Lenton, Patrick (2026 Jan 29) I don’t like organised fun, but Dungeons and Dragons is my shining nerdy light amid the darkness. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/30/dungeons-dragons-resurgence. Making time for friends and play.
MacDougall, Nico (2026 Jan 4) December 2025 TTRPG Crowdfunding Retrospective. https://ttrpg-spider.blogspot.com/2026/01/december-2025-ttrpg-crowdfunding.html. Backerkit growth and less money chasing more projects.
Maliszewski, James (2026 Jan 1) RIP Tim Kask (1949—2025). https://grognardia.blogspot.com/2026/01/rip-tim-kask-19492025.html. TSR original. A remembrance from Travis Miller.
Maliszewski, James (2026 Jan 20) The Original “Dungeon” Delver. https://grognardia.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-original-dungeon-delver.html. The works and influence of Abraham Merritt.
Manuel, Thomas (2026 Jan 12) Despite a tumultuous year, Monte Cook Games seems more stable than ever. https://www.rascal.news/despite-a-tumultuous-year-monte-cook-games-seems-more-stable-than-ever. Reflections on a year of challenges.
Messersmith, (2026 Jan 3) 2025 Year End RPG-related Crowdfunding Report. https://skalchemist.cloud/mediawiki/index.php/2025_Year_End_RPG-related_Crowdfunding_Report. Backerkit growth and less money chasing more projects.
Murphy, Quinn (2026 Jan 6) Thinking of A Master Plan: Hip Hop, TTRPGs and the Power of Imaginative Defiance. https://thoughtcrimegames.beehiiv.com/p/thinking-of-a-master-plan. Expression, creativity, and defiance across media and styles.
Oxley, Dyer (2026 Jan 29) Seattle’s Dungeons and Drag Queens is a critical hit. https://www.kuow.org/stories/dungeons-and-drag-queens-seattle. Combining play and comedy in a queer space.
Patringenaru, Ioana (2026 Jan 20) From Chatbots to Dice Rolls: Researchers Use D&D to Test AI’s Long-term Decision-making Abilities. https://today.ucsd.edu/story/from-chatbots-to-dice-rolls-researchers-use-dd-to-test-ais-long-term-decision-making-abilities. Testing LLMs with D&D. Analysis from Christopher Hutton and the potential of AI DMs.
Robinson, Caroline (2025 Dec 31) Study explores the wellbeing impact of board games. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75v54k6y7go. RPGs also included in the study.
Strebel, Ian and Matt McKenzie (2023 Aug 18) Embrace the Nerd: Dungeons & Dragons and Military Intelligence. https://warontherocks.com/2023/08/embrace-the-nerd-dungeons-dragons-and-military-intelligence. RPGs in professional military education.
Teh, Cheryl (2026 Jan 3) Critical Role’s chief creative officer, Matt Mercer, explains how he avoids burnout. https://www.businessinsider.com/critical-role-cco-matt-mercer-top-tip-cope-with-burnout-2026-1. Taking a break.
Volk, Jason (2026 Jan 3) New AirD&D Resort Offers the Ultimate RPG Getaway. https://dungeonsanddragonsfan.com/new-airdnd-vacation-rental. D&D-themed rental property in British Columbia.
Volk, Jason (2026 Jan 4) Dungeons & Dragons Press-On Nails Are Now A Thing. https://dungeonsanddragonsfan.com/dungeons-and-dragons-press-on-nails. They look ferocious.
Weird Place (2026 Jan 15) The Secret Sauce of Italian TTRPGs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXpjxPvG5aU&t=33s. History and growth of games from the peninsula.
Whitehead, Adam (2026 Jan 20) RIP Jean Rabe. https://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2026/01/rip-jean-rabe.html. Author, editor, and journalist at TSR and beyond. More from Russ Morrissey and Facebook page link.
Zinni, Anthony (2026 Jan 5) How Did Gary Think People Would Play D&D?. https://revivifygames.com/blogs/news/how-did-gary-think-people-would-play-dnd. Interpreting Gygax’s early descriptions of preparation and play.
© Copyright 2026 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.