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

ARTICLES

I want to highlight a research link brought to my attention by Dr. Em Friedman. Her article is cited in the New Material section below and has more information about her work, as well as other links.

Martinolli, Pascal (2025 Mar 25) Trends & Tendencies: Academic Research on Tabletop Role-Playing Games Up to Today. https://pmartinolli.github.io/JDR50bibliometrie/index-english.html. Research trend analysis.

I didn’t want this article from last year to be lost in general bibliographic information in New Material. Martinolli’s analysis of game-related research over the last forty to fifty years is an impressive set of cross-sections regarding the growing fields of game and game-related studies.

CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES

Origins Game Fair 2026

Convention Report by Adam Watson

More Information and Photos at Adam’s Blog

Back in January, I was flattered to be asked by Maryanne Cullinan and Jennifer Genova to present at this year’s Game-Based Education & Therapy Conference (GBET), which occurs simultaneously with Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio.   (Origins is the main “open to the public” annual event ran by GAMA, alongside some retail-only conventions throughout the year.) Despite the fact that Columbus is not terribly far from where I live — about three hours — I had never been to Origins before, so I was thankful for the opportunity when I attended last week.

GBET runs over three days (Friday through Sunday) in a dedicated area of the convention center, mere steps away from the exhibit hall and other gaming opportunities.  I ended up presenting two sessions on Friday, June 19. 

Much of what I shared was parts of the professional learning on educational tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) I’ve been doing over the last few years, although clearly, I moved quickly past the “What are TTRPGs?” with the crowd at Origins!  I was grateful for all those who attended, as well as their enthusiastic participation.  A special thanks to several members of The Hills Have Nerds (Aaron! Cody!) who came to my first session — in particular, a shout out to Josh Damron who took several pictures and videos.

Josh also ran a wonderful Call of Cthulhu one shot he created, which allowed me to play that TTRPG for the first time — my character even survived!  More gratitude for Josh’s generosity of time and service.

A conference like Origins/GBET gave me the chance to not only meet several people in person for the first time, but to learn.  Some highlights:

• Adam Davis (an early and influential person who used TTRPGs in therapy, currently with foundry10) presented on the importance of gamemasters sharing power with their players to make a truly co-created story.
• I finally met Steph Campbell of TTRPGKids face-to-face! (Their website is full of resources and self-published materials, and I am still thankful to have been interviewed last year.)  I got a copy of Making a Tabletop RPG for YOUR Particular Kid: A Guide for Families, Friends, and Facilitators. I look forward to reading it.
• Carolyn Noe (of Superheroines Etc) had a session on how disabilities are represented in games.  It’s an important topic, and one that reminds us that as we know better, we should do better.
• Zachary Reznichek has been in the educational TTRPG space for several years, running workshops on the topic and self-publishing his book Teacher-Gamer Handbook, although I learned of his work only recently.  After connecting on social media, I was thankful to meet him in person when he attended one of my sessions.
• Back in March, I was a guest on The Twenty-Sided Gamified Podcast, hosted by Jared Fishman.  Jared and his organizational partner Kelly McManus had a session on “Designing Classroom Games and Game Based Learning,” which included a chance for me to play a few rounds of Diplomacy (and meet Jared face-to-face) for the first time!
• For pure fun, I had the chance to playtest (alongside Josh) an upcoming rules-light TTRPG called Further Adventure to be published by Limitless Adventures.  (They have always been a big supporter of educators in various ways; one of their resources is highlighted in my book.) You can follow when their new TTRPG launches on Kickstarter later this summer.
• Besides Maryanne, I was also thankful to meet her organizational partner Garrett Monroe in person.  Maryanne and Garrett’s Tabletop EDU has resources, self-published books, and ongoing engagement opportunities to learn from others on educational TTRPGs (follow them across social media for the latest).

I really enjoyed Origins, and the city of Columbus.  The convention center and connected hotels allowed for a conference that was large with lots of options, but still inviting and not overwhelming.  In particular, I was impressed with the sessions and presenters offered by GBET, and I believe its value for educators and therapists will only grow in the years to come.

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.

Bong, Xin Ying (2026 Jun 14) Chinese women are paying for romance – and they know it isn’t real. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/china-love-companion-games-scripted-romance-young-women-lianpei-6175706. Seeking emotional connection through live-action stories.

Campbell, Stephanie (2026 Jun 2) Review: Secrets of Enduril, TTRPG starter set and adventure made for kids. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2026/06/02/review-secrets-of-enduril-ttrpg-starter-set-and-adventure-made-for-kids. Coming to Kickstarter.

Campbell, Stephanie (2026 Jun 9) List of TTRPGs with Outdoorsy Vibes. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2026/06/09/list-of-ttrpgs-with-outdoorsy-vibes. Engaging with nature.

Campbell, Stephanie (2026 Jun 30) Review of Improv for Gamers, a guide for TTRPG players. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2026/06/30/review-of-improv-for-gamers-a-guide-for-ttrpg-players. Activities and advice for developing individual and group play skills.

Carter, Chase (2026 Jun 8) Paizo lays off 12 employees in the fallout of Diamond Comics’ bankruptcy. https://www.rascal.news/paizo-lays-off-12-employees-in-the-fallout-of-diamond-comics-bankruptcy. More discussion from Christopher Hutton.

Carter, Chase (2026 Jun 17) Lessons on play from Jerry Gretzinger and his ever-expanding map. https://www.rascal.news/lessons-on-play-from-jerry-gretzinger-and-his-ever-expanding-map. The game is the hobby is play. An interactive version of the map is here.

Chan, Khee Hoon (2026 Jun 9) First ever Jubenshacon scripts a murderously successful and sold out debut. https://www.rascal.news/first-ever-jubenshacon-scripts-a-murderously-successful-and-sold-out-debut. Gathering in London to explore emerging RPG forms.

Chan, Khee Hoon (2026 Jun 18) Designers support BackerKit’s collab-funding, say there’s no crowdfunding fatigue. https://www.rascal.news/designers-support-backerkits-collab-funding-say-theres-no-crowdfunding-fatigue. Seeking visibility and support.

Deyo, Nico (2026 Jun 4) Tabletop Bookshelf built its brick-and-mortar future out of past goodwill. https://www.rascal.news/tabletop-bookshelf-built-its-brick-and-mortar-future-out-of-past-goodwill. Community support and community benefits in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Esper the Bard (2026 May 5) The Real History of DungeonTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOq2Xr-jM4I. RPG content on YouTube from 2005 to the present.

Ford, Kol (2026 Jun 29) Permission to Play. https://www.nordiclarp.org/2026/06/29/permission-to-play. The emancipatory act of participating in play as adults.

Friedman, Em (2026 Jun 13) FAQ: TTRPGs in Education: What I do & don’t do (and who DOES). https://www.patreon.com/ecfriedman/posts/faq-ttrpgs-in-i-160216222. Areas of study with support and links.

Gassenschmidt, Angelos (2026 Jun 16) How D&D Is Building a Community in Greece. https://www.tovima.com/culture/how-dd-is-building-community-in-greece. Interview with Dimitris Ballios, founder of Exodus Games, a venue for tabletop RPG communities.

Girdwood, Andrew (2026 May 31) UK Games Expo 2026 breaks NEC attendance records as infrastructure buckles under massive crowds. https://www.geeknative.com/237191/uk-games-expo-2026-breaks-nec-attendance-records-as-infrastructure-buckles-under-massive-crowds. Massive gathering of excited gamers.

Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jun 6) The tabletop AI tax: Why policing machine learning is costing indies their livelihood. https://www.geeknative.com/237503/the-tabletop-ai-tax-why-policing-machine-learning-is-costing-indies-their-livelihood. The many professional hours spent refuting and discussing AI usage and developing new ways to get ahead of the conversation.

Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jun 11) DriveThruRPG limits storefront rules to eliminate new executable software. https://www.geeknative.com/237906/drivethrurpg-limits-storefront-rules-to-eliminate-new-executable-software. Concerns about AI coding.

Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jun 12) The tabletop AI divide: Why Tabletop Scotland mirrors London’s strict bans. https://www.geeknative.com/237929/the-tabletop-ai-divide-why-tabletop-scotland-mirrors-londons-strict-bans. Contrasting approaches and policies.

Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jun 23) BackerKit and DriveThruRPG link systems for instant digital delivery. https://www.geeknative.com/238612/backerkit-and-drivethrurpg-link-systems-for-instant-digital-delivery. Simplifying crowdfunding rewards for developers and consumers.

Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jun 25) Why the ASA ruling against Microsoft and Argos matters for virtual tabletops. https://www.geeknative.com/238643/why-the-asa-ruling-against-microsoft-and-argos-matters-for-virtual-tabletops. UK Advertising Standards Authority decision affects virtual tabletops in the United Kingdom and beyond.

Girdwood, Andrew (2026 Jun 30) How publishers are reimagining Free RPG Day for a hybrid world. https://www.geeknative.com/238922/how-publishers-are-reimagining-free-rpg-day-for-a-hybrid-world. Mix of physical zines, direct digital downloads, and interactive in-store QR codes.

Griepp, Milton (2026 Jun 8) Tariff Update: Administration Fighting Refunds, Imposing New Tariffs. https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/62556/tariff-update-administration-fighting-refunds-imposing-new-tariffs. Confusion and courts.

Hoffer, Christian (2026 Jun 11) D&D Beyond enables content sharing for Drops content. https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-beyond-enables-content-sharing-for-drops-content.719487. Policy changes after fan protests.

Hoffer, Christian (2026 Jun 23) Magic: The Gathering Arena employees votes for union, a first for Wizards of the Coast. https://www.enworld.org/threads/magic-the-gathering-arena-employees-votes-for-union-a-first-for-wizards-of-the-coast.719633. A first and the first step toward an agreement. More from Lin Codega.

Hoffer, Christian (2026 Jun 25) Deceased EN World columnist Rob Weiland among Diana Jones Award nominees. https://www.enworld.org/threads/deceased-en-world-columnist-rob-weiland-among-diana-jones-award-nominees.719651. Nominees include a board game, a miniatures game, and those who stood up to tariffs.

Hutton, Christopher (2026 Jun 7) Avantris Entertainment Raises $16.1M in Sci-Fi 5e TTRPG Crowdfunding Campaign. https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/news-roundup-avantris-breaks-records-w-16-million-neon-odyssey-kickstarter?utm_source=www.ttrpginsider.news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=news-roundup-avantris-breaks-records-w-16-million-neon-odyssey-kickstarter&_bhlid=406b786688e7ef12022be5dc28bd2e3c9d9ab168#avantris-entertainment-raises-161-m. Largest RPG crowdfunding to date.

Hutton, Christopher (2026 Jun 7) Dungeons and Dragons Launches Official Community Advisory Group. https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/news-roundup-avantris-breaks-records-w-16-million-neon-odyssey-kickstarter?utm_source=www.ttrpginsider.news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=news-roundup-avantris-breaks-records-w-16-million-neon-odyssey-kickstarter&_bhlid=406b786688e7ef12022be5dc28bd2e3c9d9ab168#dungeons-and-dragons-launches-offic. Future impact unclear.

Ionita, Serban (2026 Jun 2) A Conversation Across Screens: The Bidirectional Design Influence Between Tabletop and Video Game RPGs. https://therpggazette.wordpress.com/2026/06/02/a-conversation-across-screens-the-bidirectional-design-influence-between-tabletop-and-video-game-rpgs. Influences between play mediums.

Kinne, Oliver (2026 Jun 9) Spiel des Jahres – the award that was never really about awards. https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/06/09/spiel-des-jahres-the-award-that-was-never-really-about-awards-topic-discussion. Creating communities of community and trust around play.

MacDougall, Nico (2026 Jun 15) May 2026 TTRPG Crowdfunding Retrospective. https://ttrpg-spider.blogspot.com/2026/06/may-2026-ttrpg-crowdfunding.html. The most successful Kickstarter campaign in this month’s report used AI.

Manuel, Thomas (2026 Jun 12) As union loses 20% of membership to layoffs, Paizo’s CEO shares his concerns for the future of the company. https://www.rascal.news/as-union-loses-20-of-membership-to-layoffs-paizos-ceo-shares-his-concerns-for-the-future-of-the-company. Navigating within their previously-agreed procedures.

Manuel, Thomas (2026 Jun 24) At Origins, Apocalypse World inducted into Hall of Fame, Land of Eem wins RPG of the Year. https://www.rascal.news/at-origins-apocalypse-world-inducted-into-hall-of-fame-land-of-eem-wins-rpg-of-the-year. Honors and accolades for excellence.

Medina, Joel (2026 Jun 16) How ‘Twenty Sided Tavern’ tech is revolutionizing Dungeons and Dragons. https://gaymingmag.com/2026/06/how-twenty-sided-tavern-tech-is-revolutionizing-dungeons-and-dragons. Building in LGBTQ+ and building community through play.

Ore, Jonathan (2026 Jun 5) From Warhammer to orcs to Stranger Things, illustrator John Blanche’s ‘grimdark’ influence leaves big mark. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/john-blanche-artist-obit-9.7223642. Artist for White Dwarf, Warhammer, and more.

Paul, Andrew (2026 Jun 9) Giant 120-sided ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ dice highlights every element. https://www.popsci.com/science/d120-dungeon-dragons-elements-dice. Periodic Table die.

Russell, Mollie (2026 Jun 9) Tabletop creators push back against AI at UK Games Expo 2026. https://www.wargamer.com/tabletop-ai-ukge. Questions about convention rules.

Russell, Mollie (2026 Jun 17) “Mistakes are beautiful”: New actual play festival champions novice D&D DMs. https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/gm-fest-interview. Encouraging new game masters, especially championing female and non-binary DMs.

Salazar, Carlos (2026 Jun 29) Power Word Unity Releases New itch.io Bundle to Help BIPOC Folks in Tabletop Connect. https://www.rascal.news/dopower-word-unity-releases-new-itch-io-bundle-to-help-bipoc-folks-in-tabletop-connect. Creating spaces for BIPOC creators, designers, publishers, and gamers at Gen Con and future conventions.

Ursin, Jukka (2026 Jun 26) Finland adds tabletop role-playing culture to its National Inventory of Living Heritage (UNESCO convention). https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/1uggog1/finland_adds_tabletop_roleplaying_culture_to_its. The Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland decision.

West, Charlotte (2026 Jun 9) The Magic of Gathering in Prison. https://college-inside.beehiiv.com/p/the-magic-of-gathering-in-prison. Living outside isolation.

White, Alex (2026 Jun 21) Unconference Summer 2026. https://planesailinggames.com/review/2026-06-21-unconference-2026. Gathering for conversations.

© 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.