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
BOARD NOMINATIONS
CAR-PGA will hold board elections in early 2026. This organization depends on engaged board members to direct its work.
Board members elect the chair, meet virtually a few times a year, and develop and encourage ongoing efforts to reflectively publicize RPGs and their benefits.
If you are interested in serving on the board or would like to nominate someone else, please send the name and a brief description of relevant background to be published in an upcoming newsletter.
It would be great to have your ideas and input as a member of the board.
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
Hello All,
I launched my first session at my local public library last weekend, and I’m pleased to report it was a success.
My original set up at the local branch of the library was changed; it turned out shuffling tables every week would be too much trouble, so instead we moved to the main public library. This turned out to be an unexpected boon, as we are now playing in a gorgeous room filled with wall-to-wall bookshelves, a model of a sailing ship in a glass case, and an eight-foot-long table. The Fairfield Public Library is nearly 150 years old, and we are playing in a room that is nearly 100 years old (the project began in 1928). While we lost a big screen TV, we gained a fantastic setting to play in. There’s a bathroom right next to the main room too.
We had eight slots available with six sign-ups and five attending. Of the new players, two of them were experienced, with the other three familiar with Dungeons & Dragons in other media but eager to learn.
We started at around 12 p.m. (the session technically starts at 11:45 a.m. just to get us set up). I decided to start with the real basics: explaining the three pillars of D&D (combat, exploration, and social), my DMing style, and introducing each polyhedral die and its function. We then rolled old-school: 4d6, drop the lowest. Assigning ability scores was interesting because in my mind D&D character creation is species > class > background. In the 2024 edition it’s class > background > species, because ability score selection is optimized for the class, which makes sense (this prevents players from making low Charisma bards and ineffective sorcerers, which might not be fun for new players, but I find very entertaining).
While they created their character concepts, I integrated them into my campaign world, meeting them halfway with their vision and placing them into my world: a bloodthirsty dragonborn who still believes in blood sacrifices to the old gods; a captain who might just be a pirate that accidentally set his ship on fire; a half-elf drow sick of being an outcast and far from home; a wizard in search of the keys to magical creation; and a half-giant (goliath) on a vision quest. A motley crew to be sure, but then every D&D group is. All told, it took 2.5 hours to get started.
I created a 100-page document detailing the town of Hammersmith and adventures there, where dwarves run an ironworks that never stops and human farmers harvest pumpkins, while the dwarves eye the woodlands for their forges. The tension is palpable, and everyone is in debt one way or the other. But after all that character creation, I decided they just wanted to flex their characters’ powers; while they were supposed to arrive by a stagecoach (pulled by giant goats, as it’s run by dwarves), I just threw a bunch of wolves at them.
Exciting combat ensued, and the 1st-level PCs nearly died, but they made it and arrived in town. With the combat pillar out of the way, they began the exploration pillar but were less inclined to venture on their own. They spent most of their time figuring out the town’s tense dynamics, setting up shop at the local inn and then role-playing in the saloon (the social pillar) where our resident bard captain broke out the bagpipes (dwarves love a good bagpipe!) and started a singalong that got drinks and rumors flowing.
It’s been a long time since I’ve played a D&D game for five hours, and what a difference it makes! I let the PCs do their thing, they let me do mine, and we had a grand time. We’re now on our regular rhythm of the first weekend of each month being a teaching/gaming session for newbies, and the next three weekends our regular D&D game. The town is set up so that all PCs are in it doing different things in real time, so characters can dip in and out as needed.
I’ve only got one person signed up for the Learn to Play D&D session this weekend, but nearly all the slots for the regular session have been booked. If you know someone in the southern Connecticut area who’s interested, please share this link to register. We’ll see if I get any additional sign-ups, but however it works out, I’m so thankful that I can give back to the community and have fun doing it.
I hope you have a wonderful Halloween and a great Thanksgiving (if you’re in the U.S.)!
Sincerely,
Mike
ARTICLES
Adam’s Educational Electrum
November 2025
Hello, and welcome to my column for the monthly CAR-PGa newsletter! For those readers out there who are educators, 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.
A decade ago, I was very excited to discover the online platform Classcraft. Fantasy-themed and clearly influenced by TTRPGs, it was part digital Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support tracker (where students could earn “XP” by doing positive behaviors to level up their avatars) and part learning management system (where teachers could assign work, in the form of “quests”). Back in 2017, I even wrote a blog for their website. Sadly, the company was sold in 2024, and the new owners have completely changed the interface; all of the fantasy theming and game-based features are gone, with no sign of when, if ever, they will return.
Fortunately, I recently discovered a modern alternative to Classcraft, created by a Canadian teacher Jeremy Grauer and his software developer brother Josh Grauer, who also manages and updates the platform: TeachQuest. As of this writing, it’s been utilized by over 1300 teachers and nearly 13,000 students – and it’s free to use!
To quote from its website, TeachQuest can “transform your classroom into an epic RPG adventure” and is a ”gamified classroom management system” that “engage[s] students, track[s] progress, and create[s] an immersive educational environment.” Students choose (or are given) one of four heroic roles – Defender, Wizard, Medic, Augmentor — that can help teach durable skills such as critical thinking (in the form of strategy) and productive collaboration. Like Classcraft, TeachQuest can function as a learning management system for assigning work as well as tracking and fostering PBIS and academic achievement. Formative and summative assessments can become “epic raids” and “boss battles.” Work can be solo or in a group, and rewards and consequences can also be similarly shared. Students have multiple metrics to demonstrate their current real-time status and growth, allowing for leveling up and other upgrades:
- Health Points (HP): HP can be used for managing behavior and are lost as a consequence of making unwise choices. However, Defenders can protect other students from losing HP, and Medics can help them “heal.”
- Experience Points (XP): These can determine your current “level” (i.e. academic proficiency) and are earned by completing assignments and demonstrating mastery of learning.
- Gold Pieces (GP): These are “paid” for enacting positive behaviors and spent on avatar customizations, pets, and upgraded desktop backgrounds.
- Mana Points (MP): Used for “spells,” students can earn these for positive behaviors and spend them to create in-game effects as well as gain real-world special privileges.
A final nod of appreciation is for the multiple “demo tools” of the platform, such as a dice roller (from d4 to d20, including d%), timer/stopwatch, and noise tracker. It should also be emphasized that many of the features of TeachQuest can be customized by the teacher for their own students and classroom.
It’s evident that TeachQuest is a labor of love, and the Grauers truly have a passion for improving learning and bringing joy to both teachers and students. I’ve been impressed how much they seek feedback from users (particularly on Discord), and how often they upgrade and improve the platform. In the spirit of November, I want to wrap up my column by giving huge thanks to Jeremy and Josh for providing, as they proclaim it, the “#1 Classcraft Alternative.”
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 and GAMA Expo. In 2022, he launched Kentucky Educators for Role Playing Games, sharing how TTRPGs can positively impact student learning. His forthcoming book Tabletop Role-Playing Games in the Classroom: Infusing Gameplay into K-12 Instruction will be published by McFarland. 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 (2025 Oct 20) Palace of the Silver Princess: How TSR Recalled and Pulped A D&D Adventure. https://www.rascal.news/palace-of-the-silver-princess-how-tsr-recalled-and-pulped-a-d-d-adventure. Shifting boundaries and TSR’s first woman writer in the heady days of D&D’s explosive growth in popularity and production, excerpt from Appelcline’s latest book.
Baker, Kamrin (2025 Oct 24) New study: Dungeons & Dragons provides real benefits to people with disabilities and the elderly. https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/dungeons-and-dragons-mental-health-benefits. Dr. Emily Messina’s research into RPGs as “serious leisure” and the potential benefits for all.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 2) Review of Zombieees! In Santa’s Village, a kind of wholesome holiday horror mashup. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/02/review-of-zombieees-in-santas-village-a-kind-of-wholesome-holiday-horror-mashup. Spooky holiday adventures for all ages.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 6) Review of 500 Year Old Vampire, a pedagogical game about history… and vampires. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/06/review-of-500-year-old-vampire-a-pedagogical-game-about-history-and-vampires. Using games to explore history, best for 13+ year olds.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 8) More Than Alt Text: Designing For Accessibility, Available on Indiana State Library Youtube. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/08/more-than-alt-text-designing-for-accessibility-available-on-indiana-state-library-youtube. Gen Con panel video now available online.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 13) Review of Familiar Field Trip, a competitive multiplayer TTRPG for mischievous critters. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/13/review-of-familiar-field-trip-a-competitive-multiplayer-ttrpg-for-mischievous-critters. Playful PvP adventures for all ages.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 16) Creating the Next Generation of Problem Solvers With TTRPGs: Recording from Origins 2025. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/16/creating-the-next-generation-of-problem-solvers-with-ttrpgs-recording-from-origins-2025. Teaching problem solving.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 20) Review of Spellbinders Book 2: Break the Game. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/20/review-of-spellbinders-book-2-break-the-game. Fun follow up volume to introspective YA adventure book.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 22) Review of Halloween Plot Hooks from the 7yo Dungeon Master. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/22/review-of-halloween-plot-hooks-from-the-7yo-dungeon-master. Halloween story starters from a young writer.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 23) Interview with Jay Dragon on meaning in games, respecting the concept of the child, and designing with intention. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/23/interview-with-jay-dragon-on-meaning-in-games-respecting-the-concept-of-the-child-and-designing-with-intention. Honesty, integrity, and games for children and adults.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 27) Review of The Quiet Year, an eerie map-making TTRPG. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/27/review-of-the-quiet-year-an-eerie-map-making-ttrpg. Mapmaking and maps for players as young as seven.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Oct 30) TTRPGkids Gamehole Con 2025 Recap. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/10/30/ttrpgkids-gamehole-con-2025-recap. Panels and conversations.
Carter, Chase (2025 Oct 28) Tariffs are killing “uncommon” RPGs. https://www.rascal.news/tariffs-are-killing-uncommon-rpgs. Enough Uncertainty to stall publications.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2025 Oct 1) Kickstarter United workers will strike beginning October 2. https://www.rascal.news/kickstarter-united-workers-will-strike-beginning-october-2. Majority votes to push more strongly for their negotiating points.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2025 Oct 3) GAMA appoints the trade organization’s first COO amid larger restructure. https://www.rascal.news/gama-appoints-the-trade-organizations-first-coo-amid-larger-restructure. Melinda Prickett’s appointment is part of reorganization to adapt to changing industry needs and planning.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2025 Oct 8) GAMA’s John Stacy is stepping down as executive director. https://www.rascal.news/gamas-john-stacy-is-stepping-down-as-executive-director. More transitions and reflections at the trade organization.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2025 Oct 8) Kickstarter United strikes in New York City for fairer contract. https://www.rascal.news/kickstarter-united-strikes-in-new-york-city-for-fairer-contract. Joined by elected officials and other labor organizations.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2025 Oct 16) Jubensha is going international. https://www.rascal.news/jubensha-is-going-international. Popular mystery games expanding out of China.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2025 Oct 29) DriveThruRPG is now selling offset print books in the US. https://www.rascal.news/drivethrurpg-is-now-selling-offset-print-books-in-the-us. Higher-quality printing puts this Roll20 company in a powerful distribution position in the USA.
Chulick, Devon (2025 Sep 3) Tabletop Therapy: How RPGs Support Mental Health, Friendships, and Romantic Bonds. https://startplaying.games/blog/posts/tabletop-rpg-mental-health-relationships. Perceived social-emotional benefits of game play.
Didymus-True, Mike (2025 Oct 2) GAMA unveils 10-year plan to become “epicenter” of global tabletop gaming industry, renames itself after almost 50 years. https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/10/02/gama-unveils-10-year-plan-to-become-epicenter-of-global-tabletop-gaming-industry-renames-itself-after-almost-50-years. GAMA’s 10-year plan to expand its range and support over the next decade.
Donald, Asa & Alex Johnson (2025 Oct 16) How do we talk about TTRPG Books?. https://www.backwardstabletop.com/how-do-we-talk-about-ttrpg-books. Terminology and play.
Donald, Asa & Alex Johnson (2025 Oct 21) A Defense of Reading TTRPGs. https://www.backwardstabletop.com/a-defense-of-reading-ttrpgs. Interaction of text and game and play.
Echohawk (2025 Oct 6) General How Much D&D Stuff Is There Anyway? Part 3: Magazines. https://www.enworld.org/threads/how-much-d-d-stuff-is-there-anyway-part-3-magazines.715570. From the Strategic Review of 1975 through today.
Echohawk (2025 Oct 16) How Much D&D Stuff Is There Anyway? Part 4: Novels. https://www.enworld.org/threads/how-much-d-d-stuff-is-there-anyway-part-4-novels.715769. Over 600 books over four decades.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 2) The Strong Museum partners with Google for D&D’s 50th anniversary. https://www.geeknative.com/205608/the-strong-museum-partners-with-google-for-dds-50th-anniversary. Link to online exhibition.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 5) Lootrion app launches to move TTRPG shopping sprees out of the session. https://www.geeknative.com/206345/lootrion-app-launches-to-move-ttrpg-shopping-sprees-out-of-the-session. Taking in-game shopping online.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 7) Official D&D costumes for Clerics, Paladins, and Wizards are now on Amazon. https://www.geeknative.com/207007/official-dd-costumes-for-clerics-paladins-and-wizards-are-now-on-amazon. Official themed outfits.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 15) Master of Lore’s developers on building an AI GM that actually remembers. https://www.geeknative.com/208378/master-of-lores-developers-on-building-an-ai-gm-that-actually-remembers. Technical challenges and controversies in creating a storytelling AI.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 15) In surprise move, Wargames Atlantic founder reveals secret identity and repays old debts. https://www.geeknative.com/208472/in-surprise-move-wargames-atlantic-founder-reveals-secret-identity-and-repays-old-debts. Making good on a decade-old Kickstarter failure.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 17) Diamond bankruptcy: Consignor group enters mediation talks. https://www.geeknative.com/208814/diamond-bankruptcy-consignor-group-enters-mediation-talks. Possible step towards resolution.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 20) Can an ‘Organic Literature’ stamp save human authors from the AI flood?. https://www.geeknative.com/209605/can-an-organic-literature-stamp-save-human-authors-from-the-ai-flood. Marking and protecting human work.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 24) D&D club’s safe space mission tested in £150k founder lawsuit. https://www.geeknative.com/210641/dd-clubs-safe-space-mission-tested-in-150k-founder-lawsuit. Dispute among the founders of a high-end RPG club and bar.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 24) It’s official: Wizards of the Coast confirms D&D’s Sigil VTT is shutting down. https://www.geeknative.com/210648/its-official-wizards-of-the-coast-confirms-dds-sigil-vtt-is-shutting-down. Troubled virtual game platform will vanish October 31, 2026. More from Lin Codega.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 24) Wayland Games supports British Library’s deep dive into Secret Maps. https://www.geeknative.com/210556/wayland-games-supports-british-librarys-deep-dive-into-secret-maps. Game company helps sponsor historical map exhibition.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 27) D&D Beyond now requires you to agree to a Class Action Waiver. https://www.geeknative.com/211293/dd-beyond-now-requires-you-to-agree-to-a-class-action-waiver. Changing legal language, sometimes for the better.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Oct 27) The Quest Isn’t Over: Read our interview with Anjali Bhimani and help the Puppy Roll 2 reach its goal for Petco Love. https://www.geeknative.com/211343/the-quest-isnt-over-read-our-interview-with-anjali-bhimani-and-help-the-puppy-roll-2-reach-its-goal-for-petco-love. Playing D&D to fundraise for pets.
Hillegas, Brenda (2025 Oct 6) Roll for Drama: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern comes to Miller Theater. https://metrophiladelphia.com/drama-dungeons-dragons-miller-theater. Interactive drama game on stage.
Howard, Will (2025 Oct 25) Saving Throws: How Dungeons and Dragons survived the Satanic Panic. https://dangerousminds.net/history/dungeons-dragons-survived-the-satanic-panic. Lessons from the past.
Hutton, Christopher (2025 Oct 5) Inkarnate Affirms Ban on AI-generated Content in Marketplace. https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/news-roundup-critical-role-campaign-4-sparks-a-surge-of-interest-from-fans#inkarnate-affirms-ban-on-a-igenerat. Zero tolerance.
Hutton, Christopher (2025 Oct 23) Q3 2025: Hasbro Doubling Down on D&D’s “Digital Games”. https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/q3-2025-hasbro-doubling-down-on-d-d-s-digital-games. Video games and online RPG platform.
Ionita, Serban (2025 Oct 2) The Dungeon as Myth: From Labyrinths to Archives. https://therpggazette.wordpress.com/2025/10/02/the-dungeon-as-myth-from-labyrinths-to-archives. Dungeons emerge from deep traditions into play.
Ionita, Serban (2025 Oct 16) Designers as Poets: The Literary Voice of RPG Rules Texts. https://therpggazette.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/designers-as-poets-the-literary-voice-of-rpg-rules-texts. Tone and immersion.
Lenton, Patrick (2025 Sep 29) ‘Laughing at a libertarian crypto dragon? That rules’: Brennan Lee Mulligan on how Dungeons & Dragons took over the world. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/sep/30/games-master-brennan-lee-mulligan-interview-dungeons-dragons-endless-dungeon-live-show. Bewildering rise of streaming games also brings us together.
MacDougall, Nico (2025 Oct 7) September 2025 TTRPG Crowdfunding Retrospective. https://ttrpg-spider.blogspot.com/2025/10/september-2025-ttrpg-crowdfunding.html. Possible plateau in fundraising.
Meinberg, Mids (2025 Oct 15) A Formalist Approach to The Rule Book. https://goatsongrpg.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/a-formalist-approach-to-the-rule-book. Different viewpoints for examining the nature of a game.
Minshew, Andy (2025 Oct 27) Romance Books for Dungeons & Dragons Fans. https://bookriot.com/romance-books-for-dungeons-dragons-fans. Love takes many forms.
Morrissey, Russ (2025 Oct 13) Gaming Journalist Rob Wieland Passes At Age 48. https://www.enworld.org/threads/gaming-journalist-rob-wieland-passes-at-age-48.715723. We’ve lost a voice of the hobby. More and links from Chase Carter.
Notestine, Clayton (2025 Oct 6) The Awards Debrief 2025. https://www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-1. Four-part discussion and analysis of the Ennies and judging them.
Phoenix, Bronwen Winter (2025 Oct 4) ‘Stranger Things’ cast look back on their first day on set, and their D&D journey . https://www.geeknative.com/206311/stranger-things-cast-looks-back-on-their-first-day-on-set-and-their-dd-journey-video. Promo video for final season notes D&D in the mix.
Robinson, Hawke (2025 Oct) My Personal AI Journey 1977 to 2025: Part 1 of 5 – How Role-Playing Games and Early Computing Shaped Four Decades of AI Development. https://www.hawkerobinson.com/news/my-personal-ai-journey-1977-to-2025-part-1-of-5-how-role-playing-games-and-early-computing-shaped-four-decades-of-ai-development. Games and coding and the possibilities.
STAR Institute for Sensory Processing (2025) Game to Grow Training Series. https://sensoryhealth.org/basic/game-to-grow-training-series. For mental health professionals, educators, and community members looking to elevate their practice and make a lasting impact through immersive and engaging experiences.
Swingle, Emily (2025 Oct 28) “We’re going on a pedal quest!”: This YouTuber has created a Dungeons & Dragons inspired pedalboard game – and we wanna play. https://guitar.com/news/music-news/dungeons-and-dragons-pedalboard-game-pedal-playhouse. Only a veneer of D&D but a noisy bit of fun.
Valente, Alex (2025 Oct 22) Andrea’s Adventurers 2025 Charity Stream. https://www.rascal.news/done-andreas-adventurers-2025-charity-stream. Benefitting Canadian Cancer Society.
Watson, Adam (2025 Oct 9) KyEdRPG Spotlight: Librarian Laura Mann and TTRPGs for Literacy. https://watsonedtech.blogspot.com/2025/10/kyedrpg-spotlight-librarian-laura-mann.html. Literature and engaging middle schoolers.
Wood, Laura (2025 Oct 20) Performance and Audience in Larp. https://nordiclarp.org/2025/10/20/performance-and-audience-in-larp. Exploring who is watching and experiencing a game and how.
Zook, Austin (2025 Oct 24) We Tried the New Dungeons & Dragons Immersive Experience in Plano. https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts-culture/we-tried-the-new-dungeons-dragons-immersive-experience-in-plano-40609786. One hour live RPG experience full fun and a few technical issues.
© 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.