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
Please, vote online for your choices for the CAR-PGa Board.
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
Hi All,
As we wind down for the holidays and gear up for next year, it is time for me to admit that my bandwidth for several of my long-standing commitments has narrowed. I was recently named Director, Global Talent Attraction for GE Vernova and now teach Dungeons & Dragons to adults at my local library every weekend. To accommodate these exciting new challenges, I am making several important transitions.
I will be transitioning leadership of the Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games (CAR-PGA). Having served as Chair for over seven years, I will not seek that role for 2026. Please know that I remain fiercely proud of the work we’ve accomplished. I am happy to stay on the board and look forward to a new Chair taking the reins.
I will also be stepping down as the Managing Editor of the Columnist Program at EN World. When I was named to this role over seven years ago, I was unsure if I could handle the organizational weight of running a global team of writers. But a funny thing happened: the work, the people, and the community drew me in. I am immensely proud of the sheer volume, quality, and dedication displayed by the team of freelancers who contributed every week to their columns. Speaking of columns, I will continue to write and deliver the analysis and worldbuilding insights you have come to expect in RPG Evolution, which you can still find on EN World every Monday.
Finally, my family is completing our Scouting journey. My son has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, culminating in a summit of the Tooth of Time in Philmont, New Mexico. My own journey in adult leadership is now reaching its conclusion, spanning over a decade of service since 2014, including roles as Assistant Cubmaster, Cub Scout Committee Chair, Scoutmaster, and most recently, an Eagle Scout Service Project Coach. The opportunity to help develop a generation of young men through the methods of Scouting has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
Change is often uncomfortable, but I am embracing this new chapter with the hopes that stepping away from these responsibilities will open new doors. Thank you to every committee member, every reader, and every Scout who has been a part of these journeys. It has been an honor to serve you all.
I hope you have a restful holiday, and I look forward to our new board nominations for 2026.
Sincerely,
Mike Tresca
[Thank you, Mike, for your many years leading this organization. CAR-PGa is stronger through your work. -Editor]
BOARD CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
It’s election season! Please, vote online for your choices for the CAR-PGa Board.
David Millians
I teach fifth and sixth graders and have explored applications of games in educational settings for many years. I am a current board member and editor of this newsletter.
Sebastiane Sacerdoti-Ravenscroft
I am an experienced Storyteller for Vampire the Masquerade and Brindlewood Bay, as well as a player and DM for Dungeons and Dragons. I am a current co-chair for a community organisation that hosts a monthly D&D event for new and experienced players to come and play as well as learn. Currently, I’m in a Master’s program with a focus on using ttrpgs in therapy/ counselling as part of play therapy, with a view to go into a research PhD on the subject. I think what I would like to see more of in the future would probably be more of a presence at cons and panels discussions, maybe a podcast with interviews? This is a fascinating topic and as more therapists are utilising ttrpgs in their practise, it would be cool to spread the information in this way.
Ted Skirvin
I have been a member of CAR-PGa since about 1996. Back in the old days I was the Regional Director for the South U.S. I have had many articles in the CAR-PGa newsletter. I am interested in reviving the YouTube interviews. I’m willing to take on the task that Mike began by conducting the interviews for YouTube. I think they should be quarterly rather than monthly.
Michael Tresca
I have been Committee Chair for seven years and am the host of the CAR-PGA’s YouTube channel, where I conducted monthly interviews with RPG luminaries from all walks of life..
Adam Watson
I’m Adam Watson (adamwatson.org), an author and a public school educator since 2005. You may know me as the writer of “Educational Electrum,” my column contribution to our monthly newsletter for the last six months. Not only do I feel the importance of promoting the positives of TTRPGs, I believe strongly that TTRPGs can innovate instruction, particularly for K-12. In 2022, I launched Kentucky Educators for Role Playing Games (kyedrpg.com), curating resources and celebrating educators using TTRPGs in their classrooms within the Bluegrass and beyond. I’ve presented at numerous professional development sessions about the topic, including at Gen Con and GAMA Expo. The research behind my site culminated in writing the book recently published by McFarland, Tabletop Role-Playing Games in the Classroom. If I’m elected to the board, I will prioritize expanding the outreach of CAR-PGa and raising the profile of our organization. In the next year, I want to see our membership – as measured by our newsletter signups, YouTube subscribers, etc. – increase by 20%. While my own social media metrics demonstrate the capacity to help us reach a wider audience (as just one example, my total lifetime combined views of my blog and YouTube channel is approaching 700,000), I know it will require the efforts of all of us to elevate CAR-PGa into a larger, more active force in the community. By joining the board, I want to keep our advocacy growing.
ARTICLES
Adam’s Educational Electrum
December 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.
Happy Holidays to all those that celebrate! As you are reading this, my book Tabletop Role-Playing Games in the Classroom: Infusing Gameplay into K-12 Instruction will have just hit the shelves (officially as of November 30). So if you’re looking for a gift for the educator friend or family member in your life, the teacher of your children, or just for yourself, please visit here for more information.
For further gift consideration, you can never have enough TTRPGs! (Or dice. But we will stick with games for the purpose of this month’s column.)
One of the major concerns of teachers wanting to implement TTRPGs in the classroom is finding a system that can be learned quickly and easily. In particular, educators of younger students might appreciate light mechanics. While it’s true that any TTRPG, including the “world’s most famous,” can be scaffolded or simplified for instruction, it’s nice if the system is ready to roll (pun intended) from the start, and that is where 9th Level Games’s Polymorph System comes into play. (Note that you can get a free downloadable PDF of the system that you are welcome to utilize for creating your own TTRPGs for home or classroom use, so long as you don’t try to monetize it.)
In Polymorph, what we might label a “class” in other systems becomes your die. These are called Roles. For example, if you are an Expert (a booksmart person, like a wizard or a scholar), you always roll just a d4, with no special modifiers to add or subtract. In Polymorph, only players roll – never the GM – which also means the gameplay is faster. Success is determined by rolling against the “Resolver Table,” and here is where the simple but elegant balance of the system really shines. Let’s say you want to successfully achieve an Outcome of a Mental Activity. To succeed, you have to roll a 2 or 3. This means a d4 Expert has a 50% chance of success, but a d10 “Tank” character only has a 20% chance. (There are exceptions, but for the sake of this simplified explanation, we will set them aside.) Of course, these Roles and Outcomes can be themed and renamed to fit the setting of your TTRPG world. Polymorph is therefore a system that heavily emphasizes co-created storytelling over rules and rolls.
The Polymorph System is integrated throughout 9th Level’s TTRPGs. In fact, there are several not only aimed at younger players, but are printed as physically smaller handheld books (such as The Excellents and Nancy Druid). Recently, 9th Level Games published Venture Society, a TTRPG aimed for elementary-aged students. It’s the first “starter set” I’m aware of that has multiple elements designed for play in classroom or therapy settings from the moment you unseal the package. The box contains a quick start guide, a campaign with multiple adventures, dice, pre-generated character sheets on dry erasable boards, black dry erase markers, a “professional’s guidebook” with tips for teachers and therapists, and more.
As we wrap up (gift wrapping! oh, the puns are plentiful this month!), it’s good timing while we are in the holiday season to remind you to find and visit your local game shop. Not only will your purchases there support a small business, but you can begin a community relationship that goes beyond discounts and donations. A game shop employee can be a guest speaker for your classroom to describe how TTRPGs work or how to make a living selling them; a volunteer to help GM or at least explain directions for a TTRPG to your game club; and last but not least, be a wonderful partner in pairing your educational objectives, content and grade level with the right TTRPG.
May your rolls and roles be merry and bright!
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. He recently wrote the book Tabletop Role-Playing Games in the Classroom: Infusing Gameplay into K-12 Instruction, 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.
American Library Association (2025 Nov 26) GameRT Announces 2025 Platinum Play Award Recipients. https://www.ala.org/news/2025/11/gamert-announces-2025-platinum-play-award-recipients. Games & Gaming Round Table of the association recognizes Board or Card Games, Tabletop Role-Playing Games, and Video Games.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Nov 6) Review of Frances & Ġorġ Camp Make Believe, a TTRPG for little kids. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/06/review-of-frances-gorg-camp-make-believe-a-ttrpg-for-little-kids. Cute, highly-accessible game play for young players.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Nov 10) Review of Cooking With Dice: The Acid Test, a TTRPG and cookbook combo. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/10/review-of-cooking-with-dice-the-acid-test-a-ttrpg-and-cookbook-combo. Cooking inside and outside the game.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Nov 17) Review of Trash to Treasure, a TTRPG of magical girl trash goblins. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/17/review-of-trash-to-treasure-a-ttrpg-of-magical-girl-trash-goblins. Magic girls fight the power.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Nov 19) My experience with postpartum depression and how D&D helped. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/19/my-experience-with-postpartum-depression-and-how-dd-helped. Frank introspection and the importance of engagement and community.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Nov 20) TTRPGs in EDU – Not Just Math and Reading: Recording from Origins 2025. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/20/ttrpgs-in-edu-not-just-math-and-reading-recording-from-origins-2025. Audio and slideshow exploring games in academics.
Campbell, Stephanie (2025 Nov 24) Review of Adventure! – a guide to adventure-making essentials. https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/24/review-of-adventure-a-guide-to-adventure-making-essentials. Teaching game design.
Carter, Chase (2025 Nov 3) UK Games Expo criticized for promoting RPG with generative AI imagery. https://www.rascal.news/uk-games-expo-criticized-for-promoting-rpg-with-generative-ai-imagery. Unanswered questions and larger questions about art, creativity, and ownership.
Carter, Chase (2025 Nov 25) Every day cannot be a holiday. https://www.rascal.news/every-day-cannot-be-a-holiday. An increasingly crowded calendar of special promotions.
Carter, Chase (2025 Nov 27) Thought Bubble made space for RPGs and joy at the complicated comics festival. https://www.rascal.news/thought-bubble-made-space-for-rpgs-and-joy-at-the-complicated-comics-festival. Funky, open creativity surviving in an upscale landscape and corporate context.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2025 Nov 13) Kickstarter United ends six-week strike with a resounding victory. https://www.rascal.news/kickstarter-united-ends-six-week-strike-with-a-resounding-victory. A wide variety of improvements for workers.
Chan, Khee Hoon (2025 Nov 25) DriveThruRPG’s offset print option proves unpopular among small creators. https://www.rascal.news/drivethrurpgs-offset-print-option-proves-unpopular-among-small-creators. Slim profits and little logistics support.
Codega, Lin (2025 Nov 28) Thirty Days of Bleed. https://www.rascal.news/thirty-days-of-bleed-over-under-mothership-larp. Analysis of intense online play.
David, Elliott & Brian Flaherty(2025 Nov 26) Over $50 Million for GMs (with Devon Chulick). https://open.spotify.com/episode/74cEJfxyzKBOkurqncW7lw. Online platform for players and paid GMs.
DeBos, Cody (2025 Nov 7) Players roll the dice on the healing power of collaborative fantasy. https://www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2025/11/07/players-roll-dice-healing-power-collaborative-fantasy. Social skills and personal health.
East, Otis (2025 Nov 17) User Generated Content Impact: How the Fans Took Over Entertainment (And Studios Are Just Trying to Keep Up As We Close 2025). https://www.blerd.com/user-generated-content-impact. Interesting fandom discussion in terms of RPG table play diverging from published designs.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Nov 11) Tabletop creators can now sell dice, books and cards directly via DriveThruRPG. https://www.geeknative.com/214196/tabletop-creators-can-now-sell-dice-books-and-cards-directly-via-drivethrurpg. Logistics systems for physical products.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Nov 18) State of the Mongoose: Dark Conspiracy returns, 2300AD goes standalone, and a permanent HQ. https://www.geeknative.com/215080/state-of-the-mongoose-dark-conspiracy-returns-2300ad-goes-standalone-and-a-permanent-hq. Annual corporate report.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Nov 27) UK Budget fallout: What the removal of Customs Relief means for Kickstarter backers. https://www.geeknative.com/215759/uk-budget-fallout-what-the-removal-of-customs-relief-means-for-kickstarter-backers. Costs may increase (or not) in several ways in 2029.
Girdwood, Andrew (2025 Nov 28) Role Play Haven brings Young Dragons and charity gaming to Dragonmeet 2025. https://www.geeknative.com/215779/role-play-haven-brings-young-dragons-and-charity-gaming-to-dragonmeet-2025. Expanded space for play.
Hutton, Christopher (2025 Nov 7) Are There Too Many Actual Plays? A closer look. https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/are-there-too-many-actual-plays-a-closer-look. Performance, marketing, and just playing and sharing.
Hutton, Christopher (2025 Nov 11) Taking a Deep Bite: Darkness Emergent and the ‘TTRPG Player to LARP’ Pipeline. https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/taking-a-deep-bite-darkness-emergent-and-the-ttrpg-player-to-larp-pipeline. Role playing and LARP connections.
Hutton, Christopher (2025 Nov 24) All the News from PAX Unplugged 2025: Daggerheart, Roll For Combat. https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/all-the-news-from-pax-unplugged-2025-daggerheart-roll-for-combat. New releases and game play.
Ionita, Serban (2025 Nov 11) The Shadowed Old Gods of Game Design: Remembering Holmes, Moldvay and Mentzer. https://therpggazette.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/the-shadowed-old-gods-of-game-design-remembering-holmes-moldvay-and-mentzer. Bringing clarity to early D&D.
Ionita, Serban (2025 Nov 21) Why the OSR Aesthetic Became a Movement: From Old School Renaissance blogs to MÖRK BORG’s art-punk explosion. https://therpggazette.wordpress.com/2025/11/21/why-the-osr-aesthetic-became-a-movement-from-old-school-renaissance-blogs-to-mork-borgs-art-punk-explosion. Fans and amateurs creating a style and industry.
Jones, Tamera & Steven Weintraub (2025 Nov 18) Dungeons and Dragons Was Originally Not Supposed to be a Big Part of ‘Stranger Things,’ According to Creators. https://collider.com/stranger-things-season-5-finale-dnd-dungeons-and-dragons-duffer-brothers-explain. Interview with the Duffer brothers.
MacDougall, Nico (2025 Nov 13) October 2025 TTRPG Crowdfunding Retrospective. https://ttrpg-spider.blogspot.com/2025/11/october-2025-ttrpg-crowdfunding.html. Growing AI elements and the impact of promotional months on crowdfunding sites.
Maliszewski, James (2025 Nov 27) Mapping the Blogosphere. https://grognardia.blogspot.com/2025/11/mapping-blogosphere.html. Elmcat’s visualization of RPG blogs and their interrelations.
Manuel. Thomas (2025 Nov 10) Solving secret puzzles at the Japanese mystery school. https://www.rascal.news/solving-secret-puzzles-at-the-japanese-mystery-school. Alanna Yeo interview about nazo games in Japanese culture.
Manuel. Thomas (2025 Nov 17) The Other Satanic Panics. https://www.rascal.news/the-other-satanic-panics. Attacks on gaming internationally, specifically Spain and Brazil.
Marshall, Cass (2025 Oct 31) We’re all broke, and horror games are digging into that dysfunction. https://www.rogue.site/editorials/were-all-broke-and-horror-games-are-digging-into-that-dysfunction. Relatable modern stakes.
Milner, Guy (2025 Nov 9) Two Can Play At That – Duet TTRPGs. https://burnafterrunningrpg.com/2025/11/09/two-can-play-at-that-duet-ttrpgs. Suggestions for 1-on-1 play.
Morrissey, Russ (2025 Nov 9) Fantasy Grounds Is Going Free To Play. https://www.enworld.org/threads/fantasy-grounds-is-going-free-to-play.716127. Virtual tabletop access for everyone.
Mukherjee, Rush (2025 Nov 21) Roll of the Dice: the TTRPG scene in India. https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/roll-of-the-dice-the-ttrpg-scene-in-india-101763713689997.html. Brief article on rapidly expanding play.
O’Brien, Brandon (2025 Nov 21) What does Session Zero of a protest look like?. https://www.rascal.news/what-does-session-zero-of-a-protest-look-like. Rehearsing for real life through games.
Rimmels, Beth (2025 Dec 20) Review of How To Dungeon Master Parenting. https://www.enworld.org/threads/review-of-how-to-dungeon-master-parenting.716272. Insightful guide to the adventure of parenting RPG kids.
Sapp, Brian (2025 Nov 25) Mural honors reclusive Carbondale Dungeons and Dragons artist. https://www.wsiu.org/social-community/2025-11-25/mural-honors-reclusive-carbondale-dungeons-and-dragons-artist. Castle Perilous honors David Trampier with a mural on Main St. in Carbondale, Illinois.
Serwer, Adam (2025 Nov 11) Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons & Dragons to Be Racist. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/11/dungeons-and-dragons-elon-musk/684828. Toxic legacies from the past collide with ever-expanding options for play.
Skorkowsky, Seth (2025 Nov 10) The 3 Waves of the RPG Moral Panic – RPG History. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpjV-melB-c. Fear and its cultural context.
Stenros, Jaakko & Markus Montola (2024) The Rule Book: The Building Blocks of Games. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2024. Layers of interacting rules from those explicit and printed to social and external in games from LARPs to NFL hockey to chess.
Tresca, Mike (2025 Nov 17) Inspiration from Saugus Iron Works. https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-evolution-inspiration-from-saugus-iron-works.716169. Forging conditions for RPG stories of conflict, intrigue, and discovery.
Tresca, Mike (2025 Nov 24) Gifts Ideas for Your DM (2025). https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-evolution-gifts-ideas-for-your-dm-2025.716313. From table elements to evocative props.
Verini, Bob (2025 Nov 20) Initiative: Dungeons & Dragons And Sex, Oh My. https://nystagereview.com/2025/11/20/initiative-dungeons-dragons-and-sex-oh-my. Growing up with D&D on the theater stage.
Voigt, A.A. (2025 Nov 18) “Wicked” Tabletop Games with which to Loathe Each Other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0pxLFlI-A8&t=4s. Games to explore difficult conversations and interactions.
Weird Place (2025 Oct 17) Play By Mail – Turn-based Gaming BEFORE the Internet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-PquWgocjc&t=40s. A history of play-by-mail gaming.
Weird Place (2025 Nov 21) We need to talk about Swedish TTRPGs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVASRMumGjI. History and development of Scandinavian RPG play and design.
© 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.