Beyond Dungeons and Dragons: Studying Medieval Table-top Games
Beyond Dungeons and Dragons: Studying Medieval Table-top Games
Beyond Dungeons and Dragons: Studying Medieval Table-top Games
June, 20, 2025
Summary
Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) have surged in popularity since their 1970s origins, often drawing from fantasy and medieval themes. Medievalist Thom Gobbitt explores how TTRPGs can portray and teach about the early Middle Ages. He focuses on historical accuracy versus authenticity, pedagogy, and using games for research. While games like Dungeons & Dragons dominate, Gobbitt seeks broader, global medieval representations. He believes TTRPGs, though not needing strict accuracy, can still incorporate scholarly insights. Currently, he's developing a game based on Lombard laws and building a larger research project. For Gobbitt, TTRPGs uniquely blend imagination, education, and historical inquiry.
Reference
Austrian Academy of Sciences. (2025, June 20). Beyond Dungeons and Dragons: Studying medieval table-top games. https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/news/beyond-dungeons-and-dragons-studying-medieval-table-top-games