The Player-Learner Experience: A Comparison of Game Masters and Pedagogical Practices

The Player-Learner Experience: A Comparison of Game Masters and Pedagogical Practices

The Player-Learner Experience: A Comparison of Game Masters and Pedagogical Practices

Josh Aaron Miller

Abstract

"The game master (GM) in a tabletop roleplaying game serves many roles, from planning and directing a game to teaching other players how to play. In many ways, this role mirrors that of an instructor in the classroom who plans, orates, and directs a lesson. There are several game design tools and techniques which good GMs use to successfully engage their players, and these design principles parallel how good teachers lead a class. This article serves three purposes: first, to highlight the parallel relationships between the GM-Teacher and the Player-Learner; second, to propose this comparison as a lens to understanding the art of designed playful learning experiences; and finally, to offer a practical guide (in the Appendix) to GMs and teachers alike in interaction design, emphasizing the Player-Learner’s experience as a critical factor for enjoyable play and effective learning."

Reference

Ahmad, A., Law, E. L.-C., & Yueh, L. K. (2023). An educator-oriented method for designing serious role-playing games: An initial exploration. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2968(1), 060004. https://dl.digra.org/index.php/dl/article/view/1917

Keywords

Roleplaying Games, Game Mastering, Pedagogical Principles