This handbook collects, for the first time, the state of research on role-playing games (RPGs) across disciplines, cultures, and media in a single, accessible volume. Collaboratively authored by more than 50 key scholars, it traces the history of RPGs, from wargaming precursors to tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons to the rise of live action role-play and contemporary computer RPG and massively multiplayer online RPG franchises, like Fallout and World of Warcraft. Individual chapters survey the perspectives, concepts, and findings on RPGs from key disciplines, like performance studies, sociology, psychology, education, economics, game design, literary studies, and more. Other chapters integrate insights from RPG studies around broadly significant topics, like transmedia worldbuilding, immersion, transgressive play, or player–character relations. Each chapter includes definitions of key terms and recommended readings to help fans, students, and scholars new to RPG studies find their way into this new interdisciplinary field.

Table of Contents:
1 The Many Faces of Role-Playing Game Studies Sebastian Deterding and José P. Zagal PART I: DEFINITIONS 2 Definitions of "Role-Playing Games" José P. Zagal and Sebastian Deterding PART II: FORMS 3 Precursors Jon Peterson 4 Tabletop Role-Playing Games William J. White, Jonne Arjoranta, Michael Hitchens, Jon Peterson, Evan Torner, and Jonathan Walton 5 Live-Action Role-Playing Games J. Tuomas Harviainen, Rafael Bienia, Simon Brind, Michael Hitchens, Yaraslau I. Kot, Esther MacCallum-Stewart, David W. Simkins, Jaakko Stenros, and Ian Sturrock 6 Single-Player Computer Role-Playing Games Douglas Schules, Jon Peterson, and Martin Picard 7 Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games Mark Chen, Riley Leary, Jon Peterson, and David W. Simkins 8 Online Freeform Role-Playing Games Jessica Hammer 9 The Impact of Role-playing Games on Culture Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Jaakko Stenros, and Staffan Björk PART III: DISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES 10 RPG Theorizing by Designers and Players Evan Torner 11 Performance Studies and Role-Playing Games Sarah Hoover, David W. Simkins, Sebastian Deterding, David Meldman, and Amanda Brown 12 Sociology and Role-Playing Games J. Patrick Williams, David Kirschner, Nicholas Mizer, and Sebastian Deterding 13 Psychology and Role-Playing Games Sarah Lynne Bowman and Andreas Lieberoth 14 Literary Studies and Role-Playing Games David Jara and Evan Torner 15 Learning and Role-Playing Games Jessica Hammer, Alexandra To, Karen Schrier, Sarah Lynne Bowman, and Geoff Kaufman 16 Economics and Role-Playing Games Isaac Knowles and Edward Castronova 17 Science and Technology Studies and Role-Playing Games Rafael Bienia 18 Game Design and Role-Playing Games Staffan Björk and José P. Zagal 19 Communication Research and Role-Playing Games William J. White PART IV: INTERDISCIPLINARY ISSUES 20 Worldbuilding in Role-Playing Games Karen Schrier, Evan Torner, and Jessica Hammer 21 Role-Playing Games as Subculture and Fandom Esther MacCallum-Stewart and Aaron Trammell 22 Immersion and Shared Imagination in Role-Playing Games Sarah Lynne Bowman 23 Players and Their Characters in Role-Playing Games Sarah Lynne Bowman and Karen Schrier 24 Transgressive Role-play Jaakko Stenros and Sarah Lynne Bowman 25 Sexuality and the Erotic in Role-Play Ashley ML Brown and Jaakko Stenros 26 Representation and Discrimination in Role-Playing Games Aaron Trammell 27 Power and Control in Role-Playing Games Jessica Hammer, Whitney Beltran, Jonathan Walton, and Moyra Turkington