What do we do?

We conduct Tabletop Roleplay Game (TTRPG) research that shares exciting and interesting results on how gamers play and learn from each other as a community. Our research goes from past (history of TTRPGs), to present (how TTRPGs are played now),to future (how TTRPGs are to be played in the future). We are always open to new research ideas, but we are currently focusing on answering these research questions:

• How do people play and learn from each other collectively through creating shared fantasy?
• Is there a difference between in-person and online gameplay and learning?
• What creative tools do current Tabletop RPG players use to play?
• What is the next technology to revolutionize Dungeons and Dragons(D&D) gameplay?
• How has Covid-19 changed player’s gameplay, attitude toward technology, and D&D community?

Who are we?

We are a team of educational game researchers and designers. The primary D&D Research Wizards are Joanna and Rivelle, with secondary support from undergraduate and graduate student apprentices. Our student team change each semester. 

Joanna and Rivelle met while in graduate school at New York University (NYU) pursuing degrees in educational technology design and games research. We brought our passion for Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) to our educational pursuits through melding the two in our theses, where we first started to research these topics. Since then, we have decided to extend our journey and build upon this research so that we may contribute back to this wonderful community, hopefully helping to craft improved game experiences.
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From   the   beginning

Where   we   are   now

Joanna started D&D Research as part of her thesis project in Fall 2019. After a semester of deep research into player behavior, Covid-19 happened and brought huge changes to how we play D&D. Joanna decided to refocus her research by reaching out and talking to hundreds of DMs and players. This has broadened the research and gathered attentions of other students. Together they formed a team to conduct more research in the community.

We finished our Fall 2020 survey and will be analyzing the data and start design solutions for the rest of the school year. We will report our research progress throughout the year. The next survey will be out in Fall 2021.