After working at a library with a well-developed and long running teen RPG (Dungeons & Dragons in this case) group it has come to me that Role-playing games (RPGs) are great for your library for several reasons:
- Immersive Storytelling: RPGs have rich and immersive narratives that allow players to delve into worlds and stories. The focus on storytelling enables players to become fully engaged in the game’s plot, characters, and setting, making the experience more compelling and memorable. In video games, the player is passive and the character does great things, in RPG’s they both do amazing things.
- Character Development: RPGs provide players with the opportunity to create and develop unique characters. This customization allows players to shape their character’s appearance, abilities, skills, and moral choices. As the game progresses, characters can grow and evolve, creating a sense of personal investment and ownership.
- Freedom of Choice: RPGs offer players a high degree of freedom in how they approach gameplay and storylines. Whether it’s choosing between multiple dialogue options, deciding the fate of characters, or solving problems in different ways, RPGs empower players to make meaningful choices that impact the game world. This freedom enhances the sense of agency and makes the experience more personalized.
- Progression and Rewards: RPGs often incorporate a sense of progression, whether it’s through leveling up characters, acquiring new equipment and abilities, unlocking new areas to explore, or developing a satisfying resolution. This constant sense of growth and accomplishment provides a feedback loop, rewarding players for their efforts and motivating them to continue playing.
- Social Interaction: Most RPGs are multiplayer experiences (not knocking solo or journaling RPGs), allowing players to connect and collaborate with others in shared game worlds. Whether it’s cooperative gameplay or competitive challenges, the social aspect of RPGs can enhance the overall experience by fostering teamwork, competition, and the opportunity to forge friendships with like-minded players.
- Longevity and Replayability: RPGs tend to be expansive and offer a significant amount of content, providing players with hours upon hours of gameplay. The sheer scope and depth of RPGs make them suitable for players who enjoy investing time in a single game and exploring every nook and cranny. Additionally, RPGs often have multiple story paths, endings, and character builds, encouraging replayability and allowing players to discover new experiences with each playthrough.
Overall, the combination of immersive storytelling, character development, freedom of choice, progression, social interaction, and replayability makes RPGs great for libraries seeking captivating and interactive experiences for their patrons.
Board in the Library 