Chapter 1. The Many Faces of Role-Playing Game Studies / Sebastian Deterding, José P. Zagal -- Part I. Definitions -- Chapter 2. Definitions of 2Role-Playing Games3 / José P. Zagal, Sebastian Deterding -- Part II. Forms -- Chapter 3. ?Precursors / Jon Peterson -- Chapter 4. Tabletop Role-Playing Games / William J. White, Jonne Arjoranta, Michael Hitchens, Jon Peterson, Evan Torner, Jonathan Walton -- Chapter 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, Ian Sturrock -- Chapter 6. Single-Player Computer Role-Playing Games / Douglas Schules, Jon Peterson, Martin Picard -- Chapter 7. Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games / Mark Chen, Riley Leary, Jon Peterson, David W. Simkins -- Chapter 8. Online Freeform Role-Playing Games / Jessica Hammer -- Chapter 9. The Impact of Role-Playing Games on Culture / Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Jaakko Stenros, Staffan Björk -- Part III. Disciplinary Perspectives -- Chapter 10. RPG Theorizing by Designers and Players / Evan Torner -- Chapter 11. Performance Studies and Role-Playing Games / Sarah Hoover, David W. Simkins, Sebastian Deterding, David Meldman, Amanda Brown -- Chapter 12. Sociology and Role-Playing Games / J. Patrick Williams, David Kirschner, Nicholas Mizer, Sebastian Deterding -- Chapter 13. Psychology and Role-Playing Games -- Sarah Lynne Bowman, Andreas Lieberoth -- Chapter 14. Literary Studies and Role-Playing Games / David Jara, Evan Torner -- Chapter 15. Learning and Role-Playing Games / Jessica Hammer, Alexandra To, Karen Schrier, Sarah Lynne Bowman, Geoff Kaufman -- Chapter 16. Economics and Role-Playing Games / Isaac Knowles, Edward Castronova -- Chapter 17. Science and Technology Studies and Role-Playing Games / Rafael Bienia -- Chapter 18. Game Design and Role-Playing Games / Staffan Björk, José P. Zagal -- Chapter 19. Communication Research and Role-Playing Games / William J. White -- Part IV. Interdisciplinary Issues -- Chapter 20. Worldbuilding in Role-Playing Games / Karen Schrier, Evan Torner, Jessica Hammer -- Chapter 21. Role-Playing Games as Subculture and Fandom / Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Aaron Trammell -- Chapter 22. Immersion and Shared Imagination in Role-Playing Games / Sarah Lynne Bowman -- Chapter 23. ?Players and Their Characters in Role-Playing Games / Sarah Lynne Bowman, Karen Schrier -- Chapter 24. Transgressive Role-Play / Jaakko Stenros, Sarah Lynne Bowman -- Chapter 25. Sexuality and the Erotic in Role-Play / Ashley ML Brown, Jaakko Stenros -- Chapter 26. Representation and Discrimination in Role-Playing Games / Aaron Trammell -- Chapter 27. Power and Control in Role-Playing Games / Jessica Hammer, Whitney Beltrán, Jonathan Walton, Moyra Turkington

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.