In this introductory game design workshop and seminar, students will learn about, analyze, and build their own tabletop roleplaying games. We will study the theories and narratives behind games as cultural devices, tools of social change, and as collaborative storytelling devices. Students will encounter materials such as Hannah Shaffer's MUD: A Golem Memoir, Tim Hutching's Thousand Year Old Vampire, and Free League's Mork Borg, analyzing various games in order to develop a flexible toolset of game design strategies. Through game analysis, craft lectures, and short game design exercises, students will learn to design their own complete draft of a tabletop roleplaying game. They will have the opportunity to playtest their games with their peers twice over the course of the quarter. No previous gaming or game design experience required. 

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:

8 - Game Design