From Rolling to Reading - An Analysis of the Adaptation of Narrative Between Role-Playing Games and Novels

Oct 6, 2026

From Rolling to Reading examines how narrative is adapted when stories move between role-playing games and novels. The study frames role-playing games as cooperative, player-driven storytelling without a single authorial control, emphasizing agency, dialogue, and performative immersion. It compares these narrative mechanics with the linear, author-led structure of novels, then analyzes key shifts such as rulings versus readings, players versus print, metagaming versus metafiction, and the transformation from page to table. The discussion supports the literary significance of RPGs as a storytelling medium and explores their potential for empathy and development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages49

Reading Time1 h 15 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background – What is a Role-Playing Game?

Purpose and Problem

Literature

Method

Analysis

From Rulings to Readings

From Players to Print

From Metagaming to Metafiction

From Page to Table

Discussion

Table of References

From Rolling to Reading An Analysis of the Adaptation of Narrative Between Role-Playing Games and Novels Nikolai Bjädefors Butler 5/17/2018 Lunds universitet Nikolai Bjädefors Butler Masterprogram Litteratur – kultur-medier LIVR07 Handledare Alexander Bareis 2018-05-29 Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................2 Background – What is a Role-Playing Game?.....................................................................4 Purpose and Problem ..........................................................................................................6 Literature ............................................................................................................................8 Method ............................................................................................................................. 10 Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 11 From Rulings to Readings................................................................................................. 11 From Players to Print ........................................................................................................ 19 From Metagaming to Metafiction .....................................................................................23 From Page to Table...........................................................................................................33 Discussion ............................................................................................................................40 Table of References ..............................................................................................................45 Introduction Today when one thinks of stories many examples come to mind. Perhaps the word triggers thoughts of exiting and well-written novels, full of rich characters and vivid descriptions. Perhaps it evokes an image of a dramatic and heartfelt climax being projected onto a 50-foot screen at the movies. It could unearth memories of sitting at your grandfather‟s side and listening to him recounting grand tales. For some, however, the word “stories” brings to mind role-playing games, which may raise questions for those unfamiliar with them. The basic premise of role-playing games are fairly well known today, yet to many they are misunderstood, both in no small part thanks to limited exposure through shows like Stranger Things1 and The Big Bang Theory2. Because of this limited exposure those unfamiliar with role-playing games might view them as merely a video game that makes use of dice and make-believe instead of code and rendered graphics. However, others would disagree with this assessment. Junot Diaz for one describes his childhood experiences of role-playing games differently.“Being a bunch of kids of color, in a society that tells us we‟re nothing…[sic] to be able to play heroes…[sic] this was a revolution. None of us had been asked to be protagonists of anything…. [sic] it was profoundly transformative for us.”3 Judging by Diaz‟s experience it would seem that there may be more to role-playing games than one might first assume. At their essence role-playing games are games of cooperative storytelling where a group of people gather with the intent to create and explore a story. The way these stories are created and told is primarily what separates the experience of storytelling in a role-playing game from that of a novel. In a roleplaying game you don‟t watch heroes face down insurmountable odds, you are the heroes and it is your choices, actions and agency that determines the outcome of the game. Perhaps the most fundamental difference can be summed up in a single question often asked towards the players: What do you do? Role-playing games do not have a singu

FAQs

What is the core focus of the document?

It analyzes how narrative changes when adapted between role-playing games and novels, comparing their storytelling structures and effects.

How does the document describe narrative authorship in role-playing games?

Role-playing games are described as lacking a single author; the narrative is constructed organically through player dialogue and shared actions.

Which specific transitions does the analysis examine?

The analysis reviews shifts including rulings to readings, players to print, metagaming to metafiction, and page to table.

Oct 6, 2026

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