Tabletop Role-Playing Games in Chile: Early History, Context, and Adoption

Abstract

We present an overview of the beginnings of tabletop role-playing game (TRPG) play in Chile in mid 90s. Prior to this, TRPGs were mostly played by small groups in isolation from each other. This changed in the 1990s when TRPGs suddenly entered the public eye and saw an increase in popularity and visibility. We discuss particularities of the context that supported their avid acceptance and dissemination. The nascent Chilean TRPG scene consisted of a motivated, organized, and community-oriented generation of university-aged youth who partnered with supportive local government and institutional organizations to organize and host wide-ranging TRPG events in order to disseminate and share TRPGs as a hobby and form of entertainment. We also comment on some particularities of the Chilean context including the lack of a moral panic and strong institutional support. By discussing and understanding the early history of TRPGs in Chile we can provide insights into a local culture of play whose differences and similarities with others can help us better understand the medium.