"I felt like I was them. I just didn't know it.": Exploring Queer Identity through TTRPG Play

Abstract

Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) have been proven to both positively and negatively impact the well-being and mental health of people playing them. In this paper we discuss how TTRPGs may impact identity exploration, specifically for queer people. While there is extensive research on how video games and queer identities interact there is little research discussing TTRPGs and queer identity. Specifically we explore identity exploration, an important part of the identity formation process. We performed 12 semi-structured interviews with TTRPG players on their experiences creating and playing characters related to their own queer identity exploration. Participants shared with us the ways that TTRPGs helped them explore different possible identities by providing low-stakes, structured, social environments to practice them. We discuss how performance plays a role in our current ideas about the performativity of queer identity and ways that game developers can encourage players to foster safe game communities during TTRPG play.