UC Santa Cruz

ABSTRACT

Dayna Diamond: Bluestockings—Exploring Tabletop RPGs and Pandemic Social Connection

Bluestockings is a tabletop role-playing game designed to be playable remotely. During its development, I engaged with the context of the pandemic, as well as game design theory on: (1) how to intervene in social games spaces, (2) layers of gameplay, (3) tabletop role-playing games specifically, particularly indie and queer. This was for the purpose of creating social connection between players and reducing anxiety and isolation during the pandemic. The game focuses on qualitative and social mechanics in order to create a deep sense of interpersonal connection between players, although it may be somewhat inaccessible for players new to tabletop role-playing games.