Students will have an overview of fundamental theoretical frameworks and understand core aspects of the P&P role-playing game as a ludic, literary medium They will be able to situate individual texts in the historical development of the medium and classify them according to established theoretical dimensions. Based on an appreciation of the specific and complex narratological situation, students will be able to analyse P&P RPGs as both literary as well as ludic media.

Theoretical readings and plenary discussions of theoretical texts in class. Short lecture inputs on individual RPGs and collaborative analysis of their features. Student presentations of chosen texts, as well as in depth SE-paper.

Theories and history of the P&P RPG as a medium. Narratological and ludological approaches to the analysis of the hybrid medium. Socio-cultural contexts for the emergence of the new medium. Practical skills in the analysis of ludo-narrative media.

Basic knowledge of literary theories and game studies is helpful.

All literature will be made available to students via Moodle.Students are required to own a copy of the P&P RPG they want to present on.

The final grade is an aggregate of...20% Active participation in class: Come prepared, read required texts, do additional research if necessary; think critically, and contribute to discussions and analyses.30% Presentation (45min): Introduce and analyse a P&P RPG and do a Q&A (30min), moderate a plenary, in-depth discussion of one example passage (15min); write-up of presentation and any issues brought up during the Q&A as well as the analysis in a short academic paper to be uploaded on Moodle no later than two weeks after the presentation (pdf, 1500 words per presenter).50% SE-paper (4000 words): Academic paper presenting an in-depth critique of a P&P RPG of your choice, a comparative study of several texts, or a theoretical argument about the medium of the P&P RPG, to be uploaded on Moodle and handed in as printed copy no later than Sep 30, 2024, 23:55 (pdf, 4000 words).If a student fails one pillar of assessment (participation, presentation, or paper), they fail the entire seminar!

See above.

Quantity and quality of task fulfillment; quantity and quality of theoretical literature used; choice of primary text, quality of analysis, and quality of application of theoretical concepts and terminology.The use of AI support or AI-generated text is prohibited in all of my courses!In order to check whether this ban is respected, there is the possibility of a compulsory, individual, and oral follow-up defence of submitted or presented work. Should the use of AI be detected in any assignment, or a follow-up defence not be sufficient, the task concerned will automatically receive a fail-grade and your violation will be reported to university leadership, just as is the case with any other form of academic dishonesty or cheating.