Adventurers and Algorithms: AI and the Evolution of TTRPG Gameplay

Abstract

Modern tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) have received increasing attention in library and educational contexts due to their ability to serve as an alternative experiential learning opportunity. However, common TTRPG safety frameworks lack consideration for the adoption and impact of AI tools. To address this gap, this study employs a qualitative approach to explore how AI tools are used in TTRPGs and players’ concerns related to fairness, bias, and safety. The findings aim to aid the development of more comprehensive safety frameworks for AI-integrated TTRPG experiences.

Juliana Hirt

School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Juliana Hirt is a PhD candidate in the School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She holds a Master of Science in Information Science and Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her research interests focus on integrating theories of knowledge organization, information retrieval, and information communication to develop generalizable stochastic models for the optimization of information technology infrastructures. Her current work examines the application of cognitive social constructivist approaches to knowledge organization, with a particular focus on event-driven architecture (EDA) optimization. She has also contributed to research on metadata representations for multimedia resources, including video games, anime, and fiction, and is actively engaged in studies investigating the ethical implications and affordances of artificial intelligence in librarianship and collaborative storytelling. Juliana’s research has been published in the Journal of Documentation and the proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) and iConference. She is also involved in research initiatives supported by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI).

Wan-Chen Lee

School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wan-Chen Lee is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies. She received her MLIS, MSIS, and PhD at the University of Washington Information School. Her research interests are knowledge organization, culture and resource description, metadata, and classification theory. Dr. Lee is particularly interested in the challenges and considerations of inclusive data work, such as designing knowledge organization standards for diverse cultural contexts. She investigates inclusivity in knowledge organization through document analysis and ethnography. Through scheme comparison, participatory observation, and interview, she addresses the ethical issues, interoperability concerns, and global-local tensions in resource description. Recently, she received grants to investigate the challenges and opportunities of AI, and ethical AI and librarianship. Dr. Lee also studies the cultural stewardship of multimedia resources. To support effective description, representation, and retrieval of multimedia resources, she conducts research on the metadata for video games, anime, and fiction. Her work has been published in Journal of Documentation, Knowledge Organization, and The Library Quarterly. Her research has been funded by organizations like the American Library Association (ALA) and the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI).