Os jogos de RPG (Role-Playing Games) de mesa têm vindo a ganhar uma popularidade crescente em todo o mundo. Para isso contribuiram algumas séries televisivas e a transformação de mesas reaisi em mesas virtuais (mas essa é outra conversa). Nestes jogos, um grupo de participantes assumem personagens fictícias e colaboram na construção de narrativas imaginárias. Apesar de muitos verem ou consideram que os RPG são apenas uma forma de entretenimento, eles têm demonstrado um notável potencial no desenvolvimento de competências sociais. Neste pequeno artigo, explorarei a aplicabilidade dos jogos de RPG de mesa no fortalecimento das habilidades interpessoais e na promoção do crescimento pessoal.

Comunicação Efetiva

Um dos aspetos mais importantes dos jogos de RPG é a necessidade de comunicação efetiva. Os jogadores devem interagir uns com os outros (e com o Mestre do Jogo, quando existente) para avançar na história e resolver desafios. Esta interação promove o desenvolvimento das habilidades de comunicação verbal e não verbal, como a expressão facial, a linguagem corporal e a escuta ativa. Os jogadores exercitam e aprendem a comunicar as suas ideias de forma clara e a ouvir atentamente os outros, o que é fundamental para o sucesso nas relações interpessoais.

Empatia e Perspetiva

Os jogos de RPG exigem que os participantes assumam o papel de personagens com diferentes origens, personalidades e motivações. Esta experiência permite-lhes explorar o mundo através de perspetivas diversas e desenvolver empatia. Ao compreenderem as motivações das personagens que interpretam, os jogadores tornam-se mais capazes de compreender as motivações das pessoas na vida real. Isso facilita a empatia e a capacidade de se colocarem no lugar dos outros.

Tomada de Decisão e Resolução de Conflitos

Nos jogos de RPG os jogadores são frequentemente confrontados com situações desafiadoras que requerem tomada de decisão rápida e resolução de conflitos. Os jogadores aprendem a avaliar as opções disponíveis, a considerar as consequências das suas escolhas e a trabalhar em conjunto para superar obstáculos. Essas habilidades são transferíveis para situações do mundo real, como a resolução de conflitos no local de trabalho ou a tomada de decisões importantes na vida pessoal.

Trabalho em Equipa e Colaboração

Os RPG são, quase sempre, jogados em grupo (com excepção dos jogos “solo”), e os jogadores dependem uns dos outros para alcançar os seus objetivos. São jogos por princípio colaborativos e não competitivos. Isso promove o trabalho em equipa e a colaboração. Os participantes aprendem a desempenhar papéis complementares, a partilhar informações e a apoiar-se mutuamente. Essas competências são essenciais para o sucesso em ambientes de trabalho e em projetos de grupo.

Criatividade e Resolução de Problemas

Este jogos incentivam a criatividade, pois os jogadores estão constantemente a tomar decisões e a contribuir para o desenvolvimento da história. Além disso, eles são desafiados a encontrar soluções criativas para os problemas que enfrentam. Isso estimula a criatividade e a capacidade de pensar fora da caixa, habilidades que são valiosas em muitos aspetos da vida.

Conclusão

Os jogos de RPG de mesa são muito mais do que uma forma de entretenimento; são uma ferramenta poderosa para o desenvolvimento de competências sociais. Através da comunicação efetiva, empatia, tomada de decisão, resolução de conflitos, trabalho em equipa, colaboração, criatividade e resolução de problemas, os jogadores adquirem habilidades que são essenciais para o sucesso nas relações interpessoais e na vida em geral. Portanto, considerar a inclusão destes jogos nas atividades educacionais, nos habitos familiares e de desenvolvimento pessoal pode ser uma decisão valiosa.

When we are glass houses, to obey is surviving

Foto de Lisa Fotios no Pexels

At least once in our lives we had the thought: Why am I behaving in such a conformist way?

And why is that? This is a difficult question to answer in a few lines. But I think we obey because we feel we can’t disobey.

The question now becomes: “Why can’t we disobey? We may say that we are comfortable in our lives and we don’t want to lose this comfort; the law and the costumes are the ones that guarantee our lifestyle and the general peace; etc… but most of the things that we obey are not related to these issues, and there are many people who live without comfort, without possibilities, who still manage with conformity.

Why do people rebel when the government says: “Take this vaccine”; “Stay at home” etc… and don’t rebel when others are suffering, don’t have a secure job, don’t have money to eat or a comfortable life? Because today everything is about us and not the others. Day by day, the world is losing its solidarity.

Our weaknesses and fears are our glasshouse. And we look at it, and we look at the stones that the world gives to us and to the others … and we think: I have to survive.

But there are simple things that we obey day after day. They are not based on any relevant social issue, they are just convenience. When we are hostages of a digital life, which in most cases is under the control of large corporations that see each user as a coin in their pocket, we are obeying for the sake of convenience. We live in the conformity imposed by economic practices, by marketing. We build today’s normality.

What obedience for convenience has in common with obedience to survive is that it’s all framed by economic practices, framed by power relations.

So we obey because we can’t disobey. We have no power and we have to live the small life.

But there is one thing that we can do. First of all we have more power than we think, if we are not alone, then we have more power together. If we can’t, we have the power of choice and the power to think. There are some uncomfortable choices that will make us more alone. Others will bring us joy and freedom.

Break down some walls of your house. Start with the small things, listen to all points of view and build your own.

Agostinho da Silva once said (not an exact quote): “A cat fulfils itself as a cat, why must man always try to fulfil himself as something else? Find yourself and be yourself. Build your own walls and forget about the big bad wolf. Find your balance within life. Happiness is not to be found in a bottle of coke. But most of all, be in solidarity with the world around you.

As a parent I try to create the conditions to my kids to have healthy ways of playing. Some related to going outside, playing in the park, walk in contact with nature, play football, other related to stay at home, like painting, playing with clay and plasticine, legos, boardgames, etc... These are quite relevant in the times we live, where the pandemic makes us stay at home more than we would like. But there are a type o game I feel that fosters our relation, helps the kids develop their capacity of communication and interaction, also helps with some base math and most of all, helps them foster their creativity in a relational way. I'm am talking about Table Top Role-playing Games, usually known as RPG.

What are Role-playing Games?

All the kids role-play when they play make believe games, when they pretend they are super-heroes or cowboys. Roleplay is natural for kids. Role-playing games remind those make believe games, the player preform the role of a character and interact with the other players that are also preforming.

So what makes a RPG different from make believe games? RPG have a set of predefined rules that help keep the game balanced. Those rules come, in general, written in a book that is usually called the core book. Most games also have a setting and predefined adventures, so there are RPG where you can play as a fantasy warrior or wizard and others where you play as a super-hero or a pulp adventurer. RPG settings are as varied as the imagination of their creators. There isn't only one RPG, there are a vast number of RPG of all kinds and “flavors”. Normally the books with adventures and settings are calledsourcebooks.

One other thing that makes an RPG different from make believe playing is that one of the players assume the role of a guide or a storyteller – this is the role normally assumed by the parent, but when your kids get used to playing and grow in experience and maturity they can assume this role as well. Normally this role is called Game Master. The Game Master tells the story to the other players and apply the rules. The other players say what it's character do in that context, and from this interaction the story is told and build into something new – a story built together.

All you need to play is pen, paper and imagination... oh, and some dice (normally RPG use dice, some special dice with lot's of sides, other use cards, but normally RPG use normal dice.)

“You enter into a room, the room is full of gold and jewelry... in the back of the room you see a shadow. It's a black knight holding a fire sword. What do you do? – says the Game Master”

Why are Role-playing games good for kids?

When you develop a story for you children to play, you decide the challenges they will face and they make the choices to overcome those challenges. They build and preform they characters and communicate with the other players, describe their actions, and think of the solutions for the challenges they face.

This helps your kids interact, develop communication and social skills and foster their creativity. You can also use stories that help them develop values that you defend, like helping others, overcome challenges in a team, friendship, sharing, all of this can be develop inside a story. Also when your kids are creating their character they can read about a certain time in history (where the story is taken) or get inspiration from a book hero, or simply the rule book. When they are older read to be able to build their own stories.

RPG can be a very good medium to help your kids develop those skills that mobile phones and TV don't provide.

How do I start?

First thing to do is get an RPG that is adequate to your kids age. There are lot's of RPG adequate to kids (I will give some examples to coil subscribers bellow), so grab one and start reading the rules.

Parents can play imagination games with their kids thought RPG at the same time they help them focus on rules, cooperation and story development. Kids love to build stories and play make believe, tabletop RPG are very good do develop communication and foster creativity and also develop social skills.

And the best? In RPG there are no winners or losers, there only players that cooperate in problem solving and build a story together.

Kids are creative by design, they are born without limits in their dreams, its growing up that limits them. With RPG you can help them grow with a healthy hobby that will help them keep that childish creativity as the grayness of age comes.

Thank your for reading. Keep safe, keep healthy.

Header photo from Pexels. Other photos from Unsplash

Tabletop Role-playing games ideal to play with kids

Hero Kids

Hero Kids is fantasy RPG for kids aged from 4 to 10, its a good introduction to RPGs, perfect for younger kids that love a fantasy theme.

Price: 5,99 at Drivethurpg.com

Mermaid Adventures

Mermaid Adventures is a RPG for kids aged from 6 to 11, where they can be mermaids in underwater adventures.

Price: 14,99 at Drivethrurpg.com

Princes' Kingdom

Princes' Kingdom is a RPG for kids with ages +5, where they role a 9 years old adventurer, exploring ideals, relations, children and adults.

Price: 9,99 at Indie Press Revolution

Happy Birthday, Robot!

Happy Birthday, Robot! is a RPG for families and classrooms, where the players take turns writing the story of Robot’s birthday.

Price: 9,99 at Drivethrurpg.com

Adventures in Oz: Fantasy Roleplaying Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

Adventures in OZ is a RPG for kids with ages +8, where they roleplay in the fantastic world of the Wizards of Oz tale. It's good motto to read the book and watch the classic movie.

Price: 6,99 at Drivethrurpg.com

School Daze

School Daze is an high school themed RPG for kids aged 10 or more.

Price: 15,00 at Drivethrurpg.com