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Why UX Researchers should be dungeon masters
Hosting TTRPGs could help you become a better designer, researcher, and writer.
It should come as no surprise that there is a significant overlap between user research nerds and fantasy nerds. UX is a nerdy profession that requires in depth research, stepping into the shoes of users and personas, improvising interviews, and thinking outside of the box. Playing Dungeons & Dragons (DnD) also requires reading up on lore, embodying strange new characters, bluffing through interactions with non-player characters, and thinking outside the box.
Playing tabletop role playing games (TTRPGs) might be the best hobby for user experience professionals, not only because it is fun, but because many of the skills needed to be a successful Dungeon Master (DM) or player are used extensively in user research.
Dungeon Masters and collaborative storytelling
Once upon a time, I played Dungeon Master for a totally homebrewed campaign with four players. It was a little chaotic, extremely fun, and way more work that I had expected. I built a multi-layered city, its…
