When someone plays a computer game they are playing in a structured system, just as when someone reading a book reads an outlined story. In both these scenarios the end user of the media is limited by a story that has been laid out for them. However within a Fantasy Role Playing Game that is not set, that is played with dice or on paper there are no stories lay out, the characters along with the game master develop and make the story, working within a less limited set of boundaries. In this way the Table Top RPG itself is much like writing. And like writing it develops much the same imagination that reading does while also providing creative problem solving as the characters have to find solutions to their problems.



To play RPG games has many other advantages as well because in addition to being a form of story telling they are also a form of acting improves. The players must act as their characters would act through much of the game, talking and thinking as another person they have invented. The GM will do the same for a long list of potential NPC’s and so will gain lots of theatrical style experience.

The improvisation of fantasy characters helps not only with viewing the world from other perspectives, but it also helps players to be more creative, to come up with creative solutions to problems. As we grow more and more electronic, allowing our entertainment to be dictated for us, having entertainment that we have to create is of increasing importance for varying our forms of input and increasing our ability to respond and adapt to new situations creatively.