We're looking for tabletop games that don't just teach like a textbook, but fundamentally break new research out of academia and let it flow into their creative missions, systems, and worlds. We want players to imagine new futures through the roles they play.
These games do not inherently have to be science fiction, but should creatively apply the core ideas and themes of recent research to their work. How does a laser designed to create pharmaceutical medicines create a micro-civilization of mind-wiped botanists on its station? If human-made noise can affect the metabolism of creatures, how does a town use sound to affect where the basilisk roams?
Our goal is to keep education secondary to entertainment, while still giving players a look into the modern state of science and technology and how they might realistically or thematically shape the future. We want players to encounter new research because it makes the game more interesting, not because they are being asked to learn a lesson.
One of the requirements for this Game Jam will be to utilize recent real-world science and tech papers in your project's construction.
For deeper insight, I recommend reading Building Aliens From Scientific Literature and Integrating Science into TTRPGs: Dos and Don'ts.
Overall, it's mostly about hopping onto Google Scholar, searching for a random animal, plant, or concept, and seeing what looks interesting. From there, if the paper is accessible, read the summary, Google anything that's confusing, and pick out whatever sounds neat. You don't need to understand every detail of a paper. You're looking for that one interesting idea that makes you think, "I could combine this with this other thing and make something neat!"
The Theme of the Speculative Research will be announced at the start of the Game Jam. It will be specific enough to guide a strong part of the story, but open-enough to fit within any setting.
Kai Medina — Biologist, Teacher, and Creator of To Care is To Cairn, a game used to interview Archaeologists about their stories and as an educational tool in college-level classrooms.
Connor Wiklund — Environmental Scientist, spoke on the FanExpo Philadelphia panel, "Exploring the Unknown: The Overlap between Science and Tabletop Worlds."
Jesse Norrell — Published Astronomer and Atmospheric Researcher, TTRPG enjoyer.
Submissions will be judged on:
Further Reading:
