Do You Have a Top 10 RPG List?

by Hawke Robinson published 2019/05/01 10:02:00 GMT-7, last modified 2022-09-28T11:19:23-07:00
Q. "Do you have a point system for your ratings and if so do you have a top 10 list of rpgs by your rating score?"

A. Regarding whether we have a point system for ratings of games:

Yes, we do have numerical scoring with mostly industry standard assessment tools from various fields.

No, we do NOT have a single "Top 10 Best RPG" list for everyone, we use a cross reference matrix on a case-by-case basis.

We try to use assessment tools with 0.8 or better coefficients for validity and reliability in the areas assessed.

We don't have a single "Top 10 best", because we cross reference in a matrix to what best matches the participant's assessments.

So, for example, we may have players in the 5 to 9 year old range.

Unless we modify the system significantly through the neuropsychology concept of "learning in layers", Rolemaster (a very complex system that we do like for many reasons) would NOT score well relative to the cognitive, affective (emotional), and physical requirements of this population.

While No Thank You Evil (NTYE) scores very high for this group.

Another example, looking forward to the upcoming "Critical Core" system designed for a variety of populations, but especially publicized about targeting Autism Spectrum populations, we haven't seen it yet, but due to the creators' goals, it will likely score higher as a match for many people "on the spectrum" when comparing their functional assessment scores to the game system score.

Other examples would apply for people with different disabilities with very specific functional assessment scores.

For example, an RPG that is more "Theater of the Mind" might be easier to implement for people with visual impairments, than systems that require a lot more reading, writing, dice rolls, miniatures on a battlemat, etc. All of these can be adapted for, but the Activity Analysis and Task Analysis scores determine if the DEFAULT use of the game is a good fit, or whether another activity or game would be a better fit. If there isn't a better alternative, then the categorical scoring points to the areas we adaptive changes may need to be made, and may include specific recommended examples, such as braille dice and rulebooks from dotsRPG, or mobile dice roll readers, etc.

We evaluate all 4 major RPG Formats:

  • Tabletop (RPG (aka TRPG, TTRPG)
  • Live-action (LRPG, Larps, etc.)
  • Electronic (CRPG, ARPG, AR, VR, etc.)
  • Hybrids (HRPG, catch all for the many other variants that do not fit the first 3 categories)

We are, bit by bit, creating a database of many RPGs with these "Activity Analyses" & "Task Analyses" data, and then cross-referenced with individual or group "Functional Analyses", some of which we do live on the air during our weekly training sessions.

We are constantly trying to find better, or improve our existing, assessment tool sets. We hope at some point that we'll be confident in the accuracy of the system to eventually share with the general public.

We are hesitant to release the data publicly (though we are doing so with scores of volunteers and partners worldwide), until we feel it has been better vetted.

You can watch this process in action through our videos on this topic.

Part 1: Introduction to Drum Circle Facilitation, Activity Analysis, Task Analysis, Activity Modification Process for Accessibility & Inclusiveness, and cross referencing Functional Assessments to best match individual and group levels of function and goals. https://www.patreon.com/posts/26510182 (Available to "Theurgist" and higher level Patreon supporters immediately as a thank you for their support. Available to the general public about 4+ weeks after).

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