Bridging the Immersion Gap Between Tabletop RPGs and Online RPGs

The improvement of online tools has led to a resurgence in Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TRPGs). Previous work in board-game and video-game research states that co-located games are ranked far more enjoyable than their digital counterparts, discovering an existing gap between the experiences. Is it possible to close the current experience gap between online and offline versions of TRPGs? We explore an augmented digital approach, using real-time responsive technology. We attempt to bring the benefits of digital avatar communication, into the world of online TRPGs, by implementing real-time face recognition avatars that react live to players’ emotions and facial expressions during gameplay. Leveraging previous game experience research tools and data visualization, we discovered the importance of player agency as the most important factor of immersion and enjoyment. We found that players’ satisfaction in-game is determined not by the level of immersion, but by the user’s ability to impact the world.