Graduation Date
Summer 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in English, emphasis in Applied English Studies
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Andrea Delgado
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Janelle Adsit
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Dungeons & Dragons, Identity, Media studies, Presence, Immersion, Transgressive play, Benevolent transgressive play, Actual play podcast
Subject Categories
English
Abstract
Dungeons & Dragons is a game that has existed since 1974 with a singular focus: to tell epic stories with your friends. Currently on its 5th edition of the game, the ability to tell stories has been highlighted like never before. With an emphasis on storytelling and collaboration, there are bound to be moments that are difficult. These are called transgressive play experiences. This project will endeavor to explain how D&D, by design, is the perfect game to engage in transgressive play experiences. Because of this, I believe future projects studying benevolent transgressive play should consider D&D as the medium to study. A goal of this project is to show how D&D should be considered for this medium because of how it’s designed to engage with transgressive play through the ways in which it employs presence, immersion, collaborative storytelling, and the social elements of the game. The project will do this through a critical analysis of the terms presence, immersion, and benevolent transgressive play experience alongside an episode of a popular Actual Play podcast and the source books for Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition.
Citation Style
MLA
Recommended Citation
Poulter, Nicolas, "“We weren't just reading about adventures; we were living them”: immersion, transgressive play, and Dungeons & Dragons" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2334.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2334