Lost in isolation and loneliness, I discovered the world of Gundam. From the model kits, video games, and anime, I found that the characters’ struggles often mirrored my own mental health problems. But Gundam inspired hope. In the words of Banagher and Gundam quotes, I found motivation. And in Gundam Unicorn Anime, I finally discovered the true power of possibility.

What is character development in RPGs, and why is it so important? It gives players a deeper connection to their characters and a more immersive experience. Here's why character development can turn a good campaign into a great RPG. With character development tips to get the most out of your next game.

What is the connection between RPG characters and personal development? While we’re immersed in the game, our characters are impacting our own personalities in ways we may not be aware of. What are the different types of characters we play in D&D, and how do they drive our personal growth? What are the best RPG character creation tips to have fun and while driving our personal growth & understanding?

Welcome to the August 2022 RPG Blog Carnival! This month we are proud to be hosting this unique collaboration across many RPG blogs and gamers. This month’s topic is Character Development. Join our adventure with others as we discuss the role of character development in roleplaying games.

Why do you give up on your dreams? We get an exciting idea but find excuses instead of pursuing it. Why do you turn your back on your passions, and what happens if you give up on your dreams for good? Using Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, this Refusal of the Call is an important step in our journey to a life of adventure, as we face our fears, and become the heroes that we are meant to be.

Anger begets anger. Our brains radiate their emotional condition outward, much like a wizard casting an area of effect spell in D&D. Looking at Dungeons and Dragons for clues on personal development, is our anger really like casting the Radiance of the Dawn? And are we damaging others when casting our personal anger spells or is it just an emotional radiance that causes no harm?

How is it that time seems to last forever when you’re a kid but races by as we get older? Controlling time is a common theme from sci-fi to fantasy. So many of us want to know how to slow down time. But while we can’t stop the clock, we can change our perception of time. Here are 7 science-backed tips on how to make time go slower and help you spend more time enjoying your life.

Ever had one of those days that just dragged on and felt like forever. Wouldn’t it be great to be like Dr. Strange and manipulate time? We could speed up all those boring days. But while we can’t change time itself, we can change our perception of how fast it’s moving. Without any magic needed, here are 8 tips on how to make time go faster at work or at school, and rush through all boredom.

There are many positive health effects of video games. Playing video games is fun and makes us feel happy. But it’s more than mashing buttons that bring us joy. What does science say about our gaming and happiness? And can we use these elements in other aspects of our lives to bring us greater happiness overall?

From superheroes to fantasy heroes, we are inspired to become something more. But how to be a hero in real life, and what makes someone a hero? The truth is that without gaining magical abilities or finding superpowers, the path to heroism may be easier than you think. We all have the ability to become our best selves and embrace our inner hero.

The portrayal of mental health in Marvel’s Moon Knight has been a messy one. From the early years when his personas were simple disguises, to his mental trauma as a result of supernatural phenomena, to the recent depiction of Moon Knight having DID. His journey reflects not only the changes in the character but society’s prejudices and its eventual understanding of those with mental illness.

Who is your favorite hero? From movies, to books, to gaming, we are surrounded by heroic figures in our lives. What is a modern hero? These figures that motivate, encourage and inspire us. Each of us has one that stands above the rest as our personal favorite. What do your heroes say about you?

There are many benefits to playing tabletop games. But does it make a difference if it’s analog vs digital gaming? There are unique benefits and disadvantages to each. How can we make our gaming experiences the best possible, whether it’s together around the table or tabletop gaming online? Here are 12 tips to make the most of your next tabletop experience.

There are many benefits to playing games. When we put down the controller or pack up our dice, the values we learned in playing games stay with us. From video games to tabletop roleplaying games, playing games teaches us about life. Here are the ten most important life lessons that I learned from gaming.

Marvel’s Squirrel Girl may have started as one of the weirdest superheroes, but her quirky nature led her to become a beloved character. Why is Squirrel Girl so powerful? Beyond her superhuman strength, it’s her personality of positivity and acceptance. Her ability to accept herself and others helped transform her from a joke character to one of real power.

From that first booster pack, I became a fan of Pokemon TCG. But with the release of new sets, I became Pokemon obsessed. I was afraid of missing out and my passion led to intrusive thoughts. My mind was always on ways to buy and collect Pokemon cards. But I needed to learn how to deal with obsessive thoughts. Here are practical tips on what I learned in my journey in how to overcome obsession.

Most of us have a special someone in our lives who is a geek at heart. Here are some unique ideas whether you’re looking for nerdy Mother’s Day gifts, birthday presents for gamers, geeky gifts for a girlfriend, or great ideas for that special nerd in your life.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s influence reaches far and wide. Often called the father of modern fantasy, his writings in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings have inspired generations. But what about the man himself? From fellow writers like C.S. Lewis and to college friends, the personal influence of Tolkien is almost as great as his literary legacy. From modern writers to movie stars, to beloved fictional characters and superheroes, here are the 6 degrees of Tolkien.

Many games let players personalize their character’s development through a game skill tree. Different combinations allow for a great variety in gameplay and player engagement. What are different player types on RPG skill trees? What about real-life skill trees? How to manage our goals through levels of experience and how we can create our own skill tree for real life?

Stress is often unavoidable. But how we react to stress can have a greater impact on our physical and mental health than the stressor itself. What can RPGs teach us about stress? We typically chose the most beneficial stress management strategies while playing. One of the great benefits of role-playing games is that they can teach adaptive coping mechanisms that we can apply to our real lives.