The Dynamic Loop Model: A Systemic-Cybernetic Meta-Theoretical Framework for Understanding Tabletop Role-Playing Games
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33063/ijrp.vi18.1195Keywords:
Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TRPGs), Game Studies, Cybernetics, Viable System Model (VSM), Social Systems Theory, Autopoiesis, Reflexivity, Feedback LoopsAbstract
Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TRPGs) function as dynamic, adaptive systems integrating narrative creation, collaborative decision-making, and mechanical resolution. Despite their growing relevance in entertainment, education, and social engagement, current Game Studies often lack a systemic approach to understanding TRPGs. This paper introduces the Dynamic Loop Model (DLM), a cybernetic framework that draws from Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM) and Niklas Luhmann’s Social Systems Theory to analyze TRPGs as self-regulating systems. By incorporating concepts such as autopoiesis, feedback loops, and reflexivity, the DLM offers a structured lens to examine the interactions between game rules, narrative structures, and player agency. The model highlights how TRPGs maintain internal coherence while adapting to emergent player behaviors and external influences. Additionally, this research explores the implications of the DLM for game design, emphasizing its applicability in enhancing engagement, adaptability, and systemic complexity in TRPGs. By bridging theoretical and practical perspectives, this study contributes to the academic discourse on TRPGs while providing actionable insights for designers and scholars interested in systemic approaches to games.
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