RPG, Literacy and Youth

In Pennslyvania, a self-styled Barbarian who calls himself Thor is making a surprising amount of headway inspriring literacy in children. His method? The RPG. Recently I chatted with Thor to learn more about his work and his success which has garnered the respect of students and parents as well as civic and religious organizations.

Brontosproximo: How did the Mythic Role Playing Game Initiative begin?

Thor:In mid-2005, I ran a one-shot Dungeons & Dragons event to support my local library's Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds summer reading program. It generated a lot of interest and numerous requests for a follow-up event. By the autumn of 2005 the Hawley Library Dungeons & Dragons Club was running an RPG the first Saturday of every month. Our first campaign took place 'behind the scenes' of R.A. Salvatore's bestselling novel The Crystal Shard.

Brontosproximo: Why use RPGs for literacy?

Thor:Table-top RPGs are more versatile and interactive than videogames. They encourage learning and reward creativity. They promote socialization and teamwork. Players must think fast and work together to triumph over the many challenges that confront them while they are adventuring. Knowledge of the rules and the gameworld, the aquisition of which requires lots of reading, gives the Players a tremendous edge when playing. One of our current campaigns, The Voyage of the Argo, recreates Jason's legendary expedition to claim the Golden Fleece. By the third session most of the kids were so well versed in Greek mythology that they could identify the monsters they encountered and rattle off details on which mythical hero defeated them... and how. Other campaigns are set in the Forgotten Realms, Eberron and in the Hyborian Age of Conan the Barbarian. Each of these settings, to be experienced and fully appreciated, requires an extensive amount of reading.

Brontosproximo: Has the Mythic RPG Initiative expanded since 2005?

Thor:Beyond our wildest expectations. RPG sessions are currently being held thrice monthly at the Hawley Public Library. There are up to three games running simultaneously each session, providing Players with a variety of gaming choices. The games are mostly run by kids who've graduated from our Dungeon Master Academy. The Dungeon Masters also run home games that interweave with and connect the library adventures. There is also a monthly Special Event where a one-shot RPG is run to introduce the Hawley Dungeons & Dragons Club to more kids in the surrounding areas. Our Mythic RPG Initiative, with several other activities we started to promote literacy, led to the formation of Hercules Invitus, our 501(c) incorporated in Pennsylvania.

Brontosproximo: What do the parents think of this?

Thor:They love it. We get lots of positive feedback and a fair amount of parental involvement. We welcome and encourage this. The kids get points for creative writing and game related art work. They also get points for writing reports on the books they have read that relate to their adventures. Kids develop their math skills and become interested in history and literature. Parents are happy that their kids love learning. We've also been told that the kids are forming more friendships, are displaying leadership skills (organizing their own games and teaching their friends to play) and are demonstrating passion for their shared hobby. Some kids are now playing RPGs with their parents and siblings. One kid introduced the game to his grandma.

Brontosproximo: Tell us about your other literacy activities...

Thor:We do Storytelling, sometimes with puppets or with thematically related Arts & Crafts. These are popular with the younger kids. We run a Hero Program, where kids learn about different mythic, legendary, historical and pop-culture personages. Through activities kids explore and develop their own super-talents and extraordinary abilities. We've also held occasional meetings for the Junior Superhero League of Hawley. In this activity kids create superhero personas and tackle real-world challenges. These activities are currently Special Events and are run whenever we have the opportunity or are invited to do so. Everything we've developed has a heroic theme and encourages both personal development and community service.

Brontosproximo: What are your future plans for the Mythic RPG Initiative?

Thor:I'd love for it to be available at least once a week at the Hawley Public Library - we're almost there! - and to take root elsewhere, both locally and beyond the state of Pennsylvania. When Hercules Invictus gains its 501(c)3 status later this year and we start expanding the range of our service area, we'll be introducing the Mythic RPG Initiative to many new communities. My hope is that it takes root and flowers as well as it has here in our own backyard.

For more information on the Mythic Quests, visit these links:

http://www.thorthebarbarian.com/tbcquests/id16.html

http://www.thorthebarbarian.com/tbcquests/id31.html

http://www.herculesinvictus.com/id12.html

http://www.herculesinvictus.com/events/