Stories matter.
They are how humans make meaning.
Manifesto
Imagination matters.
To be human is to create worlds, realistic or fantastical.
Connection matters.
Humans were not meant to be alone.
Roleplay matters.
It is where story, imagination, and connection meet.
We believe more humans deserve to play.
We believe the future of roleplaying must be far larger than its present.
Build for the Next Billion Roleplayers
Industries do not grow by accident. They are built. As founders and creators, we can expand the market together or compete within its current boundaries. Too often, we optimize for share within the hobby rather than growth beyond it. To reach the next billion roleplayers, we must better understand why people play, why others do not, and how we build for both.
Start with Better Research
Bias quietly shapes decisions, and unchecked, it can lead decisions to drift from what matters. The Artificers Institute exists to focus on better questions, better evidence, and better decisions. We collaborate with founders and creators on product strategy and customer-backed insights. We consult with them in our own research to better understand the broader picture. We constantly listen to players and non-players, letting their words permeate our thoughts. Better research leads to better products, stronger companies, and a larger future for roleplaying.
Our Principles
Research in service of builders.
The insights we look for focus on founders' and creators' decision-making, we let their questions steer our research.
Technology makes it easier to play.
It succeeds when it reduces friction and deepens play—it should never be leveraged as a weapon against the participants at the heart of the hobby.
Build to expand the ecosystem.
Programs, partnerships, and studies should widen the tabletop universe beyond today's installed base.