The Artificers Institute pursues independent research on the future of tabletop roleplaying. Our work is organized as an evolving portfolio of studies—some exploratory, some ongoing, some preparing for public release. This page serves as a roadmap of that work and the questions guiding it.
A study of player motivations, barriers to entry, and unmet needs in roleplaying. We seek to better understand why people begin, continue, or avoid play, and how founders and creators can use those insights to design products that expand participation.
Status: Designing Study
An effort to improve understanding of the size, shape, and growth potential of the tabletop roleplaying market. This research seeks to provide founders and creators with better evidence for strategic planning, investment, and market opportunity decisions.
Status: Seeking Support
An exploration of whether a shared data model for roleplaying rules could improve interoperability, tooling, and digital innovation. We hope to surface opportunities for creators and technology builders to reduce fragmentation and build on common foundations, thereby supporting all roleplaying games.
Status: Seeking Partnerships
A study of how intellectual property influences discovery, adoption, retention, and willingness to pay in tabletop roleplaying. We seek to help founders and creators better understand when IP creates strategic leverage, and when original worlds may compete on equal footing.
Status: Seeking Partnerships
Research into how technology can support, enhance, or interfere with the play experience. The goal is to identify where technology reduces friction, deepens engagement, and creates new possibilities for founders building the future of play, with focused attention on artificial intelligence during and in preparation for play sessions.
Status: Future Study