Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Dr. Ben discusses Dramaturgical Theory in TTRPGS (Episode #179). #dnd #pathfinder #ttrpg #wfrp
Stanislavski video: youtu.be/IFILefSNz-s
Chekov: youtu.be/RXI4SMY2aC8
Website rpgphd.com
Discord discord.gg/e49rJVQCwW
RPG PHD swag!!! rpg-phd.myspreadshop.com
Facebook facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089593636905
Instagram instagram.com/rpg_phd
Bluesky @rpg-phd.bsky.social
Special thanks to Evelina for the thumbnail template, much appreciated!! 😊
Description
Erving Goffman's dramaturgical theory says ordinary social life already has the structure of theater, front stage performance, backstage secrets, impression management, whether anyone means it to or not. In this video, we apply Goffman's 1956 framework directly to game mastering: the GM screen as a literal front stage/back stage boundary, performance teams and how tables protect a shared front without noticing, appearance versus manner in NPC design, the split between a player's character self and their actual self at the table, and Goffman's later work on stigma and discreditable identity applied to secret PCs and hidden-identity plots. We cover pitfalls GMs run into applying this framework and a step-by-step guide for building fronts on purpose. Part of the RPG PHD series applying academic theory to tabletop game mastering and design.
Tags
Goffman, dramaturgical theory, front stage back stage, impression management, GM screen, NPC design, tabletop RPG, game mastering, TTRPG theory, sociology of games, RPG design theory, DM tips, worldbuilding, character design, session zero, safety tools, hidden identity, secret role mechanics, RPGPHD, GM advice
---------------------------------------------
00:00 Intro
01:03 Performance & Audience
04:21 The GM Screen
07:32 Performance Teams
09:51 Manner & Appearance
11:25 Character Self & Player Self
13:41 Stigma
16:31 Pitfalls
18:12 Strep-by-Step Guide
20:46 Thoughts?
--------------------------------------------
Works Cited
Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. University of Edinburgh Social Sciences Research Centre, 1956. Anchor Books, 1959.
Goffman, Erving. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Prentice-Hall, 1963.
Music and Sounds:
epidemicsound.com/track/Erdns8jA3D
epidemicsound.com/track/MRyCi54t7M
epidemicsound.com/track/AQBpWzOsID
epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe
Music: creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0
epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ
epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe
Music: creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0
epidemicsound.com/track/bWHPOsoaql
epidemicsound.com/track/uDAHxg3lIS
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/2dLRmfzdA5
epidemicsound.com/track/jrNZjxJQqZ
epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ
epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/8c51eca6-dbb5-4925-b4ec-7ee51630322e
Dr. Ben discusses Dramaturgical Theory in TTRPGS (Episode #179). #dnd #pathfinder #ttrpg #wfrp
Stanislavski video: youtu.be/IFILefSNz-s
Chekov: youtu.be/RXI4SMY2aC8
Website rpgphd.com
Discord discord.gg/e49rJVQCwW
RPG PHD swag!!! rpg-phd.myspreadshop.com
Facebook facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089593636905
Instagram instagram.com/rpg_phd
Bluesky @rpg-phd.bsky.social
Special thanks to Evelina for the thumbnail template, much appreciated!! 😊
Description
Erving Goffman's dramaturgical theory says ordinary social life already has the structure of theater, front stage performance, backstage secrets, impression management, whether anyone means it to or not. In this video, we apply Goffman's 1956 framework directly to game mastering: the GM screen as a literal front stage/back stage boundary, performance teams and how tables protect a shared front without noticing, appearance versus manner in NPC design, the split between a player's character self and their actual self at the table, and Goffman's later work on stigma and discreditable identity applied to secret PCs and hidden-identity plots. We cover pitfalls GMs run into applying this framework and a step-by-step guide for building fronts on purpose. Part of the RPG PHD series applying academic theory to tabletop game mastering and design.
Tags
Goffman, dramaturgical theory, front stage back stage, impression management, GM screen, NPC design, tabletop RPG, game mastering, TTRPG theory, sociology of games, RPG design theory, DM tips, worldbuilding, character design, session zero, safety tools, hidden identity, secret role mechanics, RPGPHD, GM advice
---------------------------------------------
00:00 Intro
01:03 Performance & Audience
04:21 The GM Screen
07:32 Performance Teams
09:51 Manner & Appearance
11:25 Character Self & Player Self
13:41 Stigma
16:31 Pitfalls
18:12 Strep-by-Step Guide
20:46 Thoughts?
--------------------------------------------
Works Cited
Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. University of Edinburgh Social Sciences Research Centre, 1956. Anchor Books, 1959.
Goffman, Erving. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Prentice-Hall, 1963.
Music and Sounds:
epidemicsound.com/track/Erdns8jA3D
epidemicsound.com/track/MRyCi54t7M
epidemicsound.com/track/AQBpWzOsID
epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe
Music: creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0
epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ
epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe
Music: creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0
epidemicsound.com/track/bWHPOsoaql
epidemicsound.com/track/uDAHxg3lIS
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/2dLRmfzdA5
epidemicsound.com/track/jrNZjxJQqZ
epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ
epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/8c51eca6-dbb5-4925-b4ec-7ee51630322e
