The Magic Circle

In our continued exploration of TTRPGs it is time to talk a bit about one very important element which is how immersive these games are. Watching videos of people playing TTRPGs you can see how into the game people are. Look at this clip from Matt Coleville’s channel on players getting into the world of the game and having big reactions to their experiences. 

How is this game able to get people to become so immersed within the world of the game? Game theory might hold an explanation in the form of the magic circle. What on earth is a magic circle you might be asking, well let us explore this concept!

To participate in a game of any type all the players need to agree to follow the same set of rules. The rules of the game do not necessarily fit with the rules of our day to day lives. The magic circle describes the delineation between the rules of our day to day lives and the rules of the game. For example in your day to day life trying to punch someone to the point of being unconscious is a crime, but within the magic circle of the boxing ring it is an acceptable, and even encouraged, behavior. 

The magic circle allows our mind to have a different set of rules and expectations. Another way to think about this is that is it a shift in expectations. We expect that in a game we will behave one way, while outside of that setting other rules apply. Thus because we are within the rules of the magic circle while playing a TTRPG it is expected that we will talk in a strange voice or show or yell when we get into a dramatic moment. 

Let’s compare having an emotional reaction while watching a film to playing a TTRPG. When in a movie theater it is quite rare to hear any type of reaction from the audience. The expected behavior for that environment it to stay quiet. This is part of why when this rule is broken, such as it was for early viewings of End Game, it is so notable. However, when one is playing a TTRPG and everyone at the table shouts out no one at that table will think anything is amiss as they understand the mental space that you are in. 

Being in the magic circle we have permission, and perhaps are even encouraged to engage deeply with the content of the game that we are playing. The power of being in the magic circle seems to be part of why TTRPGs can be such powerful tools for therapy. In traditional individual and group therapy settings you are being yourself. As such your personal defense mechanisms are up, you might be guarded, closed off, or even detached. When our defenses are engaged it can be difficult for us to meaningfully engage and many are not willing to take psychological risks, especially in groups. That seems to change though within the confines of the magic circle.

As one is playing a character the player’s natural reservations and defenses do not seem to come into play as much. It can be easier to engage and likely increases the ability of the player to learn the content as they are more open and connected to what is going on. Through turning learning into play the players do not seem to mind taking risks and making mistakes. 

While the above seems plausible, it is by no means a supported theory. Research on the impact of the magic circle on therapy and therapeutic gaming needs to be studied. It is a concept that seems worth exploring and using as a tool for therapy. It is through the magic circle that we start to engage in the game. Now what exactly defines a game? Lets talk about that next!

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