| Type | Academic and intellectual pursuit |
| Focus | Collaborative storytelling • Improvisation |
| Impact | Avant-garde theater • Live-action reenactment • Fantasy and science fiction development |
| Origins | Mid-19th century |
| Popularity | Niche, specialized interest for over a century before gradual expansion in late 20th century |
| Inspirations | Early fantasy literature • Wargaming |
| Compared to modern RPGs | Less emphasis on combat mechanics and character progression |
Role-playing games (RPGs) in this timeline have a notably different history and development compared to the familiar forms we know today. Emerging in the mid-19th century as an academic and intellectual pursuit, rather than a mainstream hobby, RPGs grew out of a combination of early fantasy literature, wargaming traditions, and avant-garde theatrical experimentation.
The earliest recognizable RPGs can be traced back to the 1850s, when university professors and intellectuals began experimenting with structured forms of collaborative fantasy storytelling and improvised reenactment. Influenced by the growing popularity of authors like George MacDonald, Jules Verne, and Mary Shelley, these pioneers sought to translate the imaginative worlds of speculative fiction into participatory experiences.
Initial RPG systems were often centered around specific literary works or historical events, with players taking on the roles of characters or factions. The focus was less on combat and character progression, and more on collectively exploring imaginary settings through discussion, debate, and spontaneous scene-building. Many early RPGs also incorporated elements of live-action role-playing (LARP), with players physically acting out their parts.
These proto-RPGs were not mass market endeavors, but rather niche intellectual pursuits confined to academic circles and avant-garde artistic communities. They were seen as tools for literary analysis, psychological study, and the advancement of dramatic theory - not merely recreational games.
Over the following decades, RPG practices slowly spread beyond their initial academic origins. Hobbyist groups formed to develop new systems and settings, influenced by an expanding canon of fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction. The 1890s saw the publication of some of the first commercially available RPG rulebooks, such as H.G. Wells' ''The Battle of Dorking'' and Bram Stoker's ''Crew of the Demeter''.
As the 20th century progressed, RPGs became increasingly sophisticated, incorporating elements of wargaming, interactive fiction, and emerging fields like psychology and anthropology. Settings ranged from medieval fantasy realms to futuristic space empires, with varying degrees of structure, rules, and player agency. Live-action reenactment remained a core component, blurring the lines between RPGs, theater, and LARP.
While RPGs never achieved the mass market appeal and commercial success of our timeline, they did cultivate a devoted following among intellectuals, artists, and countercultural thinkers. Gameplay was prized for its ability to catalyze collaborative creativity, challenge established narratives, and promote empathetic perspective-taking.
Though niche, RPGs had a notable impact on adjacent fields and media. The imaginative settings, memorable characters, and experimental storytelling of RPGs influenced the development of fantasy and science fiction literature, as well as emerging art forms like interactive cinema and hypertext fiction. Playwrights and directors also drew inspiration from RPG techniques, incorporating audience participation and improvisation into their work.
Perhaps most significantly, RPGs became a nexus for interdisciplinary exploration and the breakdown of traditional academic boundaries. Scholars, artists, and thinkers from diverse backgrounds converged around role-playing, using it as a tool for everything from literary analysis to psychological research to radical political organizing.
Even as the mainstream popularity of RPGs remained limited, their legacy continued to reverberate through various subcultures and creative communities. Today, the tradition of collaborative fantasy storytelling endures, with contemporary avant-garde theater, interactive fiction, and live-action role-playing all tracing their origins back to those pioneering intellectual RPG practitioners of the 19th century.
