Structure of the source code for the tree of tabletop role-playing game designs

Link to the Timeline Tree of Tabletop Role-Playing Games

Acknowledgment: the source code is an adaptation of the code created by Todd Lehman for his “TeX Family Tree”.

I made a simple template of the code (rendering here). Don't hesitate to use it for your own project.

Part 1 : Preamble

• Metadata.
• Advices to compile the code.
• Parameters of the graph.

Part 2 : Timeline

• From 1950 to now.

Part 3 : List of TTRPGs

• Grouped by series, by publishers, and by genres.
• Listed elements : year of 1st publication, ID of the item, label (name of the game and edition), immediate link to a previous element in the same series.

{ rank = same; 1977; dndholmes [label="Basic D&D [Holmes]"]} odnd_whitebox -- dndholmes ;

• Options of the label : country or langage of publication (default = English US) : uk, fr, es, dk, it, pt, il, jp, sw, ...
• Options for the tags in #comments.
• #t000 : references (see below).
• #Q1375 : Wikidata id number.

Part 4 : List of innovations in game design

• Each element is described as following : ID of the innovation, label (short summary of the innovation), immediate link with the TTRPG that created this innovation.

{ identicaldices [label = "Sets of identical-dices values in dice pool"]} godlike -- identicaldices ;

• Option of the label : start with «1st» if original innovation.

label = "1st critical hit\n['lucky hit']"

List of categories of innovations

Innovations are grouped by categories. Each category is colored differently.

• Miscellaneous historical innovations
• Authority on fiction: gamemaster roles vs players roles
• Campaign, adventure
• Design
• Resolution system
• Critics & level of success
• Dramatic modifiers to resolution
• Saves
• Use points to influence success (aka Meta-currency)
• Health
• Group
• Sheet
• Character generation
• Character advancement
• Magic
• Morality, Alignment, Personality, Sanity
• Literature / Genre Emulation
• Rolls & Randomizers

Part 5 : meta-links between elements

(not released right now)
Basic links already exists between TTRPGs (in part 3) and between TTRPGs and innovations (part 4). In this part, other kind of links are weaven between TTRPGs.

• Same author

eotpt -- eotpt83 -- eotpt87 -- aot1992 -- tita2002 -- eotpt2005 [headlabel = "M.A.R. Barker"] ;

• Direct citations to another TTRPG

{dnd0 -- tnt1} -- runequest1 ;

• Same publisher, same rules, same universe, etc.

pathfinder -- starfinder ;
{ orientaladventures ; l5r2 } -- orientaladventures2 ;
agameofthrones -- asongoficenfirerpg ;
tombofhorror -- returntombofhorror -- tombofannihilation ;

References

References to specific sources are listed in a separate document (source.md). The ID of the references are unique and they are pointing to 3 types of source. Examples :

• #p001 : source no. 001, a primary source
• #s045 : source no. 045, a secondary source
• #t078 : source no. 078, a tertiary source

The general information sources are listed too.

Phylomemetics of boardgames and tabletop role-playing games

Phylomemetics is the historical study of the evolution of relations between cultural objects or concepts. Like with memetics, there is a lot of problems due to numerous (and dubious) horizontal transfers and spontaneous generations. For the living beings and phylogenetics, its mostly vertical transfers and few mutations.

Phylomemetic trees

Hidden level of the exhibition Donjons & Données probantes :
a phylomemetic tree of TTRPG from 1974 to 2018

Some outcomes of this studies take the shape of beautiful trees. Here, a phylomemetic tree of batik patterns.

With my project On the shoulders of cloud giants, I started to design 2 trees that I layed down on a timeline: one for boardgames, one for TTRPG. They are coded in DOT language. When they will be mature, I will share them.

Phylomemetic relations 

It is difficult to track and certify a reliable link between two games. For the living beings, we can assess the genes. For the human languages we can assess the words and structure of sentences. But for games, we have very few evidences.

Primary sources

• The game as object: mobile and fixed items, patterns, trade dress, materials.
• Text of the rules: mechanics and specific vocabulary.
• Metadata of the game: author, publisher, publication date, version.
• Metatext: acknowledgements, credits, epigraphs, bibliography and.... the very rare and precious pearl: the ludographic references citing other games.
• Interviews and autobiography of the author of the game.

Secondary sources

• Comments, reviews or critics of a game.
• Article (academics, biographies) on a game or a family of games.

Tertiary sources 

• Encyclopedia or dictionary entries on a game or a family of games. 
• Game directories with indexation of the game mechanics.

Problems to investigate in future posts

• Only the author of a gameB, citing explicitely the inspiration of a gameA, can prove the link between gameA and gameB [vertical link].
• Maybe for intellectual propriety, few authors cite their inspirations.
• Some cultures or motivations can foster citation practices.
• Recently, acknowledgment of authors and game citations in TTRPG are changing game citations practices.

• Anteriority and originality of a game mechanics is a sign of possible kinship with a more recent game with similar game mechanics [horizontal link].

Creating a graph for OD&D

Here some advices to create your own graph with free softwares. Its the equivalent of LaTeX, but for visual diagrams. You just need to modify the code in dot language (very simple) and Graphviz will automatically layout the graph. The example of code is about OD&D.

1. Install:
   1. Graphviz (!website very slow).
   2. Notepad++
2. Setup Notepad++
   1. Set up Path variable :
   1. For Windows : Open the Start Menu. > Right-click on Computer and click Properties. > Click Advanced system settings. > Make sure you're on the Advanced tab. > Click Environment Variables. > Under System variables, scroll to find the Path Variable. Click on Path and then click Edit.
   2. Add : ;C:\Program Files (x86)\Graphviz2-38\bin
   2. Setup Graphviz for Notepad++
      1. Notepad++: Plugins > Plugins Manager > Show Plugin Manager : Search and install NppExec plugin
      2. Configure NppExex: Plugins > NppExex > Execute > write this (one line):
         dot « $(FULL_CURRENT_PATH) » -Tpng -o « $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)\$(NAME_PART).png
         it will launch dot and create a PNG. You can replace with Tpdf to create a PDF.
      3. Save the script.
   3. Setup the syntax coloring in Notepad++
      1. Downloard graphviz-notepad-udl.xml.
      2. Notepad++: Language > Create User Define Language > Import : select the xml. Restart Notepad++.
3. Practice graph creation :
   1. Download exemple.gv
   2. Open exemple.gv with Notepad++
   3. [Modify content at will]
   4. Plugins > NppExec > OK … a PNG file is created. Watch exemple.png.

_{Sources: Steinweb., Grevian, TBallantyne. Useful link for the colors here.}