Voorhees, Gerald et al., "The Character of Difference: Procedurality, Rhetoric, and Roleplaying Games."
From RhetorClick
Brief Summary
In “The Character of Difference: Procedurality, Rhetoric, and Roleplaying Games” by Gerald Voorhees, he establishes the theory that fantasy role-playing games help players deal with various social and cultural tensions. Many people choose races based on the skill set they desire, as Voorhees puts it, “ability modifications are factored into the process of character development.” There is also a counter argument stated in the paper that since player-characters are simulations of lives, character development through experience is modelled after personal growth in the real world. In the real world, development is based on accomplishments and interactions just as enemies, quests, and experience points provide the framework for character progression. Voorhees asserts that character development and creation “reproduces a classic binary between... body and mind.”
