Instagram story viewer> @criticalprof> Tagged

Dr. Em Friedman

@criticalprof

5K

followers

697

following

Historian of storytellers, games, & nerd fame
J.W. Liles Prof of English
@folgerlibrary Public Humanities Fellow
ACTUAL HISTORY OF ACTUAL PLAY (MIT)

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

🎲 What do 18th-century manuscripts and Dungeons & Dragons have in common? 🎲

When COVID-19 closed the archives where Auburn English professor Emily Friedman was studying unpublished manuscripts, she turned her attention to a different kind of storytelling: Actual Play, where tabletop role-playing games become stories created together in real time.

Now, Friedman is helping define the emerging field. She’s brought Critical Role Game Master Matthew Mercer to Auburn, built wildly popular courses around games as cultural objects and is writing a book for MIT Press tracing the 20-year history of Actual Play.

Support from the Jean Wickstrom Liles Professorship is giving Friedman something especially valuable to keep exploring those questions: time.

Learn more at the link in our bio! The image is split into two sections. The top section shows three individuals standing on a stage adorned with greenery and vibrant flowers. The bottom section depicts two individuals seated on a stage, engaging in conversation, with a book placed on a small table between them. The setting appears to be a formal or professional event.

269

5

This week we're joined by the brilliant @criticalprof, who chats to us all about the history of actual play and why people watch it. We also talk about what makes shows successful (or not), as well as discussing some of the games she's been playing.

Watch now on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast app - links in our bio!

61

0

Why thousands are paying to watch people play Dungeons & Dragons live.

I spoke with @brennanleemulligan Brennan Lee Mulligan, @criticalprof Emily Friedman, @abdulazizcomedy Abdul Aziz, @jesslupini Jess Lupini and @emmarie43 Em Carlson of @blackwaterdnd about the rise of actual play, the challenge of preserving the intimacy of friends around a table in front of thousands of people, and how the form has made queer, trans and other marginalized players more visible.

#ActualPlay #DungeonsAndDragons #TTRPG #EndlessDungeon

2k

19

Dr. Friedman explains the history of actual play 🎲

➡️ Watch this episode of Adventuring Academy on Dropout!

#adventuringacademy #dropout #ttrpg #actualplay

2k

42

My friend @criticalprof is In The Dome!!! WOOOT!!! 🙌🏿 🥳 #dimension20 #dropout

9

2

Dr. Friedman's TTRPG hot take 🔥

➡️ Watch this episode of Adventuring Academy on Dropout!

#adventuringacademy #dropout #emilyfriedman #brennanleemulligan #ttrpg

16k

242

🚨 A new episode of Adventuring Academy is out now on Dropout!

Join Brennan Lee Mulligan and Dr. Emily Friedman as they talk TTRPG history, game systems, and beaver nuggets!

#dimension20 #adventuringacademy #dropout #emilyfriedman #brennanleemulligan

15k

71

🇺🇸 What gives us the power to shape our world? 🇺🇸

In the fourth installment of our America 250 series, Auburn College of Liberal Arts faculty explore:

• Language (Dr. Emily Friedman)
• Democracy (Dr. Melissa Blair)
• Human connection (Dr. Sarah Richling)

12

1

It’s Wizard Week on @plusoneexp! I’ll be streaming Thursday 7/25 at 9pm ET with Tony Vasinda, @jdragsky, and @zedecksiew 🌊 We’ll be talking about playing The Mariner, one of the wizards from The 7 Part Pact.

Two years ago, my Fun City cast mate Taylor approached me about a “Wizard Weekend” where I was half hired to cook the meals and also participate in a playtest of a new game. We rented a house up in Calicoon and broke out large printed binders to play one of the coolest, longest games I have ever tried. Join us tonight to hear more!

Spoiler, you know I always want to play the nature guy. Alphiedae was no different. Here are some bts from the session from @criticalprof and some from my corner of the table. I made us a kamayan dinner, welcome charcuterie, snack basket, cheese boards, and more. The sky was also really crazy! It was an amazing experience and I gained a few more friends in the process. Dang! Let’s do it again.

19

4

Congratulations Mr. and Dr. Carlisle!!!!

148

12

🎲 A new season of Adventuring Academy is coming!

Host Brennan Lee Mulligan will be joined by guests: Quinns, Em Friedman, Mica Burton, Jasper William Cartwright, Robbie Daymond, Aabria Iyengar, Oscar Montoya, Vic Michaelis, and Kimia Behpoornia!

Premieres Friday Feb. 20th, only on Dropout!

#dimension20 #adventuringacademy #dropout #brennanleemulligan

10k

99

The latest episode of Talk of the Table features a roundtable discussion with @criticalprof @brennanleemulligan and Quinns from Quinns Quest talking about the role of actual play in helping more people learn TTRPGs.

Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

#ttrpg #actualplay #talkofthetable #brennanleemulligan #quinnsquest

70

3