rollspel

Rollspel, or role-playing games, are interactive games in which players assume characters within a fictional setting and collaboratively tell a story guided by a set of rules. A game master or storyteller describes the world and governs outcomes, while players describe actions and make choices that influence the narrative. Random elements, typically dice, introduce uncertainty and risk, resolving contested actions according to the system's mechanics.

Historically, modern role-playing games originated in the 1970s with tabletop games such as Dungeons & Dragons. The term rollspel is used in Swedish and other languages to denote these games. Since then, the hobby has diversified into pen-and-paper tabletop RPGs, live-action role-playing games (LARP), and digital RPGs, each emphasizing different aspects of roleplay and mechanics.

Common components include character creation with attributes and skills, a game world or setting, a core ruleset, and a game master who runs the game. Sessions focus on exploration, social interaction, problem solving, and combat, with players negotiating outcomes through dice rolls or narrative choices. Many games emphasize safety and consent in collaborative storytelling.

Variants and systems include fantasy RPGs like D&D or Pathfinder; sci-fi, horror, or modern settings; story-driven games like FATE or Apocalypse World; LARP as live enactment with physical costumes and props; and computer RPGs for console, PC, and online play.

Impact and reception: RPGs have influenced storytelling, game design, and education; communities host conventions, online forums, and local game stores; they remain a prominent form of interactive entertainment and cultural practice.