The Importance of Questions When Running TTRPGs for Neuro-Diverse Adults

Questions are an oddity in today's world. They are seen as pivotal to learning and occasionally a nuisance; many are too afraid to ask them. Yet they have incredible power. They can fill in knowledge gaps, help generations connect genuinely, and take the oppressed and put them in a place of power. However, for so many, the negatives outweigh the positives. Because of this, there is a genuine fear that kicks in, and a tumultuous fear and anxiety kick in, making asking them an utter moment of anxiety. This anxiety can be significantly amplified when adults with Neuro Diversity are playing TTRPGs.

TTRPGs are games that help develop real-life skills like Problem-Solving, Critical Thought Processing, and group decision-making skills. However, at the core of these skills is asking and answering questions. Without this ability, these skills can be significantly encumbered. However, communication is a constantly evolving part of human interaction beyond verbal responses. Because of this evolution, it must be noted that those considered "non-verbal" can still communicate.

Additionally, all human behavior is communication designed to serve the need to communicate. Due to this, as storytellers, we must honor how and why we ask our players questions. We must think through how our players react and process our information. Because of this, we must craft our questions with the intentionality of what our players need.

Part of this vital aspect is keeping communication flowing between us as storytellers and our players. This practice is the best way to understand how those at our table can process and answer questions. Building on this, we, as Game Masters, can work to implement short and sweet questions designed to encourage a feeling of empathy. One example is the question, "How does your character feel now?" This brief but complex question can allow your player to feel a strong pull of the character they are playing and even practice how they might think in a troubling situation. The player can gain insight into who and how they are in that moment, gaining a resiliency that empowers them to make wiser decisions in real life.

Questions are also a distinct form of power. We strip community members of their information rights when we take them away. When we offer opportunities to ask questions, we create pathways to absolute power: the right to education. Many individuals and organizations strive to remove this right from individuals. They seek to keep people in the dark, silence them, and reduce their ability to advocate for themselves. The saddest part is this limitation is a widespread occurrence. Those within the Neuro Diverse community and other underserved communities are taught that asking questions is bothersome, hurtful, and rude. It is an intrinsic and consistent part of this world. That is why TTRPGs and other games like them are so powerful when we offer moments to ask questions without judgment, pain, or condensation, acting as though questions are the pathway to building up communities and shedding light in the darkness others purposefully cast on others.

In truth, questions are the pathway to power. They can examine how and why TTRPGs can be such an asset to many underserved communities. When we utilize them well and carry out our communication with intention, we can raise our voices to be heard. They are ultimately helping others to claim their power.