RPG Master Class

Currently Playing: The Group Psychology Theory Every GM Should Know

Dr. Ben discusses Tuckman's Group theory Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning for ttrps (Episode #186). #dnd #pathfinder #ttrpg #wfrp Website https://rpgphd.com/ Discord https://discord.gg/e49rJVQCwW RPG PHD swag!!! https://rpg-phd.myspreadshop.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089593636905 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rpg_phd/ Bluesky @rpg-phd.bsky.social Special thanks to Evelina for the thumbnail template, much appreciated!! 😊 Why does your D&D party fight, bond, and eventually fall apart? Psychologist Bruce Tuckman's five stages of group development, Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning, explain what's actually happening at your table and in your fiction at the same time. This episode breaks down how in-character conflict builds real trust, why a smooth-running campaign can suddenly regress, and why almost no one plans for how a campaign should end. With real examples from D&D 5e, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Blades in the Dark, and Monsterhearts, plus the pitfalls that trip up GMs at every stage and a step-by-step guide to running each one well. TTRPG, tabletop RPG, D&D, Dungeons and Dragons, GM advice, game mastering, group psychology, Tuckman's stages, forming storming norming performing, team dynamics, party dynamics, campaign management, RPG design theory, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, WFRP, Blades in the Dark, Monsterhearts, DM tips, tabletop gaming, RPG PHD, session zero, campaign ending, group development theory, roleplaying games --------------------------------------------- 00:00 Intro 00:59 The Theory 06:04 Forming 07:14 Storming 09:41 Norming 10:52 Performing 12:05 Adjourning 12:55 Pitfalls 16:56 Step-by-Step Guide 21:07 Thoughts? -------------------------------------------- Works Cited Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384–399. Tuckman, B. W., & Jensen, M. A. (1977). Stages of small-group development revisited. Group & Organization Studies, 2(4), 419–427. Gersick, C. J. G. (1988). Time and transition in work teams: Toward a new model of group development. Academy of Management Journal, 31(1), 9–41. Gersick, C. J. G. (1989). Marking time: Predictable transitions in task groups. Academy of Management Journal, 32(2), 274–309. Music and Sounds: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Erdns8jA3D/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/MRyCi54t7M/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/AQBpWzOsID/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe/ Music: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe/ Music: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/bWHPOsoaql/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uDAHxg3lIS/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/2dLRmfzdA5/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jrNZjxJQqZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/8c51eca6-dbb5-4925-b4ec-7ee51630322e