The RPG Self: Bleed, Constellation, and Consent

This article is a philosophical exploration of the intersection between the deep narratives of tabletop RPGs and the notions of bleed and consent. This synoptic view integrates the theories of Carl Jung into a broader theory of self that expects the conscious meta-cognition of patterns within RPG play. It revisits bleed as a bi-directional process, its types, and properties (Beltrán 2012, Kemper 2017, Hugaas 2019, Hugaas 2024). Then, the article explores and extends the Jungian approach to RPGs (Bowman 2012, 2017, Beltrán 2012, 2013, Diakolambrianou & Bowman 2023), broadening the theoretical framework of bleed studies and consent-based gaming. The advantage of Jung’s theory lies in its aptitude to combine inner psychic manifestations with symbols, images, and feelings (Stevens 2002). The archetypes, the universal figures of supra-personal character that organize feeling-toned complexes, are key concepts (Stein 1998). Wrought in our dreams and mythology (Jung 2014), they set up the playground for our symbol-forming capacities (Stevens 2002). The article proposes two new concepts to study individuation, archetypal engagement, and bleed in RPGs: constellation and the RPG Self. Finally, it discusses insights for studying bleed in Game Directors and, employing ideas from archetypal psychology (Adams 2002, Hillman 2004, Paris 2008), it explores future perspectives on devising safe strategies for consent-based gaming via the conscious recognition of archetypal images and mythic narratives born within the RPG Self.