When the habit makes the monk roll with advantage: TTRPG players and clothing, intersecting real and game worlds

Drawing on clothing studies, as well as performance and play studies, this paper asks how and why tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) players wear religiously-charged clothing. Physical elements of roleplaying decrease friction as players’ virtually experience what their characters experience in the world of the game. Articles of clothing and accessories can make aspects of fictional experiences tangible in the real world, and usher players into deeper enjoyment of the game world’s activities. This paper explores what happens when real clothing operationalizess player attachments to both game- and real-world religious systems, objects, and ideas to modulate experience. Namely, the use of worn religion artifacts affectively connects players to their characters’ worlds and experiences and taps into games’ power for personal growth and change.