When we play tabletop role‑playing games, we don’t just control characters we become them. In this talk, Ralf explores emotional bleed, the powerful phenomenon where a player’s emotions, values, and experiences begin to overlap with those of their character, lingering long after the game session ends. Drawing from RPG storytelling, psychology, and personal insight, he examines how stepping into another identity can shape our real‑world feelings, relationships, and sense of self. The talk reveals both the risks and rewards of emotional bleed and how it can lead to burnout or confusion, but also to empathy, healing, and self‑discovery. Ultimately, Ralf invites us to rethink role‑playing not as escapism, but as a deeply human act that shows how stories and the characters we inhabit can change who we are. Ralf is an avid gamer, game creator, and RPG enthusiast with a deep passion for tabletop role‑playing games. He values the collaborative storytelling and strong sense of community that RPGs create, and he especially enjoys bringing people together through shared play. Beyond the table, Ralf is fascinated by the overlap between role‑playing games and the real world, exploring how game mechanics, decision‑making, and narrative shape human behavior and understanding. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx