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[howandwhy99]

Originally Posted by The_Gneech

If acting isn't "playing a role," then what in San Hill is it?

You don't have to be Mr. Shakespearean to play a role-playing game, certainly, and you don't even have to use your character's exact words when trying to negotiate with some NPC.

However, it doesn't follow from that statement, that you're somehow NOT playing an RPG if you do choose to do those things, or happen to prefer games in which those things are the norm.

Good grief!

-The Gneech

Acting is playing a character to tell a story. As seen on TV, in movies, and in theatre. This is not to be confused with taking action. Like you or I do every moment of the day. A theatre actor, again, not an actor like you or I simply taking actions, is playing a role only in so much as the character is their role. Actors and actresses can be judged on their performances in portraying these characters. They are "doing it wrong" if they were, for instance, portraying a Einstein as stupid or George Burns as boring and unfunny. They simply aren't portraying the character well and are therefore acting poorly. That's the point of acting: to portray the character well. The character is the role.

In an RPG no one can say "you're playing your character wrong". It's one of the biggest faux pas in gaming. That's because you're playing the role. Role-playing is an educational game. If you were to role-play climbing Mt. Everest with your friends you would keep track of rations, equipment, hire Sherpas, plan your ascent track, deal with weather problems, and much more. A good role-playing scenario taken from real life like this could research just about any kind of element that happens when climbers attempt Mt. Everest in actuality. When you role-play it, it's a hypothetical, but you are still the one making the decisions, suffering the consequences, and, more important than anything else, are the one who actually achieves the success. I'll repeat that: role-play is where your accomplishments are real. That's because when you role-play, you are not the character you play. Even if his name is George Burns.

To reiterate the difference: Playing George Burns in a theatre game is to do everything you can to portray him. To role-play George Burns is to face everything he did in his life and see how well you fare.

EDIT: I understand that both kinds of games refer to "character". Try not to let this confuse you when RPG players say "RPGs are where you play your character". They may also be confused, but most gamers do play RPGs and enjoy role-playing, and role-playing their "character" is what they mean.