What is a Roleplaying Game?

mythusmage · 21st December 2005, 01:46 AM

A roleplaying game is where the player assumes the role of a character living in an imaginary world; with a system of rules that describe how that world works.

jdrakeh · 21st December 2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mythusmage

A roleplaying game is where the player assumes the role of a character living in an imaginary world; with a system of rules that describe how that world works.

Incidentally, this definition is flawed as it assumes that all RPGs describe action taking place in a fictional world, which isn't always the case. Some games describe fictional action taking place in the real world (Trauma and Fast Action, for example). Also, rules don't always describe how a world works (this is especially true of generic rule sets such as GURPS) but rather, prescribe a certain manner of conduct to be adhered to by players.

Your definition excludes dozens of rule sets and systems largely considered by the consuming public to be RPGs. More importantly, the flaws that I point out can be (and have been) proven through actual play [if not by the mere existence] of products mentioned above. Under your definition, these systems do not qualify as RPGs. 'Course that may be intentional for all I know.

I think that the intentional exclusion of bodies of work commonly recognized as roleplaying systems and/or roleplaying games would make for a definition (and by extension, a theory) that was very limited in scope and thus, largely useless. Of course, I'm felony stupid, so what do I know?

mythusmage · 21st December 2005, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdrakeh

Incidentally, this definition is flawed as it assumes that all RPGs describe action taking place in a fictional world, which isn't always the case. Some games describe fictional action taking place in the real world (Trauma and Fast Action, for example). Also, rules don't always describe how a world works (this is especially true of generic rule sets such as GURPS) but rather, prescribe a certain manner of conduct to be adhered to by players.

Your definition excludes dozens of rule sets and systems largely considered by the consuming public to be RPGs. More importantly, the flaws that I point out can be (and have been) proven through actual play [if not by the mere existence] of products mentioned above. Under your definition, these systems do not qualify as RPGs. 'Course that may be intentional for all I know.

I think that the intentional exclusion of bodies of work commonly recognized as roleplaying systems and/or roleplaying games would make for a definition (and by extension, a theory) that was very limited in scope and thus, largely useless. Of course, I'm felony stupid, so what do I know?

I disagree. To take your points one by one.

1. My definition says nothing about action. It refers to characters living in an imaginary world. Whether there is action or not is entirely up to the players.

That aside, the term "imaginary world" still applies, even to games set in the real world. This insofar as those real world games use a representation of the real world that, no matter how faithful to the source, must perforce be considered imaginary Imaginary in that it is how the author sees the real world. In short, all RPG settings are works of imagination, even those based upon the real world.

And let us not forget implied settings. Such as in GURPS or the D&D core books. For all they are not spelled out they qualify as imaginary worlds in that they follow certain assumptions found in the system. Such as GURPS' core assumption that magic is difficult and restricted in use. Or D&D's assumption that healing magic is the province of divine magic only, and is not a field that can be assayed by arcane magic. To sum up, even when a world is not explicitly included it will be implicitly included.

2. Yes, my definition does exclude a number of what many people consider RPGs. That's what definitions do, along with including they also exclude. When putting together a theory of anything it helps to exclude that which is not, strictly speaking, germane to the subject. So yes, it is deliberate.

That said, keep in mind I'm writing about a particular type of roleplaying game. The type where the players assume the role of characters living in an imaginary world. In the broader sense, a roleplaying game is a game where you play a role. By this definition roleplaying game includes such activities as; let's pretend, theater games, psychiatric roleplaying, and even "host a murder" games. Were I talking about roleplaying games as a whole the broader definition would work, but I'm focusing in on a particular type of roleplaying game, the type we (for the most part) discuss on these boards.

3. My definition is deliberately limited, as is my RPG hypothesis. Limited in that both are focused on a particular type of RPG. My hypothesis is not intended to cover all types of roleplaying game, just as Plate Tectonics does not cover, strictly speaking, chemical weathering.

BTW, you're not even felony dumb. Please stop trying to take credit for things you're not.

mythusmage · 21st December 2005, 05:49 PM

jdrakeh pointed out above that my definition is a tad restrictive. So...

Roleplaying Game

1. A game where the player assumes a role.

2. A game where the player assumes the role of a character living on an imaginary world.

For the purpose of this thread the 2nd definition is the one we shall be discussing. I am not loath to discuss the first, but in its own thread. For this one let us concentrate on the narrower definition.

amdobrit · 21st December 2005, 07:51 PM

I've always thought of role-playing worlds as imaginary, even if set or based on a real world. Your characters get to do all sorts of things that you wouldn't do in RL.

jester47 · 22nd December 2005, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OED

role-playing, n. 4. role-playing game, a game in which players take on the roles of imaginary characters who engage in adventures, typically in a particular fantasy setting overseen by a referee; (also, in later use) a computer game of this kind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mythusmage

A roleplaying game is [a game] where the player assumes the role of a character living in an imaginary world; with a system of rules that describe how that world works.

There is not much difference here and the OED definition is much more robust and retargetable. The only problem I have with it is that it uses the word imaginary in front of characters so might not account for historical roleplaying. However it could be argued that Teddy Roosevelt as played by me IS an imaginary character. The term referee and game imply that there are rules used however small and informal the rule set may be.

Take for example the lifeboat game where you have n people that society would choose to be important and n-1 seats in a lifeboat on a sinking ship and each player has to come up with an argument as to why they should be allowed to live and convince at least n-2 others of this argument. There is a moderator. There are rules. The world is the ocean and the ship and the characters are imaginary as is the whole situation.

I think the OED definition is best as it has a specificity and a broadness that covers everything. Furthermore it is a defintion that is more accessible to all.