Robin D. Laws: The 7 Gamer Types

Eric Tolle · Feb 19, 2012

I got:

Method Actor 100% Specialist 92% Storyteller 83% Tactician 67% Butt-Kicker 58% Power Gamer 50% Casual Gamer 8%

Which is fine as far as Method Actor goes. I would have rated Specialist lower...but on the other hand I do play a lot of mages.

Ourph · Feb 19, 2012

I am unable to vote because there is no poll option for "I find Robin Laws' categories to be completely unhelpful and inaccurate and wish RPG authors would stop referencing them in their design decisions.".

El Mahdi · Feb 19, 2012

My rating usually comes out equal parts Storyteller and Method Actor. So:

Storyteller when DM'ing.

Method Actor when playing.

B-)

jbear · Feb 20, 2012

I didn't participate in the poll as it isn't multiple choice. I'd be a pretty broad mix of most of those things except casual gamer (cause I'm right into it), method actor (but not that much ... I like it to be a game ... with dice) and specialist (I like to try new stuff, but I always play humans ... so kinda but not really).

I'd want instigator and actor on the list (just not method). I don't like the game to get too bogged down. If that means my character has to step into the lion's mouth, then bring it on, but pace is good. I also like to play my character, act it out. But not to the extreme that that becomes the be all and end all of the game.

But I think I'd be primarily tactician, storyteller, powergamer (so long as the mechanics reflect the character ... really I just want my character to be good, doesn't have to be the best) but with a healthy does of instigator.

Neonchameleon · Feb 20, 2012

Ourph said:
I am unable to vote because there is no poll option for "I find Robin Laws' categories to be completely unhelpful and inaccurate and wish RPG authors would stop referencing them in their design decisions.".

Which categories would you like?

What I wonder is whether Robin Laws' categories came before or after the WoTC survey on gamer types. Because that's the only empirical model we have and Robin Laws' types are a good match for it.

Character Actor = Method Actor
Storyteller = Storyteller

Power Gamer, Butt Kicker, and Tactician map onto the Thinker/Power Gamer continuum.

And specialist and casual gamer are orthoganal to the scale, but both there for a very good reason - I know both types of gamer (and seriously, specialists exist and casual gamers both need a slot and do not fit on the WoTC scale).

I'll take Robin Laws types over GNS any day of the week.

Mokona · Mar 1, 2012

Is there a typing methodology or classification system for playstyles that's not already covered by this list of four polls? If so, please post a link.

1. Timmy-Johnny-Spike-Vorthos poll
2. Character Actor-Power Gamer-Storyteller-Thinker poll
3. Gamist-Narrativist-Simulationist poll
4. Butt-Kicker-Casual Gamer-Method Actor-Power Gamer-Specialist-Storyteller-Tactician poll (above)

Evilhalfling · Mar 1, 2012

As a player I'm a Method Actor/Butt-kicker. 67/67%
I want personal growth and a bloody blade.

Although more than blood what I want is ACTION! diving through windows! turning into an eagle and fighting someone on a roof! Hanging upside down from the ceiling over certain death!

the method actor is more of redirected storyteller (I DM a lot) My character needs to grow and change, preferably every few sessions. Having involved conversations is unimportant.
The test also said I am as much specialist as storyteller (58/58), I'm not sure I agree with that at all. If anything, my specialty is a dumb young hero (-ine) who grows up.

As a DM I am far more a storyteller / butt-kicker
I want to tell the story of a world, and the PCs interactions with it. It doesn't especially matter to me where the story goes, as long as it keeps moving. The story should involve plenty of violence and action.

Marius Delphus · Mar 2, 2012

Storyteller 92%
Specialist 67%
Tactician 58%
Butt-Kicker 58%
Power Gamer 50%
Method Actor 50%
Casual Gamer 17%

I'm not sure what to make of this, unless it's "Story is paramount, and I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen, except sit idle!" That's not inaccurate.

kitsune9 · Mar 2, 2012

Power gamer is me. Creating one-trick ponies is probably the few things that I enjoy in playing a rpg. However, I rarely play and I haven't played a character in the past 4 years. I enjoy DMing the most.

Derren · Mar 2, 2012

Tactician

But I dislike the military/combat stereotype this name has.
Personally I see me more as a storyteller who doesn't want a Hollywood like story with all the tropes it entails but a "challenging yet logical" story which is consistent to what the game rules represent.