Do You Want Immersive Roleplay?

[Svern]

I've been thinking lately that immersive experiences are what I'm after in RPGs. For me, feeling like I'm a character in another world is probably my favourite thing. What are the the most immersive sessions you've had and why? Do you want deep immersion or not?

 

[GMMichael]

Indubitably! Granted, I'm usually the GM, so everything looks like matrix-code falling from the top of the screen, but within that code the game feels much more immersive without a grid-square-map. Hex maps are fun, as long as they're on a 1:10,000 scale or so.

One big thing that helps, and I'm terrible at it, is adding lots of detail. Another factor is how much time players spend in-character. I strive to spend as much time as I can when I'm a player, but I find that I'm usually the odd man out in that respect.

 

[Pickles III]

Not

 

[fjw70]

No, not really interested.

 

[iserith]

Consider the points raised in this article on the subject of immersion. I see it as emotional identification with the character and this does not require me knowing less about the game world (or plot or whatever) or having less handling time with the mechanics. I also see immersion as a feeling one can learn to induce and control such that each player is in control of his or her own level of immersion. So when I see complaints that X or Y "breaks my immersion" - usually in reference to how the GM or another player is playing - I just shake my head.

Do I like "deep immersion?" Sure, depending on what you mean. And it's easy to achieve if one develops the skills to summon and maintain this feeling.

 

[darjr]

Very interesting article. Never heard of the JJ Abrams talk and I'll have to follow up. I might have to try this experiment.

I am curios about the seemingly knee jerk "not interested" comments.

 

[was]

...IME, roleplaying is all about immersion. Putting yourself into the role of your character, acting out their personality, goals etc. There are always a few folks who take it a bit too far. But without any immersion, it turns into a tactical war game. Which isn't necessarily bad either, but it's not roleplaying.

..So I guess I'd vote yes, but for light immersion. IME, folks who invest too much in it have other issues.

 

[Imaculata]

I am just as excited about being immersed in the fictional world, as I am in being immersed in the character. I like to see a reasonable balance between those two in the game I take part in, and the games I DM myself.

 

[steenan]

There are many kinds of immersion. Some are crucial for me, some I don't care for and some I see as problematic.

I can't imagine having fun playing without emotional engagement. If I don't care about the characters and what they do, I'd be better off playing a board game.
It is possible to pull me out of this kind of immersion by negating the meaning of my character's choices or destroying things about the characters and the game world I care about.

I immerse in the story we create through play. I like emotionally charged situations, I like unexpected plot twists, I like characters being played to the hilt, even when it puts them in trouble.

I identify with my characters, but I never "become" my character, perceiving things as they do and fully sharing their emotions. I play my characters aiming to create interesting situations, not to "do what my character would do". This kind of immersion I don't care for.

And when I read about immersing so deeply that one stops thinking about the rules of the game and other people at the table, I see it as a pathology. If you stop thinking about the real people playing with you, the way you communicate with them, the feelings it creates - there's nothing stopping you from behaving like an ass while believing yourself to be a great player or GM. I've been there and don't want to ever return.

 

[Azgulor]

Yes, absolutely. Immersion is one of the primary things that set RPGs apart from other games. Without it, the game is reduced to a complicated boardgame. It can still be fun, but it doesn't hold a candle to games/sessions where the immersion is there.

If we just want a beer-n-pretzel experience, we'll play Risk or dozens of other boardgames.