D&D 5E Come out and put yourself on the Gygax scale!

[Hriston]

Roleplaying is a general category, like money. Trying claim that there is only one degree of roleplaying is like saying that there are no denominations of money. Playing the bare mechanics and nothing else is like a dollar bill. Not caring about mechanics and just going with story over everything would be like a one hundred dollar bill. Everything else in in-between. That doesn't mean that the $100 is the only way to play, or that the $1 is bad, but there are greater degrees of roleplaying than what you describe above.

Your metaphor is off. The way to have a greater degree of role-playing is to play RPGs more often. If you only play once a year, that's like having one dollar. If you play one hundred times a year, that's like having one hundred dollars. The differences you're describing are differences in play-style. They are all equally role-playing.

A statement doesn't achieve one true wayism unless that person is telling you that you have to do it their way.

Then I'm sure you'd have no problem agreeing that "playing the bare mechanics and nothing else" in no way diminishes the amount of role-playing you're doing compared to "not caring about mechanics and just going with story over everything". Since I don't have to do it your way for it to be role-playing, then one play-style can't result in less role-playing than the other.

 

[Maxperson]

Your metaphor is off. The way to have a greater degree of role-playing is to play RPGs more often. If you only play once a year, that's like having one dollar. If you play one hundred times a year, that's like having one hundred dollars. The differences you're describing are differences in play-style. They are all equally role-playing.

No they are not all equal. If you roleplay only the mechanics of your character, being a defender, caster, etc., you are still playing a role. If I play all of that and add a bit of personality, I am doing more. If your buddy adds great depth to his character, he's doing even more than me. It's not all equal.

Then I'm sure you'd have no problem agreeing that "playing the bare mechanics and nothing else" in no way diminishes the amount of role-playing you're doing compared to "not caring about mechanics and just going with story over everything". Since I don't have to do it your way for it to be role-playing, then one play-style can't result in less role-playing than the other.

It's not wrong to play that way. What I do can't diminish what he does in the least. However, I can do more roleplaying than he does if I am do more than simply playing the mechanics.

 

[robus]

G1 - but i’d rather be banging Like a G6!

[video=youtube_share;w4s6H4ku6ZY]https://youtu.be/w4s6H4ku6ZY[/video]

 

[Hriston]

If you roleplay only the mechanics of your character, being a defender, caster, etc., you are still playing a role. If I play all of that and add a bit of personality, I am doing more. If your buddy adds great depth to his character, he's doing even more than me. It's not all equal.

That isn't more role-playing. It's just different.

It's not wrong to play that way. What I do can't diminish what he does in the least. However, I can do more roleplaying than he does if I am do more than simply playing the mechanics.

Unless you're spending more time role-playing, you literally cannot do more role-playing than someone else who's also role-playing.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Only you can define where you are on the scale! Start with what you like best, story or mechanics. If those are equal, you land at G3, if not, the more important one leans you to one side and then it's a matter of how important the other is to you for your enjoyment of the game.

I don't care about the story in an RPG, at all, just in and of itself. That's why narrative mechanics are so offensive. If I was going to concede that a story happens, just for the sake of a story rather than due to internal causality, then I could read a book for that.

Likewise, I don't really care about the mechanics of an RPG, just by themself. There are plenty of other games that I could play, if I just wanted to interact with mechanics -- games with better rules and clear win conditions.

The great thing about RPGs - the unique thing about them, and the reason why I play - is that the story flows from the mechanics. That is what gives the story its meaning, and which allows us to role-play our characters as people rather than as mere narrative constructs.

 

[Maxperson]

That isn't more role-playing. It's just different.

Unless you're spending more time role-playing, you literally cannot do more role-playing than someone else who's also role-playing.

It is different. The difference is the greater quantity of roleplaying. Time is not the only measurement of roleplay, despite your attempts to limit it to time only.

 

[Hriston]

It is different. The difference is the greater quantity of roleplaying.

No, it isn't. Two people deciding how their characters think, act, and talk are both role-playing equally. One cannot be role-playing more than the other. What you are calling more role-playing is just your personal preference.

 

[Maxperson]

No, it isn't. Two people deciding how their characters think, act, and talk are both role-playing equally. One cannot be role-playing more than the other. What you are calling more role-playing is just your personal preference.

I've already demonstrated how to roleplay a character more. mechanics by itself is not equal to mechanics + personality. The latter is roleplaying more. That simple math is proof of my statement, but I have yet to see you prove yours. You are literally arguing that 1 is the same as 1 + 1.

 

[Hriston]

I've already demonstrated how to roleplay a character more. mechanics by itself is not equal to mechanics + personality. The latter is roleplaying more. That simple math is proof of my statement, but I have yet to see you prove yours. You are literally arguing that 1 is the same as 1 + 1.

However you decide what your character thinks, what actions your character attempts, and what your character says is how you role-play your character. There's really no way you can decide more, no matter how you come to the decision.

 

[OB1]

The great thing about RPGs - the unique thing about them, and the reason why I play - is that the story flows from the mechanics. That is what gives the story its meaning, and which allows us to role-play our characters as people rather than as mere narrative constructs.

Sounds like you are saying mechanics and story are equally important to your enjoyment, so I’d say G3.

And I agree that story flowing from mechanics of dealing with uncertainty is what makes RPGs unique! For myself, that means that when you roll the dice, you live by the results. However, I’m also okay with the decision by the DM not to roll the dice even if the mechanics might call for it if it serves the story. Hence why I list myself as G2.


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