Roleplaying - Is there a right or a wrong way as far as you are concerned?

[Ghostwind]

There are as many different styles of playing RPGs as there are stars in the sky. They range from a group of people sitting down to socialize and tell jokes under the premise of playing a game to those who are so far into the game that they dress as their characters and speak only as they would for as long as the game is in session. As a DM, do you insist on a specific type of play and do you rule the play session with an iron fist if your group deviates from it?

I've been exposed to quite a few different groups through the years. Most tend to be freeflowing, there to have fun and enjoy themselves, and don't mind an occasional tangent or joke as long as it doesn't consume the game time. However, I did have the experience to briefly play in a group that not only took roleplay seriously (speak only when your character speaks and then as he or she would) but would only tackle serious, mature themes in thier games (i.e. no cheesy Monty Python jokes or quotes). If they were there to investigate a murder, for example, the DM would go to great lengths to describe the horror, carnage, and fear of the scenario. If you weren't sufficiently horrorstruck in his eyes, then you weren't immersing yourself into the character and game sufficiently.

Needless to say, I didn't stay in that group very long.

So what have been your experiences and, in your opinion, is one way superior to another?

 

[kiznit]

Right way: Be invested in having fun, paying attention to whether other people are having fun or not.

Wrong way: Being a selfish dick.

 

[Vegepygmy]

I don't think there is any One Right Way to roleplay, but I'm quite certain there are Many Wrong Ways.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Right way: Be invested in having fun, paying attention to whether other people are having fun or not.

Wrong way: Being a selfish dick.

QFT.

As long as you're not doing the latter, it's all good.

 

[Dice4Hire]

The only way I can say for sure is a way different form everyone else in the group. If you are, you need to rethink things a bit.

This can be the DM or a player.

 

[evileeyore]

The right is "I'm having fun".



The wrong way is "I'm not having fun, also get your elbow out of my ear".

 

[Neonchameleon]

Right way: Everyone at the table is enjoying it. And you aren't playing something that resembles RaHoWa or FATAL.

Wrong way: Dragging the table down. Loudly not having fun or having fun at the expense of others.

 

[Whisper72]

The right is "I'm having fun".



The wrong way is "I'm not having fun, also get your elbow out of my ear".

This...

The only wrong way is when you are not having fun.

That said, RPG's being a group thing, it is quite possible for a part of the group enjoying themselves and another part not. If this is a structural issue, then the group should probably split up as apparently what one part likes deviates from another part.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Right way: Be invested in having fun, paying attention to whether other people are having fun or not.

Wrong way: Being a selfish dick.

This.

With the very important caveat that what might be seen as "invested in having fun, paying attention to whether other people are having fun or not" at one table may well be seen as "being a dick" at another table, and vice versa.

No one has the right to tell you how to role-play. They do, however, have a right to choose not to role-play with you.



RC

 

[Diamond Cross]

For the most part, there isn't really any wrong style. But there are ways that are detrimental to having a good time for the group.

Such as bad players are the number one reason.

However, I think there are also extreme ways of playing as well, such as the rule that "you must always be in character no matter what".

But that reminds me of the South Park episode where the boys went to this one old west town where the one rule was "you must be in character at all times" for the people who worked there. Then it was taken over by a bunch of criminals. No matter what happened, even when some of the workers were shot, they would not break character.

And that's a bit too serious for me. Some role playing I can deal with, but it can be taken to extremes and that I just don't do.