RPG Style Question

[A flannel shirt]

I am bored as heck and just wanted to find out how you guys role play and which “way” do you prefer.

There is no right or wrong IMO just a difference of style.

I am part of two groups right now and they are at completely different ends of the RPing spectrum.


Which one of these would you prefer to play in?

#1 The group sits around one table together; there is a battle mat in the middle, miniatures, scenery, and a DM/ST/GM at one end of the table behind a screen.

#2 The group sits around their own table and on a couch or chair. A DM/ST/GM is sitting at a “Station” that is the head of the room. The game is centered around story telling.

#3 No preference
#4 Other

 

[Oryan77]

You didn't say it so I chose #4. But I'd prefer #1 but I assume they are not focusing much on the roleplaying part of the game since you mentioned that #2 is?

I'd like to sit around a table or a coffee table, use the battlemat with minis and all of that, and still have plenty of roleplaying going on with a good story.

 

[Pentius]

I'm going with number one. It's the way I'm used to, and I find number two mildly confusing. Why is the DM not at the table? Are we not playing together? Why are some people on the couch? It's so easy to disengage from the game when you're on the couch. Are we not using a battlemat in number two? If not, then I will not be able to maintain immersion whenever the position of one thing in relation to another thing is important. No, if number two works for you, well, more power to you. But that sounds like it would be a disjointed, frustrating experience for me.

 

[the Jester]

#1 The group sits around one table together; there is a battle mat in the middle, miniatures, scenery, and a DM/ST/GM at one end of the table behind a screen.

#2 The group sits around their own table and on a couch or chair. A DM/ST/GM is sitting at a “Station” that is the head of the room. The game is centered around story telling.

You do realize that putting it this way totally loads your poll, right?

Why can't the game be centered on storytelling while you sit around a table?

 

[MrMyth]

Yeah, the poll doesn't quite make sense. I voted for 1... since a game focused around story-telling works best when the DM is amongst the players and everyone is able to feel like they are interacting.

I'm not even quite sure what is meant by a DM "station" being apart from the group - some sort of throne from which the DM hands down judgement from on high?

 

[Oryan77]

I'm not even quite sure what is meant by a DM "station" being apart from the group - some sort of throne from which the DM hands down judgement from on high?

Exactly! That's how I do it. My players sit on the floor on square pieces of carpet. I have a lazy boy that sits up about 6 feet. I tend to wear a Burger King hat just so people know who the DM is. My setup is really high tech. I have 3 laptops around me each connected to dual monitors. Some of the monitors do nothing but project my face (via webcam) on the screen which faces towards the players. It gives a sort of modern day Wizard of Oz effect. It's pretty badass I must say.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

I also went with the assumption that even though it wasn't said, choice #1 involves them being more into the combat than the roleplay, since choice #2 specifies them focusing on the roleplay.

Because of that I chose #2. Combat is fun, but I generally prefer story, not that you can't be sitting around the table and still center on the storytelling, as the Jester said. I also tend to do about half of of my combat without miniatures or a grid anyways, only using those things within a dungeon, so a map on a table isn't always necessary.

Couches are comfy too... That influenced my decision a bit.

 

[Crothian]

The poll seems to beg the question does how people sit around a table or how they are arranged while gaming lend itself to certain RPG styles? It seems you are assuming they do and I'm not sold on that as fact.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

In our games, the players typically sit on gold-colored beanbag chairs in a sunny field, facing outward to look over an idyllic scene of grazing cows. Their backs are toward a stout crystal pedestal at the center, above which levitates the DM, who is easily recognized by the glowing purple speedo he wears as a symbol of his authority.

 

[JamesonCourage]

My group sits on couches and rocking chairs, around a table, doesn't use miniatures, and we might get into one combat every 10 hours of play time on average. I voted number two, but I'm not sure it fits, nor of its accuracy. I sit on a couch, too, near the coffee table, and I see the objections that people have raised in the split in RP / Combat.

As always, though, play what you like