Snarf Zagyg
Notorious Liquefactionist
The recent thread on not playing "stupid" characters (and/or "ableism") had me thinking more about the nature of roleplaying in in TTRPGs in general, and in D&D in particular. It happened to intersect with not just my continuing thoughts about The Elusive Shift (great present for the gamer in your life!), but also with some recent press regarding Eddie Redmayne and The Danish Girl and my own personal history regarding roleplaying.
1. Roleplaying or Roleplaying? The Great Debate Never Ends!
Sorry Boss, But There's Only Two Men I Trust. One Of Them's Me. The Other's Not You.
So I've had a few posts about the excellent book The Elusive Shift by Jon Peterson (Review, First Post re: RPG Theory, Second Post re: Commercialization of 1e), and one of the primary focuses of the book is the early debates between the "SciFi" crowd (aka, the Roleplayers) and the "Wargamers" (aka, the Rollplayer), with an explosion of popularity at the beginning of the 80s solidifying the "old guard/grognards" (Roleplayers) against the munchkins/powergamers (Rollplayers). This is, of course, a great simplification of the issues presented in the book, and nothing is ever so Manichean or cut & dry, but this debate remained integral to the very nature of D&D. The appeal of the game, for many, was that it allowed the control of someone other than yourself- an instrumentality, and alter ego ... the ability to not just play an adventure game, but to play a role.
Look, I don't want to get too Tom Hanks in Mazes and Monsters here (or too Tom Hanks in Bosom Bodies... the 80s, everyone!), but this idea of roleplaying was a major part of the appeal of the game for a lot of people. The identification with a character. The exploration of a role. You weren't just controlling a thimble (or whatever they have now) around a Monopoly board, you had an alter ego, with a name, and characteristics, who existed in a separate world, and did cool stuff. To quote Ted "Theodore" Logan, WOAH.
And to be honest, there was a lot of wish-fulfillment going on - especially when you had younger players. Fun fact- IIRC, in 1981, 60% of TSR's sales were to consumers between the age of 10 and 14. So this roleplaying could be something as simple as "Ima get more power, more quickly! I will rule everything, all the time, forever!" Or it could be something only slightly more advanced- maybe someone who was weak (or perceived themselves to be weak) imagining that they were Conan the Barbarian ... or, at a minimum, Kronan- Conan's off-brand half-brother.
Of course, D&D never fully resolved this dilemma, this dichotomy, within its rules or to the satisfaction of the innumerable people who still debate it to this day. Other games would pop up and say, "We are about the roleplaying!" Or, "We will just let you worry about battling giant mechas against each other instead of silly human emotions!" D&D never bothered with that- for all practical purposes, D&D remained both a floor wax and a dessert topping, a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n roll, always remaining inscrutably inarticulate on the issues.
Perhaps that was for the best- as years went out, CRPGs tended to appeal to people who were all about the reward loop of kill-loot-advance, something they did very well. Meanwhile, you had other communities, both new (LARP, certain cosplay/anime) and old (theater) that would appeal to people who were only about the roleplaying. D&D remained in the middle.
2. Advantages of Roleplaying- from Cops 'n Robbers to Dungeons & Dragons.
People Don't Throw Things At Me Anymore. Maybe Because I Carry A Bow Around.
Roleplaying has advantages that many people are familiar with.
Quick side note - I did a quick check to make sure I wasn't talking out of my posterior on the following issues, but I'm not really interested in a long scientific debate about the merits of roleplaying and playing games, or whether X study showed a mere correlation with empathic involvement etc.
For example, people who are neurodivergent (on the autism spectrum, for example) can find TTRPGs, like D&D, to be helpful and they have been incorporated in many support programs. Those who are queer (LGBTQA+, non-binary, etc.) can use TTRPGs as a relatively safe space to explore issues - in fact, this has had long historical antecedents. While there have been times that the overall community has not been as welcoming as it could (and should) be, many gamers from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and on were able to explore identities that were considered transgressive at that time through "just playing a game" and "just taking a role."
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the act of roleplaying, of imgaining yourself as "the other," is the very act that can allow a person to build empathy for "the other." We've all heard the trite expression, "To understand someone, first travel a mile in their shoes." Well, roleplaying requires you, on a regular basis, to imagine yourself as someone else. The act of imagining how this other person feels, how this other person perceives, and (to take it a step farther) how this alter ego is interacting with other alter ego ... that's a continual workout of empathy. Admittedly, you might not always think that from looking at the interactions on RPG forums ... but hey, it's there.
3. Good Roleplaying is Hard.
I am not a demon. I am a lizard, a shark, a heat-seeking panther. I want to be Bob Denver on acid playing the accordion.
Now for a truism- roleplaying ... like, really good roleplaying ... it's hard. Think of some example you've seen. Maybe it's acting in a film. Maybe it's watching Critical Role. And then compare it to what you're doing at your own table- it's not easy! Let's compare it to acting (TTRPG roleplaying isn't acting, but it works for this comparison)-
Speaking in a voice different than yours? Hard! We all imagine that we are Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown, effortlessly maintaining an accent ... but usually we are, at best, Kevin Costner in Robin Hood, giving a half-hearted shrug towards an attempt at an accent, and then realizing ... eh, seems effortful to keep trying.
Maintaining consistency with the character? Also very very hard! It can be genuinely difficult to make decisions based on what you think the character would want to do, and not based on the fact that you, the player, really want to gain a level before the pizza arrives.
Having the character grow over time? This is even more difficult that being consistent- imagine you've finally gotten to a consistent characterization .... well, people change. How are you modeling these changes as your character grows over times (other than HELLS NO IM NOT GOING ADVENTURING ANYMORE!).
...and so on. I say this only because most of us, even people that really care about roleplaying, aren't that great. It's sort of like watching a middle school play- the effort might be there, but the execution is often lacking. And ... that's okay! We are amateurs, playing a game, and having a good time (well, hopefully a good time). We should be making mistakes, and exploring characters, and enjoying ourselves.
4. Representation, Stereotypes, and Roleplaying.
The killer's a literature professor. He cuts off little chunks from his victims' bodies until they die. He calls himself "the deconstructionist".
There was a brief blip of news recently about Eddie Redmayne (actor). He admitted that, knowing what he knows now, he would not have taken his (Oscar-nominated) role as Lile Elbe, a transgender character in The Danish Girl. The issues regarding representation and commercial acting are fraught for many reasons- they include questions of appropriation, insult, and a long history of tone-deafness. But while some of these issues involving paid commercial acting jobs and roleplaying in TTRPGs are similar, the overlap is, at best, inexact for a simple reason- jobs and money are involved, not to mention what are often world-wide and public issues of representation broadcast to millions (or billions).
... but that doesn't mean that there are no similar issues. If you've played long enough, you've undoubtedly come across a truly questionable roleplaying choice. Maybe it was questionable in terms of morality (the edgelord evil character). Maybe it was questionable in terms of accents (the Triton named Wu Tang Clam). Maybe it was questionable in terms of a characterization that was more of a stereotype (say, a Samurai that was leaning too heavily into stereotypes about Asian culture, as opposed to genre conventions).
This can be hard to stomach. But before leaping down the throat of someone else at the table, before trying to shame them into changing their choices by labeling them (as opposed to their choice), I would point out the things I wrote above- we are amateurs. Roleplaying is hard. People make mistakes. People's inability to create consistent and nuanced characterizations often causes them to lapse into stereotypes.
Most importantly, tables should be a relatively free place for people to try and explore roleplaying. Someone playing an identity that is different than the one that they have is the entire purpose ... even more, at a minimum it might be building some measure of empathy, and at most it might be someone exploring aspects of themselves that they aren't even comfortable being open about yet. This isn't a demand to withhold reasonable judgment if you see something beyond the pale, so much as a call for greater understanding that this is a hobby that involves amateurs and roleplaying.
5. Conclusion.
Shoot him again... His soul's still dancing.
After all that wishy-washiness, what does it all mean? Well, it means that things are complicated. Not easily reducible. But most importantly, it means the following-
If you see someone making what you believe is a questionable roleplaying characterization, talk to that person. Explain why you think it is questionable (the characterization), listen to what the players say, and offer advice on something they could do instead.
Everyone wants to be a bard- part of the problem. But this is the time to be a part of the solution. If a person at your table is roleplaying in a manner that offends you, (1) ask them why they are making that choice, and if that response doesn't ameliorate your issue, then (2) explain why you are having an issue with that characterization, and (3) offer an alternative way to go forward.
IMO, YMMV, etc.
1. Roleplaying or Roleplaying? The Great Debate Never Ends!
Sorry Boss, But There's Only Two Men I Trust. One Of Them's Me. The Other's Not You.
So I've had a few posts about the excellent book The Elusive Shift by Jon Peterson (Review, First Post re: RPG Theory, Second Post re: Commercialization of 1e), and one of the primary focuses of the book is the early debates between the "SciFi" crowd (aka, the Roleplayers) and the "Wargamers" (aka, the Rollplayer), with an explosion of popularity at the beginning of the 80s solidifying the "old guard/grognards" (Roleplayers) against the munchkins/powergamers (Rollplayers). This is, of course, a great simplification of the issues presented in the book, and nothing is ever so Manichean or cut & dry, but this debate remained integral to the very nature of D&D. The appeal of the game, for many, was that it allowed the control of someone other than yourself- an instrumentality, and alter ego ... the ability to not just play an adventure game, but to play a role.
Look, I don't want to get too Tom Hanks in Mazes and Monsters here (or too Tom Hanks in Bosom Bodies... the 80s, everyone!), but this idea of roleplaying was a major part of the appeal of the game for a lot of people. The identification with a character. The exploration of a role. You weren't just controlling a thimble (or whatever they have now) around a Monopoly board, you had an alter ego, with a name, and characteristics, who existed in a separate world, and did cool stuff. To quote Ted "Theodore" Logan, WOAH.
And to be honest, there was a lot of wish-fulfillment going on - especially when you had younger players. Fun fact- IIRC, in 1981, 60% of TSR's sales were to consumers between the age of 10 and 14. So this roleplaying could be something as simple as "Ima get more power, more quickly! I will rule everything, all the time, forever!" Or it could be something only slightly more advanced- maybe someone who was weak (or perceived themselves to be weak) imagining that they were Conan the Barbarian ... or, at a minimum, Kronan- Conan's off-brand half-brother.
Of course, D&D never fully resolved this dilemma, this dichotomy, within its rules or to the satisfaction of the innumerable people who still debate it to this day. Other games would pop up and say, "We are about the roleplaying!" Or, "We will just let you worry about battling giant mechas against each other instead of silly human emotions!" D&D never bothered with that- for all practical purposes, D&D remained both a floor wax and a dessert topping, a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n roll, always remaining inscrutably inarticulate on the issues.
Perhaps that was for the best- as years went out, CRPGs tended to appeal to people who were all about the reward loop of kill-loot-advance, something they did very well. Meanwhile, you had other communities, both new (LARP, certain cosplay/anime) and old (theater) that would appeal to people who were only about the roleplaying. D&D remained in the middle.
2. Advantages of Roleplaying- from Cops 'n Robbers to Dungeons & Dragons.
People Don't Throw Things At Me Anymore. Maybe Because I Carry A Bow Around.
Roleplaying has advantages that many people are familiar with.
Quick side note - I did a quick check to make sure I wasn't talking out of my posterior on the following issues, but I'm not really interested in a long scientific debate about the merits of roleplaying and playing games, or whether X study showed a mere correlation with empathic involvement etc.
For example, people who are neurodivergent (on the autism spectrum, for example) can find TTRPGs, like D&D, to be helpful and they have been incorporated in many support programs. Those who are queer (LGBTQA+, non-binary, etc.) can use TTRPGs as a relatively safe space to explore issues - in fact, this has had long historical antecedents. While there have been times that the overall community has not been as welcoming as it could (and should) be, many gamers from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and on were able to explore identities that were considered transgressive at that time through "just playing a game" and "just taking a role."
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the act of roleplaying, of imgaining yourself as "the other," is the very act that can allow a person to build empathy for "the other." We've all heard the trite expression, "To understand someone, first travel a mile in their shoes." Well, roleplaying requires you, on a regular basis, to imagine yourself as someone else. The act of imagining how this other person feels, how this other person perceives, and (to take it a step farther) how this alter ego is interacting with other alter ego ... that's a continual workout of empathy. Admittedly, you might not always think that from looking at the interactions on RPG forums ... but hey, it's there.
3. Good Roleplaying is Hard.
I am not a demon. I am a lizard, a shark, a heat-seeking panther. I want to be Bob Denver on acid playing the accordion.
Now for a truism- roleplaying ... like, really good roleplaying ... it's hard. Think of some example you've seen. Maybe it's acting in a film. Maybe it's watching Critical Role. And then compare it to what you're doing at your own table- it's not easy! Let's compare it to acting (TTRPG roleplaying isn't acting, but it works for this comparison)-
Speaking in a voice different than yours? Hard! We all imagine that we are Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown, effortlessly maintaining an accent ... but usually we are, at best, Kevin Costner in Robin Hood, giving a half-hearted shrug towards an attempt at an accent, and then realizing ... eh, seems effortful to keep trying.
Maintaining consistency with the character? Also very very hard! It can be genuinely difficult to make decisions based on what you think the character would want to do, and not based on the fact that you, the player, really want to gain a level before the pizza arrives.
Having the character grow over time? This is even more difficult that being consistent- imagine you've finally gotten to a consistent characterization .... well, people change. How are you modeling these changes as your character grows over times (other than HELLS NO IM NOT GOING ADVENTURING ANYMORE!).
...and so on. I say this only because most of us, even people that really care about roleplaying, aren't that great. It's sort of like watching a middle school play- the effort might be there, but the execution is often lacking. And ... that's okay! We are amateurs, playing a game, and having a good time (well, hopefully a good time). We should be making mistakes, and exploring characters, and enjoying ourselves.
4. Representation, Stereotypes, and Roleplaying.
The killer's a literature professor. He cuts off little chunks from his victims' bodies until they die. He calls himself "the deconstructionist".
There was a brief blip of news recently about Eddie Redmayne (actor). He admitted that, knowing what he knows now, he would not have taken his (Oscar-nominated) role as Lile Elbe, a transgender character in The Danish Girl. The issues regarding representation and commercial acting are fraught for many reasons- they include questions of appropriation, insult, and a long history of tone-deafness. But while some of these issues involving paid commercial acting jobs and roleplaying in TTRPGs are similar, the overlap is, at best, inexact for a simple reason- jobs and money are involved, not to mention what are often world-wide and public issues of representation broadcast to millions (or billions).
... but that doesn't mean that there are no similar issues. If you've played long enough, you've undoubtedly come across a truly questionable roleplaying choice. Maybe it was questionable in terms of morality (the edgelord evil character). Maybe it was questionable in terms of accents (the Triton named Wu Tang Clam). Maybe it was questionable in terms of a characterization that was more of a stereotype (say, a Samurai that was leaning too heavily into stereotypes about Asian culture, as opposed to genre conventions).
This can be hard to stomach. But before leaping down the throat of someone else at the table, before trying to shame them into changing their choices by labeling them (as opposed to their choice), I would point out the things I wrote above- we are amateurs. Roleplaying is hard. People make mistakes. People's inability to create consistent and nuanced characterizations often causes them to lapse into stereotypes.
Most importantly, tables should be a relatively free place for people to try and explore roleplaying. Someone playing an identity that is different than the one that they have is the entire purpose ... even more, at a minimum it might be building some measure of empathy, and at most it might be someone exploring aspects of themselves that they aren't even comfortable being open about yet. This isn't a demand to withhold reasonable judgment if you see something beyond the pale, so much as a call for greater understanding that this is a hobby that involves amateurs and roleplaying.
5. Conclusion.
Shoot him again... His soul's still dancing.
After all that wishy-washiness, what does it all mean? Well, it means that things are complicated. Not easily reducible. But most importantly, it means the following-
If you see someone making what you believe is a questionable roleplaying characterization, talk to that person. Explain why you think it is questionable (the characterization), listen to what the players say, and offer advice on something they could do instead.
Everyone wants to be a bard- part of the problem. But this is the time to be a part of the solution. If a person at your table is roleplaying in a manner that offends you, (1) ask them why they are making that choice, and if that response doesn't ameliorate your issue, then (2) explain why you are having an issue with that characterization, and (3) offer an alternative way to go forward.
IMO, YMMV, etc.
