Character Actor, Power Gamer, Storyteller, and Thinker

[Mokona]

As I said over in another thread, a few different approaches to understanding potential 5e gamers would be beneficial to Wizards of the Coast. In the interest of helping them succeed with D&D Next I present another poll:

Which approach or influence is strongest when you're playing Dungeons & Dragons? Are you more strongly a Character Actor, Power Gamer, Storyteller, or Thinker?

However, I think the names of these classifications are TERRIBLE. Therefore I've presented them in their raw form. Official definitions can be found here and here.

Character Actor - prefers immediate focus over "big picture" and prefers the world (exploration) & interactions over conflict resolution.

Power Gamer - prefers immediate focus over "big picture" and prefers conflict resolution over the world (exploration) & interactions.

Storyteller - prefers "big picture" over immediate focus and prefers the world (exploration) & interactions over conflict resolution.

Thinker - prefers "big picture" over immediate focus and prefers conflict resolution over the world (exploration) & interactions.

Thanks to Umbran and Dausuul for the links over in this thread.

...they may fit WotC's Breakdown of RPG Players from the 1999 market survey somewhat better.

Why not use the categories WotC came up with for roleplayers instead of trying to kludge people into the categories they made for Magic players?

Notes:

Good polls and well formulated market research are difficult. Why force people to make either-or choices when they might answer "all of it"? By making respondents differentiate you get stronger signals that are more useful in analysis. Let me state, for the record, that I believe everyone has a little bit of each and all of the three styles in their life.

Also, I do not believe that GNS Theory is perfect or complete. The GNS designations have just as many flaws as the Timmy-Johnny-Spike-Vorthos model. Nevertheless, both provide useful data.

Further, each respondent will interpret the labels differently. That is not a problem. If Wizards of the Coast R&D ever uses this data they'll have their own understanding of the labels as well. It's better to get more data and additional poll responses than to argue definitions.

Take all four polls:

Butt-Kicker-Casual Gamer-Method Actor-Power Gamer-Specialist-Storyteller-Tactician poll
Timmy-Johnny-Spike-Vorthos poll
Gamist-Narrativist-Simulationist poll
Character Actor-Power Gamer-Storyteller-Thinker poll

 

[Hassassin]

The breakdown says there's a fifth group in the center, who don't tend to any corner.

 

[jonesy]

Looking at the graphical representation of the classifications (which, by the way, is almost ten years old) I count at least 25 gamer types based on where they land on the graphic, which you've limited to 4 in the poll. Just saying.

 

[Greg K]

I prefer the Robin Laws break down

Robin's Law Quiz: Law's Game Style | Quizfarm.com

Butt-kicker: You like a straightforward combat character. After a long day at the office, you want to clobber foes and once more prove your superiority over all who would challenge you (Note: Bold emphasis mine.)

Powergamer: The Power Gamer wants to make his character bigger, tougher, buffer, and richer. However success is defined in your game, that's what you want. You want the "game" put back into "roleplaying game," and you want the chance to add shiny new abilities to your character sheet. (Note: Bold emphasis mine.)

Specialist: favors a particular character type, which he plays in every campaign and in every setting. The most common sub-type of specialist is the player who wants to be a ninja every time. … The specialist wants the rules to support his favored character type, but is otherwise indifferent to them. To make a specialist happy you have to create scenes in which his character can do the cool things for which his archetype is known

Tactician:You're probably a military buff who wants to have the chance to think through complex problems. You want the rules, and your GM's interpretation of them, to match up what happens in the real world or at least be consistant. You want challenging yet logical obstacles to overcome.


Method Actor: You think that gaming is a form of creative expression. You may view rules as, at best, a necessary evil, preferring sessions where the dice never come out of the bag. You enjoy situations that test or deepen your character's personality traits.

Storyteller: You're more inclined toward the role playing side of the equation and less interested in numbers or experience points. You're quick to compromise if you can help move the story forward, and get bored when the game slows down for a long planning session. You want to play out a story that moves like it's orchestrated by a skilled novelist or film director.

Casual Gamer: "You generally get left out when people talk about gamer types, but there's usually one in each game. You tend to be low key and come to hang out with your friends. But, you fill a very important and often underappreciated role of taking on the job nobody else jumps up at. And, typically, you also help to balance out some of the stronger personalities in the group." (Note: Bold emphasis is mine)

I would, probably, add categories for Explorer (likes exploring and learning about the setting) and break Tactician into Thinker (Problem solving. Having one's own intelligence tested by puzzles, mysteries) and Simulationist (Wants the rules and GM description to match what is happening in the real world). I care about the latter, but I try to approach the game from a character perspective rather than puzzles or mysteries that test my as a player.

 

[the Jester]

I'd have to say "storyteller" by the definitions you give.

However, the problem with that is that I absolutely hate 'story-driven' games.

The story is what you tell after the game is over, not the path that the pcs are expected to follow, and unfortunately, most storyteller style games involve following a specific plotline (the story).

How would you peg me if you add a third component to this?

1. Big picture > Immediate focus.
2. World interaction/exploration > Combat resolution.
3. PC choices > Plotline

Note that I don't mean to say that the bad guys' plots won't advance absent pc action; quite the contrary, the pcs are free to let the villains accomplish their goals just by ignoring them or going elsewhere in the world.

To give a couple of examples from published adventures, if my group were going through the classic 1e ToEE and decided to break the sealed doors and leave, letting Z go free, that would be terrible for the region but just fine for the campaign.

Likewise, if they were playing Keep on the Shadowfell and got trapped inside at the end, I'd be fine with them dealing with the consequences of being trapped rather than handwaving things so that they can hang out as long as they want in the "you'll be trapped soooooon!!!" section without actually getting trapped. Or if they lost interest and left before confronting Kalarel, he'd reach his (nebulous, not clear what they actually are at all) goals.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I also prefer the Robin's Laws player types. People can be more than one type, but overall it does a good job of describing what different people are looking for in a game.

 

[Minigiant]

Like most of this polls, I barely matched any choice. I am somewhere between Storyteller and Thinker. Mostly because my PC creation process and playstyle is rare.

I tend to make weird, underpowered, and rare characters and powergame them without breaking their theme and personalities. That is why I play halfling paladins in leather, lycantropic half orc druids, insane halfelf warlocks, undead hating halfelf rangers and then optimize my garbage concepts. I get away with a lot because no one suspects "crappy PCs" to be awesome.

 

[howandwhy99]

Do I like to put on a personality or do I like powering through to improve at the game?
Do I like details, themes, and mood or do I like seeking understanding, coherency, and trust?

I don't see any of these as necessarily contradictory.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Not voting -- I need a mix of all four characteristics for my ideal game.

 

[mkill]

Me too. I need all four, otherwise I feel something is missing.

I think the D&D divide is not between Storryteller / Powergamer or any of these categories. The divide rather goes straight through each individual group. For example, some Butt-Kickers like a simple OD&D-style rules-light game, while others like 4E-style power cards with cool stuff on them. One Storyteller DM likes mechanics that allow him to build interesting NPCs from everything in all books (3E), another just wants 5 minuetes quick and dirty creation (4E). And so on