Because I'm really bored with the grate GNS paradigm, I thought I'd put a competing poll up.
Robin Laws classifies gamers into 7 categories:
- Powergamer: someone who likes collecting crunchy bits. They see their character as a collection of super powers, and want to get more. "Super powers" is a generic term for whatever powerups exist in a game, whether it's spells, feats, magic items, actual super powers, or whatever.
- Buttkicker: someone who wants to let off steam at the end of a long week, with some make-believe violence. They may or may not care enough about the rules to twink their characters out, but they do want lots of fights.
- Tactican: someone who likes to use their brain to solve puzzles and outwit enemies. A tactician seeks to evade or nullify all the challenges set out by the GM. The best possible outcome for them is where a grand (but dangerous) finale is rendered completely anticlimactic by a fiendish strategem of theirs.
- Method Actor: the stereotypical "real roleplayer". A method actor is all about deep characterisation, including mannerisms and accents if possible. A method actor cares about their character before everything else, possibly even going against the wishes of the rest of the group if that's what it takes.
- Storyteller: another variant of the "real roleplayer", but one whose priority is on the overall plot or storyline. A storyteller is more willing than a method actor to compromise on being true to their character, if it gets the plot moving. Conversely, they may get annoyed if other people in the group keep wasting time on pointless fights or trivial conversations with NPCs.
- Specialist: someone who always plays one type of character. Typical specialist schticks include ninjas, knights, magic girls, and angst-filled loners. Even if a specialist tries something different on occasion, they often end up playing their speciality anyway ("the wizard is charging the orcs AGAIN?").
- Casual Gamer: someone who's there basically to hang out with friends. It's easy to forget about them, or think they're not important; however, they fill out the ranks of a group, and can play an important role in the group's social dynamics.
So, what type of gamer are you?
Hong "buttkicker/specialist" Ooi
Robin Laws classifies gamers into 7 categories:
- Powergamer: someone who likes collecting crunchy bits. They see their character as a collection of super powers, and want to get more. "Super powers" is a generic term for whatever powerups exist in a game, whether it's spells, feats, magic items, actual super powers, or whatever.
- Buttkicker: someone who wants to let off steam at the end of a long week, with some make-believe violence. They may or may not care enough about the rules to twink their characters out, but they do want lots of fights.
- Tactican: someone who likes to use their brain to solve puzzles and outwit enemies. A tactician seeks to evade or nullify all the challenges set out by the GM. The best possible outcome for them is where a grand (but dangerous) finale is rendered completely anticlimactic by a fiendish strategem of theirs.
- Method Actor: the stereotypical "real roleplayer". A method actor is all about deep characterisation, including mannerisms and accents if possible. A method actor cares about their character before everything else, possibly even going against the wishes of the rest of the group if that's what it takes.
- Storyteller: another variant of the "real roleplayer", but one whose priority is on the overall plot or storyline. A storyteller is more willing than a method actor to compromise on being true to their character, if it gets the plot moving. Conversely, they may get annoyed if other people in the group keep wasting time on pointless fights or trivial conversations with NPCs.
- Specialist: someone who always plays one type of character. Typical specialist schticks include ninjas, knights, magic girls, and angst-filled loners. Even if a specialist tries something different on occasion, they often end up playing their speciality anyway ("the wizard is charging the orcs AGAIN?").
- Casual Gamer: someone who's there basically to hang out with friends. It's easy to forget about them, or think they're not important; however, they fill out the ranks of a group, and can play an important role in the group's social dynamics.
So, what type of gamer are you?
Hong "buttkicker/specialist" Ooi
