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First Post
Most players enjoy many aspects of the game at different times. For convenience, we define the primary player motivations as types of players: actors, explorers, instigators, power gamers, slayers, storytellers, thinkers, and watchers.
Actor
The actor likes to pretend to be her/his character. S/he emphasizes character development that has nothing to do with numbers and powers, trying to make her/his character seem to be a real person in the fantasy world. S/he enjoys interacting with the rest of the group, with characters and monsters in the game world, and with the fantasy world in general by speaking “in character” and describing her/his character’s actions in the first person.
The actor values narrative game elements over mechanical ones. Unlike the storyteller, s/he values her/his character’s personality and motivations over other story elements.
An actor . . .
✦ Provides PC background, emphasizing personality.
✦ Plays according to her/his character’s motivations.
✦ Prefers scenes where s/he can portray her character.
✦ Often prefers social encounters to fights.
Explorer
An explorer loves to see new places in the fantasy world and to meet the residents of such places, fair and foul. All the explorer needs is the promise of an interesting locale or different culture, and off she goes to see that place.
The explorer wants to experience the wonders the game world has to offer. S/he also wants to know that there’s more out there to find. S/he presses for details: proper names of characters and places, descriptions of the environment, and some idea of what’s over the next hill. She’s sometimes interested in the adventure plot and her/his character’s motivations. (The explorer is close kin to both the actor and the storyteller.) The wonder of new discoveries is what is key to keeping the explorer happy.
An explorer . . .
✦ Seeks out new experiences in the game’s setting.
✦ Likes learning hidden facts and locating lost items and
places.
✦ Enjoys atmosphere as much as combat and story.
✦ Advances the plot by being willing to move ever on.
Instigator
An instigator enjoys making things happen. S/he has no patience for careful planning or deliberation. S/he’ll open an obviously trapped chest “just to see what happens.” She provokes authority figures and opens dungeon doors to bring more monsters into an already difficult fight. The instigator loves the vicarious thrill of taking enormous risks and sometimes just making bad choices.
The instigator can be disruptive, but s/he can also be a lot of fun for the other players. Things rarely grind to a halt with an instigator in the group, and the stories that get retold after the game session often revolve around whatever crazy thing the instigator did this week.
An instigator . . .
✦ Likes to make things happen.
✦ Takes crazy risks and makes deliberately bad choices.
✦ Thrives in combat and dislikes having nothing to do.
✦ Takes decisive action when things grind to a halt.
Power Gamer
A power gamer thrives on gaining levels and loves the cool abilities that come with those levels. S/he defeats monsters to take their stuff and use that stuff against future enemies. The story and roleplaying are secondary to action and awesome abilities and magic items.
Most players have a little power gamer in them. A couple of the core elements of fun in the D&D game are the accumulation of power and the use of that
power to accomplish astonishing deeds. Nothing is wrong with enjoying that in the game.
A power gamer . . .
✦ Optimizes character attributes for combat performance.
✦ Pores over supplements for better character options.
✦ Spends less time on story and roleplaying elements.
✦ Prefers combat to other kinds of encounters.
Slayer
The slayer is like the power gamer, but s/he is even easier to please. She emphasizes kicking the tar out of monsters. Maybe she does so to let off a little steam in a safe way, or s/he likes the joy of feeling superior. Perhaps it’s the pleasure of having the power to mete out punishment to villains. D&D combat is thrilling. Few other aspects of the game put a character in such apparent jeopardy. Beating the bad guys is a clear success. Most players enjoy these D&D elements, but the slayer seeks them foremost.
A slayer . . .
✦ Optimizes like a power gamer.
✦ Might pick simple options to get into the action quicker.
✦ Spends less time on story and roleplaying elements.
✦ Wants to fight monsters and take bold action all the time.
Storyteller
The storyteller is a player who prefers the narrative of the game to individual character motivations and personality. This player sees the game as an ongoing chronicle of events in the fantasy world, and s/he wants to see where the tale goes. For the storyteller, the rules are there to support the game’s ongoing story. S/he believes that when the rules get in the way, the narrative should win. Compromise for the sake of the story is more important than individual character motivations.
A storyteller . . .
✦ Often provides an extensive background for her/his PC.
✦ Works hard to make sure her/his character fits the story.
✦ Likes dramatic scenes and recurring characters.
✦ Prefers adventures that include at least some plot.
Thinker
A thinker likes to make careful choices, reflecting on challenges and the best way to overcome them. S/he also enjoys her/himself most when her/his planning results in success with minimal risk and use of resources. Solving a challenge in a creative way is more important to the thinker than character power or roleplaying issues. In fact, the thinker might prefer sound tactics to acting in character or straightforward, brute force battle.
A thinker . . .
✦ Engages any challenge as a puzzle to be solved.
✦ Chooses her/his actions carefully for the best possible result.
✦ Is happy to win without action, drama, or tension.
✦ Prefers time to consider options over bold action.
Watcher
A watcher is a casual player who comes to the game because s/he wants to be part of the social event. A watcher might be shy or just really laid back. S/he wants to participate, but s/he doesn’t really care if s/he’s deeply immersed, and he doesn’t want to be assertive or too involved in the details of the game, rules, or story. S/he enjoys the game by being part of a social circle.
A watcher . . .
✦ Shows up to be a part of the group.
✦ Helps calm disputes by not being as attached to the game.
✦ Often fills a hole in the PC group, facilitating the fun.
----
I'm an Explorer, Storyteller, Watcher and last Actor.
I explore my world to the fullest extent possible, listen to how it a/effects things around my character, watch how it a/effects those others in my group and help them decide what we should be doing, but remaining calm, and finally I act upon my characters driven role and get involved with things that lead back to my explorer side, so it's a cycle.
Now that I think about it, this is the way I play all my massively online multiplayer games too..
Actor
The actor likes to pretend to be her/his character. S/he emphasizes character development that has nothing to do with numbers and powers, trying to make her/his character seem to be a real person in the fantasy world. S/he enjoys interacting with the rest of the group, with characters and monsters in the game world, and with the fantasy world in general by speaking “in character” and describing her/his character’s actions in the first person.
The actor values narrative game elements over mechanical ones. Unlike the storyteller, s/he values her/his character’s personality and motivations over other story elements.
An actor . . .
✦ Provides PC background, emphasizing personality.
✦ Plays according to her/his character’s motivations.
✦ Prefers scenes where s/he can portray her character.
✦ Often prefers social encounters to fights.
Explorer
An explorer loves to see new places in the fantasy world and to meet the residents of such places, fair and foul. All the explorer needs is the promise of an interesting locale or different culture, and off she goes to see that place.
The explorer wants to experience the wonders the game world has to offer. S/he also wants to know that there’s more out there to find. S/he presses for details: proper names of characters and places, descriptions of the environment, and some idea of what’s over the next hill. She’s sometimes interested in the adventure plot and her/his character’s motivations. (The explorer is close kin to both the actor and the storyteller.) The wonder of new discoveries is what is key to keeping the explorer happy.
An explorer . . .
✦ Seeks out new experiences in the game’s setting.
✦ Likes learning hidden facts and locating lost items and
places.
✦ Enjoys atmosphere as much as combat and story.
✦ Advances the plot by being willing to move ever on.
Instigator
An instigator enjoys making things happen. S/he has no patience for careful planning or deliberation. S/he’ll open an obviously trapped chest “just to see what happens.” She provokes authority figures and opens dungeon doors to bring more monsters into an already difficult fight. The instigator loves the vicarious thrill of taking enormous risks and sometimes just making bad choices.
The instigator can be disruptive, but s/he can also be a lot of fun for the other players. Things rarely grind to a halt with an instigator in the group, and the stories that get retold after the game session often revolve around whatever crazy thing the instigator did this week.
An instigator . . .
✦ Likes to make things happen.
✦ Takes crazy risks and makes deliberately bad choices.
✦ Thrives in combat and dislikes having nothing to do.
✦ Takes decisive action when things grind to a halt.
Power Gamer
A power gamer thrives on gaining levels and loves the cool abilities that come with those levels. S/he defeats monsters to take their stuff and use that stuff against future enemies. The story and roleplaying are secondary to action and awesome abilities and magic items.
Most players have a little power gamer in them. A couple of the core elements of fun in the D&D game are the accumulation of power and the use of that
power to accomplish astonishing deeds. Nothing is wrong with enjoying that in the game.
A power gamer . . .
✦ Optimizes character attributes for combat performance.
✦ Pores over supplements for better character options.
✦ Spends less time on story and roleplaying elements.
✦ Prefers combat to other kinds of encounters.
Slayer
The slayer is like the power gamer, but s/he is even easier to please. She emphasizes kicking the tar out of monsters. Maybe she does so to let off a little steam in a safe way, or s/he likes the joy of feeling superior. Perhaps it’s the pleasure of having the power to mete out punishment to villains. D&D combat is thrilling. Few other aspects of the game put a character in such apparent jeopardy. Beating the bad guys is a clear success. Most players enjoy these D&D elements, but the slayer seeks them foremost.
A slayer . . .
✦ Optimizes like a power gamer.
✦ Might pick simple options to get into the action quicker.
✦ Spends less time on story and roleplaying elements.
✦ Wants to fight monsters and take bold action all the time.
Storyteller
The storyteller is a player who prefers the narrative of the game to individual character motivations and personality. This player sees the game as an ongoing chronicle of events in the fantasy world, and s/he wants to see where the tale goes. For the storyteller, the rules are there to support the game’s ongoing story. S/he believes that when the rules get in the way, the narrative should win. Compromise for the sake of the story is more important than individual character motivations.
A storyteller . . .
✦ Often provides an extensive background for her/his PC.
✦ Works hard to make sure her/his character fits the story.
✦ Likes dramatic scenes and recurring characters.
✦ Prefers adventures that include at least some plot.
Thinker
A thinker likes to make careful choices, reflecting on challenges and the best way to overcome them. S/he also enjoys her/himself most when her/his planning results in success with minimal risk and use of resources. Solving a challenge in a creative way is more important to the thinker than character power or roleplaying issues. In fact, the thinker might prefer sound tactics to acting in character or straightforward, brute force battle.
A thinker . . .
✦ Engages any challenge as a puzzle to be solved.
✦ Chooses her/his actions carefully for the best possible result.
✦ Is happy to win without action, drama, or tension.
✦ Prefers time to consider options over bold action.
Watcher
A watcher is a casual player who comes to the game because s/he wants to be part of the social event. A watcher might be shy or just really laid back. S/he wants to participate, but s/he doesn’t really care if s/he’s deeply immersed, and he doesn’t want to be assertive or too involved in the details of the game, rules, or story. S/he enjoys the game by being part of a social circle.
A watcher . . .
✦ Shows up to be a part of the group.
✦ Helps calm disputes by not being as attached to the game.
✦ Often fills a hole in the PC group, facilitating the fun.
----
I'm an Explorer, Storyteller, Watcher and last Actor.
I explore my world to the fullest extent possible, listen to how it a/effects things around my character, watch how it a/effects those others in my group and help them decide what we should be doing, but remaining calm, and finally I act upon my characters driven role and get involved with things that lead back to my explorer side, so it's a cycle.
Now that I think about it, this is the way I play all my massively online multiplayer games too..
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