What ever happened to Role Playing?

[Mark Chance]

Another thing: Why does everyone insist their brand of roleplaying or rollplaying or powergaming or outright Munchkinism is the best form of the game? Because they derive maximum enjoyment out of it that way.

Exactly!

Obviously my way of playing X is superior to your way of playing X. Otherwise, I'd do things your way.

And vice versa.

 

[barsoomcore]

You know, I was going to make a comment on how there's only actually been one "Troll" cry against the original poster -- and that one was challenged by the original poster and the crier made very clear what part of the post they objected to, so all this nonsense about how everybody threw a tizzy or jumped on this guy who dared to disagree with "the ENWorld mob" is just that -- nonsense.

I was going to. But then I realised how much fun you're all having. Far be it for me to interrupt.

Hang on, it's hard to find a seat with this big tub of popcorn.

Okay, back at it.

 

[kenjib]

You know, I was going to make a comment on how there's only actually been one "Troll" cry against the original poster -- and that one was challenged by the original poster and the crier made very clear what part of the post they objected to, so all this nonsense about how everybody threw a tizzy or jumped on this guy who dared to disagree with "the ENWorld mob" is just that -- nonsense.

I was going to. But then I realised how much fun you're all having. Far be it for me to interrupt.

Hang on, it's hard to find a seat with this big tub of popcorn.

Okay, back at it.

Oh, toss one and then pretend to be an innocent bystander, eh? Well here's one back at you!

*tosses a cream pie at barsoomcore*

 

[barsoomcore]

*tosses a cream pie at barsoomcore*

Finally! Some real intellectual content to this debate!

Mm, strawberry rhubarb.

*unveils automated pie-flinging device perfected by Doctor Demented, now with super-cooled high-speed ratchet engine for increased flinging power!*

 

[Harlock]

There you go again, man, tilting at those windmills.

Come Sancho Panza! My lance!

 

[Trainz]

Why I feel compelled to post in this thread is beyond me...

*sigh*

Here goes...

In the past (and I do mean way past), I tried to reward role-playing. It somewhat worked. However, most of the time the players felt crossed by this mechanic. One would sometimes feel "Why is he getting more X.P. than me, I did a better job at role-playing than he did !", so I stopped it then and there.

Over the years a simple concept appeared in our games:

Role-playing is it's own reward.

When players do an effort at role-playing, the games feel more real, the PC's feel more alive, everyone is having a better time.

Since then, the role-playing aspect of our games improved. Oh, I don't think that concept is obvious to someone with no RPG experience going through the D&D books, it is something you acquire over time.

All this is my opinion, based on my experience. Some of you will find it irrelevant with the "discussion" in this thread. I don't intend to be relevant, just something to consider to see another aspect of the concept of role-playing.

YMMV

 

[kenjib]

Finally! Some real intellectual content to this debate!

Mm, strawberry rhubarb.

*unveils automated pie-flinging device perfected by Doctor Demented, now with super-cooled high-speed ratchet engine for increased flinging power!*

Oh, man. You've just started a serious pie flinging arms race with that contraption!!!

 

[Heathen72]

Let's save the snarky personal comments for face-to-face conversation. Please keep it civil here.

Hmmm... It's a film quote. Meant humourously. Self depracatory in a kind of way... No snarkyness intended, but point taken.

 

[Norfleet]

Whatever happened to roleplaying? Nothing. It's the same place it's always been, with the players and the GM.

People should not be surprised when the primary topics of discussion here are things like stats and mechanic optimizations. These are, as somebody put it, topics for "computer dorks", and you're on an Internet forum. Big surprise that there's a high "computer dork" population here, eh?

Besides, how many debates can you hold about roleplaying? Can you critique someone's roleplay as being "better" or "worse"? Really, when somebody discusses a roleplay incident, you can at best, nod your head and recount one of your own. This isn't really much of a debate. What are you supposed to do? Pick his roleplaying apart? Discussions on this quickly run out of steam and sink to the bottom.

The books may not cover it, but really, roleplaying has nothing whatsoever to do with rules, and really don't change at all from system to system. Rules, stat mechanics, and all that, are there to allow you to make a character who's roleplay continues by virtue of not becoming monster food. RPing a dead character doesn't hold out too long.

 

[mythusmage]

Maybe it's me, but does it appear that the "Role Players" [otherwise known as the holy self annointed] have a problem with projecting their own faults on others?

I see a career as a right wing commentator in your future. No rhetorical trick too sleazy, no character assassination too foul.

Mythusmage has spent a great deal of effort slamming people for calling someone a troll. You know if the troll call were fractionally as offensive as the tripe you've posted, you wouldn't have pegged the hypocrite-o-meter.

So instead of presenting cogent arguments in opposition to mine, you'd rather practice amateur ad hominen attacks.

Then we have Rounser saying all the roll-players are reacting because of a sensitive spot has been hit. To listen to the hysterics from some about the preponderance of mechanics, based on minimal actual evidence, I can't say reality supports the contention.[/b[

Rounser hurt your feelings. After reading your response to his comments I can only say, good for Rounser.

Simply enough MrGone (the name suggests an idylic outcome), people are going to play the way they like. I myself enjoy playing some games heavy on roleplay, and some heavy on hack and slash. People have difference preferences at different times. Proffering the position that it's all going to heck because people dare to play in a way you don't favor is going to get you called a troll. of course spicing it up with the obligatory version war only enhanced the warts and green skin.

The merest shade of a rumor of a hint of a vague possibilty the original poster might even have a valid point is, of course, beyond the pale.

I actually know quite a few people who just like roll playing. I play with them. I also play with people to whom the role is everything. I enjoy both sorts' company. What I don't enjoy is the sort that postures about their inherent superiority.

Initially I was going to claim that the "role players" were worse about this, but I then realized that Living Greyhawk gives a good counter example of where the roll players have taken over. This has happened to such an extent that if you don't have an ability for character optimization, you will be slaughtered. After hearing some nimrods from my region claiming that LG should be about "bringing your A game", I can't call either group blameless.

That was weak. An attempt to back pedal without appearing to back pedal. T'would have done you better to have thought better of the exercise ere you typed a word. Second best, to have typed the spiel, then discarded it unsent. But no, you had to have your say, regardless of how it made you appear.

Buzz, you need to spend some time on alt.usenet.kooks for a real taste of vicious posting. Compared to the Cabal (tinc) I am a mild soul who'd never ruffle a feather.