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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Balesir" data-source="post: 5810610" data-attributes="member: 27160">I think I'm with [MENTION=10479]Mark CMG[/MENTION] on this - I don't see "roleplaying" as including any element of "mechanical system", either. I ask myself the question "could I roleplay alone" and I believe I can; mechanical system is only required when dealing with others, and I don't believe it is required to roleplay.That said, however, I think [MENTION=10479]Mark CMG[/MENTION] broadens the definition in other ways that I also don't necessarily agree with - into acting and in-character dialogue, for example. I agree that roleplaying may be going on at the same time as in-character dialogue and acting - but I don't think roleplaying requires (or, therefore, includes) those things.Perhaps, to use the "D&DNext" paradigm, I am trying to define a "Core" essence of roleplaying, to which other "modules" can be optionally added to get the style of "roleplaying" you want? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />No, sorry if I was unclear. The question is (intended to have) nothing to do with resolutions. The question is simply "this "roleplaying" word gets used a lot - what do you mean when you use it? Discuss."I agree that the roleplaying component stands separate from the system; where I have problems is how this matches with "roleplaying" having or creating demands of the form of the system.By my definition of roleplaying, the only 'system' element that might impact roleplaying is one that took control of a character's decisions about intent. By including acting and in-character dialogue as part of "roleplaying", it seems to me that you add the possibility that systems intended to adjudicate character execution of the decisions made - a normal and expected function of systems - will interfere with "roleplaying". I think this is where the confusions in the other thread arise concerning whether or not "social mechanics" interfere with "roleplaying". Thus, differences in what we mean by "roleplaying" cause unnecessary contention; that was one reason for the creation of this thread.I think there are standards (although see * below) and a corresponding apparatus. The standards are those of the gestalt formed by the aesthetic standards of those playing, the apparatus is the social approval or disapproval of those playing. I think you even see the sort of problems that arise when people move to different jurisdictions of law when players move between tables, and I think those issues are alleviated, just as those in international law are, via increased commerce and communication between the wider community of roleplayers.*: I think the "standard" might better be termed an "ideal". No-one really expects you to achieve the ideal - and, frankly, someone who stuck rigidly to it would be a real pain in the tush - but nevertheless just walking away from it is not acceptable, either. Rather, we expect each other to orbit the ideal at some more-or-less acceptable distance...</blockquote>

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