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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jester David" data-source="post: 6934809" data-attributes="member: 37579">I'm not going to argue against that. I agree that the narrative and ability to influence the narrative are a big part of RPGs. However, that's more important in tabletop (or pen and paper) RPGs. Video game RPGs can have far more rigid and linear plots, but are still called "RPGs". Having individual mechanics is a far cry from having a function or role at the table. Sorry Pemerton, I think you're just outright wrong in this discussion. I don't say that often. I typically think we're entitled to our opinions. But your hypothesis that the "role" in "role-playing games" equates with "filling a role at the table" just doesn't work with the totally of role-playing games. Role as "function" is not an adequate description. Your hypothesis is invalid and doesn't conform to observations of reality. Time to redefine.  That may have been the definition when D&D was first introduced and that may have been the intention of Gygax but even if that's so the definition was very instantly altered and changed when it came into contact with other games and ideas. Even Gary himself was thinking about moving away from hard classes and more skills and skill packages. And we'll never know for sure because the dude is dead and all we have are his attempts to describe things to the uninitiated. We owe Gygax a lot, but he's not the best DM/ RPGer in history. He had his quirks and flaws in his worldview. His definition is very likely skewed by his perspective at the very, very start of the hobby, and the influence and conventions of other hobby games. And he very likely lacked the words and parlance we now use to define RPGs - the common frames of reference. Very likely pioneers in video games would coin a definition of video games that would exclude large swaths of modern video games. Because the scope is beyond them. Someone needs to be</blockquote>

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