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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 6939781" data-attributes="member: 42582">See, here we do have a disagreeement.I think the question &quot;what is the function of this character&quot;, given a set of mechanics and assumed goals of play, is a hugely interesting and important question for RPG design and play.For instance, if the function of the character is, esssentially, vehicle for player to show off his/her idea of a unique and interesting personality - which is certainly how I've seen some 2nd ed AD&amp;D tables approach the game - then basically I'm out.A minimum requirement for me to want to play D&amp;D is that the play of my PC can actually change the events that are central to the unfolding fiction (what is sometimes called &quot;the plot&quot;). Which depends upon there being reliable ways for me to impact the fiction via my PC. Those ways, and the feedback loops etc that they generate (eg via earning XP which changes/improves my ability to impact the fiction via my character), establish the function of my character. To play my character well I need to know what these are.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 6939781, member: 42582"] See, here we do have a disagreeement. I think the question "what is the function of this character", given a set of mechanics and assumed goals of play, is a hugely interesting and important question for RPG design and play. For instance, if the function of the character is, esssentially, [I]vehicle for player to show off his/her idea of a unique and interesting personality[/I] - which is certainly how I've seen some 2nd ed AD&D tables approach the game - then basically I'm out. A minimum requirement for me to want to play D&D is that the play of my PC can actually change the events that are central to the unfolding fiction (what is sometimes called "the plot"). Which depends upon there being reliable ways for me to impact the fiction via my PC. Those ways, and the feedback loops etc that they generate (eg via earning XP which changes/improves my ability to impact the fiction via my character), establish the function of my character. To play my character well I need to know what these are. [/QUOTE]

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