Why Do You Game?

[Snoweel]

I voted Storyteller, Buttkicker and Tactician, though the only type I have a particular distaste for is the Method Actor, who in my experience, tends to:

1. bog down the Story with the minutiae of characterisation,

2. favours boring and pointless RP encounters (as opposed to fun and Story-advancing ones) over the ecstatic carnage of 8th-level-PCs-versus-the-Hobgoblin-tribe combat scenarios and

3. would rather take the dumbest course of action because "That's what Sir Snottingley the Just would do!"

Obviously in an all-Method Actor situation, they would improve the fun for the whole group but just in my personal experience, I've played with Method Actors who haven't ruined my fun, but they were happy to subordinate their theatrical experience to the desires of the group and I'm sure their own fun was the less for it.

But then, the point of Robin's Laws is that in a group of mixed tastes, everybody has to compromise a little.

Whatcha need, Snoweel?

Sanackranib pointed out (rightly) that I allowed no option for those whose emotional kick is the tactile stimulation provided by treading on a d4 (the die, not the ENWorlder).

As for the poll, what about an option for those of us who only ever DM... like me?

For what it's worth, Laws mentions that the Storyteller type is overwhelmingly represented in DM's.

 

[d4]

Sanackranib pointed out (rightly) that I allowed no option for those whose emotional kick is the tactile stimulation provided by treading on a d4 (the die, not the ENWorlder).

 

[Taneel BrightBlade]

well I forgot storyteller and am NOT a casual player also what is this planning I've heard about it make not sense no more than thinking

 

[mikedidthis]

A slight tangent here -- I was reading a book on game design last night and came across a similar list of player types with their definitions that I thought might be of interest for this thread. There's a lot of crossover with the list from the poll, plus a few others:

1) The Competitor: plays to best other players, regardless of the game.

2) The Explorer: curious about the world, loves to go adventuring. Explorers seek outside boundaries -- physical or mental.

3) The Collecter: acquires items, trophies, or knowledge, the collector likes to create sets, organize history, etc.

4) The Achiever: plays for varying levels of achievement. Ladders and levels incentivize the achiever.

5) The Joker: doesn't take the game seriously -- plays for the fun of playing. There's a potential for jokers to annoy serious players. On the other hand, jokers can make the game more social than competetive.

6) The Artist: driven by creativity, creation, design.

7) The Director: loves to be in charge, direct the play.

8) The Storyteller: loves to create or live in worlds of fantasy or imagination.

9) The Performer: loves to put on a show for others.

10) The Craftsman: wants to build, craft, engineer, or puzzle things out.

The book--for those who are interested--is "Game Design Workshop: Designing, Prototyping, and Playtesting Games" by Tracy Fullerton, Christopher Swain, and Steven Hoffman. While the book is ultimately focused on digital games, the first half of the book or so is dedicated to basic game theory.

When I read the list, it reminded me of this thread and it occured to me that pen-and-paper RPGs are designed from the outset to be adaptable to virtually any type or style of play. Can't think of too many other games capable of appealing to such a broad spectrum of people.

I find that my preferred styles of play tends to change over time (as I mentioned in my previous post, right now I'm in the butt-kicker and casual gamer categories). D&D is one of the few games that have remained a constant interest for me over the years despite my changing style of play.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Why do I game?

Fun.
Stress relief from work.
Fun.
Socializing.
Fun.

Oh, yeah.... did I mention "fun"?

 

[maddman75]

Pretty strongly in the Storyteller category. Its important to me that the PCs *care* about what their doing. I don't mind action - heck, my favorite RPGs are D&D, All Flesh Must Be Eaten, and Buffy, all of which are pretty violent games. But I want them to care about the fights. Taking on a dozen hobgoblins just for the heck of it, or to get some treasure, bores me to tears.

But taking on those same hobgoblins because their tribe raided the PCs village and killed thier mentor, or because if they don't stop them their Shaman will unleash a great evil on their town, then my blood gets boiling.

The story's the thing, and good fights should go to that end. I don't want players checking their hit points and adding up XP when they beat the Big Bad, I want them jumping out of their seats high-fiving each other.

 

[Snoweel]

Why do I game?

Fun.
<snip>
Fun.
<snip>
Fun.
<snip>
"fun"?

You haven't read the rest of the thread have you?

 

[MrFilthyIke]

I picked Tactician and Storyteller, but I REALLY should have also clicked Casual Gamer as I play as a for of socializing with my fellow geeks.

 

[Henry]

I went with Tactician, Storyteller, and Casual Gamer. Casual gaming is always a part of my sessions (as evidenced by the rather large amount of funny, crude, and double-entendre jokes that got thrown around last game), but I enjoy making or participating in an entertaining story, and I enjoy not screwing up in combat or coming up with good solutions to problems in-game.

My most recent character I'm playing (Fighter "Farmboy" type) is a deliberate attempt to play an up-front fighter who is keen to pick up new things, but wisdom-wise is NOT the sharpest tack in the drawer. It's KILLING ME when combat occurs, not choosing all the more sensible options in a fight, but I'm finding the character change a pretty neat one, and I feel like I'm getting better at it.

 

[megamania]

To me its all about the story told. The fluxuation of pace corrasponds to your choices
Fast= Butt kicking and combative in general
Suspence- role playing and story telling tactician (did it work- what do you mean the rope snapped!?!)
Progression - power gamer

and the most important- the friendships created while playing (casual gamer).

Neat question. Made me think for a moment.