Where’s the Role in Role Playing? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Where’s the Role in Role Playing? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
neoneogeo
05-28-04, 12:24 AM Where’s the Role in Role Playing?
An Article by Nick White

Role, noun 1. a function or office assumed by someone [an advisory role]. 2. a part, or character, that an actor plays in a performance

As you can see, there are two very distinct definitions of role. The correct usage and its effect on role playing is a significant detail that cannot be overlooked when playing the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game. As I interpret the definition, D&D is assuming one of two things; the belief that a party consists of roles that need to be filled, or the belief that a role is the pattern of behavior that is found in an individual. The concepts of “role-playing”, & “role-filling”, its effects on D&D, and the “3rd edition generation” are about to be discussed.

First & foremost; the opinion that role-playing is a concept well within grasp of the “3rd edition generation” is imperative. As generations pass, the assumption can be made that the populace playing this game change as radically as the game itself. From cover to cover, session to session and the introduction of new technology, change has brought with the new edition, a ‘deficit in creativity’. People of my generation do not understand the simplicity of role-playing. The core rule books supply the foundation for role-playing, but they are lacking the building bricks to build a character. I am not speaking of a mechanical character that the books do more than provide for; I am speaking of personality and character development. I am not asking for ‘rules interpretation’, I am asking for a formula that players and DMs alike consider before building a personality. There are deeper aspects that one does not or is incapable of considering because the concept is too mind boggling, and the simplicity is not laid out for them.

For experienced players & dungeon masters, you have mastered the art of constructing a player on paper as well as one with a personality. As has been proven, PCs/DMs that lack the experience tend to be left behind, separating the generations. I would like to see that gap bridged, and this article isn’t going to do that.

There are roles that people are forced to take up both psychologically & metaphysically, roles that they have adapted as a person, and roles that society has forced upon them. These roles surround both the roles at the gaming table & the roles in the game.

There are certain aspects that can be taken up when comparing the gaming table to a railroad. A railroad and the steam engine on it are simply man made constructs, but the roles found in their operation & construction can be placed around a gaming table, creating a simplified understanding of player’s roles in the game.

The same thing can be done so that it applies psychologically, but I am inapt at providing a solution to the equation. I don’t want psychobabble, or mindless references, I am looking for a simplified mathematical-like equation, composed of what is taken into consideration when building a personality.

About the Author:
My name is Nick White, I’m 17, and I am a junior at Boise High School. I’ve been playing D&D for little over a year, and d20 modern for about a month. I am currently working on my own campaign setting for D&D, and for d20 modern. You can e-mail me at neoneogeo@yahoo.com if you would like to respond.
Zelphi
05-28-04, 09:55 AM You play a character - it's not that hard to understand, or am I missing something?
MonkeyPaladin
05-28-04, 05:48 PM Ah, intellectual teenagers. So insightful, yet so eager to overanalyze everything and complicate the living **** out of simple concepts. (I used to do the same thing, btw.)

There is no "formula" for roleplaying. You come up with an idea, you develop it, and you try to do what that character would do. If you want more than that, look at all the character development threads here. Look at all the DMing advice here. In between all the "sorcs suck" and "look at my elven cat subrace" threads there's a ton of good advice on this message board, and you don't have to write long winded essays that show off your vocabulary but don't reach a point to do it

:D
dogo
06-08-04, 10:52 AM I think Neoneogeo, you'll find that the aparent "deficit" in roleplaying has always existed. It's called inexperience. People who started playing D&D from the Men and Magic book in the 70's weren't wonderful roleplayers. They enjoyed stats and things as much as the players today (perhaps they were a bit less precise about it though). Similar story for the next incarnations of it. IMO each new generation is as "bad" (read: inexperienced) as the last was when they started playing. They may seem better now, but that's because of experience.
blood_of_the_ancient
06-09-04, 09:45 AM I am not an especially good DM or player, but I have studied for years how to build good characters. Not powerful characters, but how to buld characters that have full personalities. the key to it all, at least for me, are these 3 things:
(1) Having read Uncle Figgy's Guide to Being a Good Player and knowing it all.
(2) Answering 101 questions about your character's backgroujd and personality.
(3) Couch roleplaying your character for a while, staying completely and unwaveringly true to the character's personality.
Kolo
06-13-04, 02:07 PM As a useful thought-exercise to improve roleplaying skills, create a roleplaying character that is completely and utterly the oposite of yourself- morally, in belief, gender et al. Imagine this person under a variety of different circumstances, and think about how this person would solve the problems he or she faces.

This gives one a perspective of how a completely different character would perform under certain situations, and provides oneself with the other end of one's roleplaying spectrum, so to speak.

Then, go over each of the alignments in the PHB, imagining each and every archtypical alignment in the same or similar situations as the "opposite" character, based one the descriptions given for the alignments. Now you have a simplistic yet comprehensive perspective on how the different alignments react and interact, and the differences inherent in them- no matter how small it may seem.

You now have played 10 most likely wildly different roles, one of which is rather complex, the others the typical D&D archetypes. Based on this experience, you now have a point of reference for any character you could possibly play. This is no substitute for experience, but it does give oneself a jump-start.
Zyphria
06-13-04, 04:56 PM You're a smart kid, probably do real well in English/Drama classes as well. Probably a thespian, but don't let me offend you (or incorrectly profile you) already. However as mentioned above several times, what is simply lacking here is experience on both yourself and the individuals you are playing with. You're one of the types that strives to understand the higher levels of things and found this place to be a prime spot to rant about it.

If you really wanted to engage the roleplaying aspects of a game, you should look around for a few LARP groups, then you'd really be testing your roleplaying abilities.

Dungeons & Dragons is a fine balance between roleplaying and game aspects. It is the DM who ultimately can shift that balance one way or the other, and their ability to manipulate the players into not only acting as they should but enjoying themselves.

Because if you're not having fun, why bother?

P.S.

Use of the term: "metaphysically"

I'd restrain yourself in using that word around people who aren't looking to be dazzled by your intellect. I had an English teacher 8 years back who used to lecture students who used this word without considerable necessity in their writing.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
neoneogeo 05-28-04, 12:24 AM	Where’s the Role in Role Playing? An Article by Nick White Role, noun 1. a function or office assumed by someone [an advisory role]. 2. a part, or character, that an actor plays in a performance As you can see, there are two very distinct definitions of role. The correct usage and its effect on role playing is a significant detail that cannot be overlooked when playing the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game. As I interpret the definition, D&D is assuming one of two things; the belief that a party consists of roles that need to be filled, or the belief that a role is the pattern of behavior that is found in an individual. The concepts of “role-playing”, & “role-filling”, its effects on D&D, and the “3rd edition generation” are about to be discussed. First & foremost; the opinion that role-playing is a concept well within grasp of the “3rd edition generation” is imperative. As generations pass, the assumption can be made that the populace playing this game change as radically as the game itself. From cover to cover, session to session and the introduction of new technology, change has brought with the new edition, a ‘deficit in creativity’. People of my generation do not understand the simplicity of role-playing. The core rule books supply the foundation for role-playing, but they are lacking the building bricks to build a character. I am not speaking of a mechanical character that the books do more than provide for; I am speaking of personality and character development. I am not asking for ‘rules interpretation’, I am asking for a formula that players and DMs alike consider before building a personality. There are deeper aspects that one does not or is incapable of considering because the concept is too mind boggling, and the simplicity is not laid out for them. For experienced players & dungeon masters, you have mastered the art of constructing a player on paper as well as one with a personality. As has been proven, PCs/DMs that lack the experience tend to be left behind, separating the generations. I would like to see that gap bridged, and this article isn’t going to do that. There are roles that people are forced to take up both psychologically & metaphysically, roles that they have adapted as a person, and roles that society has forced upon them. These roles surround both the roles at the gaming table & the roles in the game. There are certain aspects that can be taken up when comparing the gaming table to a railroad. A railroad and the steam engine on it are simply man made constructs, but the roles found in their operation & construction can be placed around a gaming table, creating a simplified understanding of player’s roles in the game. The same thing can be done so that it applies psychologically, but I am inapt at providing a solution to the equation. I don’t want psychobabble, or mindless references, I am looking for a simplified mathematical-like equation, composed of what is taken into consideration when building a personality. About the Author: My name is Nick White, I’m 17, and I am a junior at Boise High School. I’ve been playing D&D for little over a year, and d20 modern for about a month. I am currently working on my own campaign setting for D&D, and for d20 modern. You can e-mail me at neoneogeo@yahoo.com if you would like to respond.
Zelphi 05-28-04, 09:55 AM	You play a character - it's not that hard to understand, or am I missing something?
MonkeyPaladin 05-28-04, 05:48 PM	Ah, intellectual teenagers. So insightful, yet so eager to overanalyze everything and complicate the living **** out of simple concepts. (I used to do the same thing, btw.) There is no "formula" for roleplaying. You come up with an idea, you develop it, and you try to do what that character would do. If you want more than that, look at all the character development threads here. Look at all the DMing advice here. In between all the "sorcs suck" and "look at my elven cat subrace" threads there's a ton of good advice on this message board, and you don't have to write long winded essays that show off your vocabulary but don't reach a point to do it :D
dogo 06-08-04, 10:52 AM	I think Neoneogeo, you'll find that the aparent "deficit" in roleplaying has always existed. It's called inexperience. People who started playing D&D from the Men and Magic book in the 70's weren't wonderful roleplayers. They enjoyed stats and things as much as the players today (perhaps they were a bit less precise about it though). Similar story for the next incarnations of it. IMO each new generation is as "bad" (read: inexperienced) as the last was when they started playing. They may seem better now, but that's because of experience.
blood_of_the_ancient 06-09-04, 09:45 AM	I am not an especially good DM or player, but I have studied for years how to build good characters. Not powerful characters, but how to buld characters that have full personalities. the key to it all, at least for me, are these 3 things: (1) Having read Uncle Figgy's Guide to Being a Good Player and knowing it all. (2) Answering 101 questions about your character's backgroujd and personality. (3) Couch roleplaying your character for a while, staying completely and unwaveringly true to the character's personality.
Kolo 06-13-04, 02:07 PM	As a useful thought-exercise to improve roleplaying skills, create a roleplaying character that is completely and utterly the oposite of yourself- morally, in belief, gender et al. Imagine this person under a variety of different circumstances, and think about how this person would solve the problems he or she faces. This gives one a perspective of how a completely different character would perform under certain situations, and provides oneself with the other end of one's roleplaying spectrum, so to speak. Then, go over each of the alignments in the PHB, imagining each and every archtypical alignment in the same or similar situations as the "opposite" character, based one the descriptions given for the alignments. Now you have a simplistic yet comprehensive perspective on how the different alignments react and interact, and the differences inherent in them- no matter how small it may seem. You now have played 10 most likely wildly different roles, one of which is rather complex, the others the typical D&D archetypes. Based on this experience, you now have a point of reference for any character you could possibly play. This is no substitute for experience, but it does give oneself a jump-start.
Zyphria 06-13-04, 04:56 PM	You're a smart kid, probably do real well in English/Drama classes as well. Probably a thespian, but don't let me offend you (or incorrectly profile you) already. However as mentioned above several times, what is simply lacking here is experience on both yourself and the individuals you are playing with. You're one of the types that strives to understand the higher levels of things and found this place to be a prime spot to rant about it. If you really wanted to engage the roleplaying aspects of a game, you should look around for a few LARP groups, then you'd really be testing your roleplaying abilities. Dungeons & Dragons is a fine balance between roleplaying and game aspects. It is the DM who ultimately can shift that balance one way or the other, and their ability to manipulate the players into not only acting as they should but enjoying themselves. Because if you're not having fun, why bother? P.S. Use of the term: "metaphysically" I'd restrain yourself in using that word around people who aren't looking to be dazzled by your intellect. I had an English teacher 8 years back who used to lecture students who used this word without considerable necessity in their writing.