Finding out how we
game as objectively and precisely as possible would mean a lot of
self reflection, note-taking, and feedback from your players or Gms.
game as objectively and precisely as possible would mean a lot of
self reflection, note-taking, and feedback from your players or Gms.
This is my notes on
how I have observed others, myself (recording through hanouts on air,
video, and exporting it to audio and listening to it), and
experimentation on determining how we game.
how I have observed others, myself (recording through hanouts on air,
video, and exporting it to audio and listening to it), and
experimentation on determining how we game.
I can say that there
are two primary activities in running a TRPG and that is:
Role-playing and Gaming. Roleplaying is
the activities that are made up of Immersion, storytelling,
visualization, drama, etc… Gaming is the simpler and faster paced
feedback cycle that happens between players and GM.
are two primary activities in running a TRPG and that is:
Role-playing and Gaming. Roleplaying is
the activities that are made up of Immersion, storytelling,
visualization, drama, etc… Gaming is the simpler and faster paced
feedback cycle that happens between players and GM.
These two elements
blend together to make a game, and are rarely are they so extreme as
to be divorced from the other. There is interplay with the most
extreme of Role-playing and Storytelling, and there is a story and
immersion in the most gaming focused activities in a session.
blend together to make a game, and are rarely are they so extreme as
to be divorced from the other. There is interplay with the most
extreme of Role-playing and Storytelling, and there is a story and
immersion in the most gaming focused activities in a session.
How are they measured:
We measure
Roleplaying by measuring the amount of time we take getting into
character, playing off each other’s character, “role-playing”,
storytelling, and pursuing scenes to push one of the many story
streams in the game forward (either the game’s over-arcing
narrative, each player’s personal narrative, the narrative of the
world, their adversary etc…).
Roleplaying by measuring the amount of time we take getting into
character, playing off each other’s character, “role-playing”,
storytelling, and pursuing scenes to push one of the many story
streams in the game forward (either the game’s over-arcing
narrative, each player’s personal narrative, the narrative of the
world, their adversary etc…).
We measure the
Gaming by the amount of Feedback and Adaptation we do in the game and
its circumstances. We normally measure it in the amount of combat we
have in the session, but it can also mix with the other high action
events where the Players feedback quickly between the circumstance or
adversary or each other.
Gaming by the amount of Feedback and Adaptation we do in the game and
its circumstances. We normally measure it in the amount of combat we
have in the session, but it can also mix with the other high action
events where the Players feedback quickly between the circumstance or
adversary or each other.
How the two are used:
Usinig these two
conventions, we can use them to do the following:
conventions, we can use them to do the following:
-
How we
spend our time playing. to look at the amount of time we, the
players, or the gm, spend their time in each one. -
Preferences.
It helps track preferences and tailor the game more for all those
participating. -
Focus.
It
helps focus on geting the most enjoyment when we transition or
vasilate between the two. -
Description.
It helps describe and work on a variety of blends of the two.
Role-Playing
-
Immersion. Lettiing the Players (and even the
GM) get into character and the setting.
-
Storytelling.
When
one of the many story streams in the game gets focus, relevance,
moved forward, influences other stories, and becomes the one of the
causes of the circumstance, happenings and events. -
Spotlight. Giving the Player or part of the
story some focus. Particularly pushing the story forward. It
clarifies and expresses the story, giving it the chance to get
deeper in the immersion, and make events and action have more
impact.
-
Emotion and Empathy. Role-playing is an
opportunity to display, express, and to feel a particular emotional
tone for the scene and story. It takes time for certain emotions to
be felt and expressed, and Role-playing builds to that opportunity.
Gaming
-
Interaction. Gaming is notable when the
Players, Setting or World, NPCs, etc… adapt to each other. Their
actions feed back and change the situation.
-
Tension and Conflict.
When events get complicated, setting up risks and threats, and
incentives and penalties.
-
Uncertainty.
Uncertainty is one of the sources of conflict which muddies the
situation and makes threats, penalties, pain, and peril
disproportionately worse. Ambiguity also does this, leaving the
quantity and quality of any threat or danger unknown and left to the
sensitivities of bias and emotion.
-
Small Wins. When the feedback gives small
wins or gains. Small wins can also be some mental closure on other
matters.
-
Clarity and Simplification. Like the benefit
of mental closure, there is the simplification of some issues,
information that removes ambiguity, sharpening of focus on
priorities or action. New information or events may give clarity,
simplification, or focus.
What this post does not answer or help with:
-
Defining how one really plays and how flexible their
prefences are. These are arbitrary tools and conventions, and it
does not apply to all or many not apply to most. Its hypothetical.
Tools by which to self examine and improve are found in other books
– particularly in self improvement books that work with practical
activity instead of motivation and emotion.
-
Defining the various mixes of the two. The mixed versions
of them would be:
-
Mass Combat or Warfare Focused Games. The story and
roleplaying with large groups, the scale that goes with such groups
(conquering more and more people, places, treasures, and affecting
more of the world).
-
Intrigue and Social Games. Games that have a very
particular blend of Gaming and Role-playing when Emotion,
Expression, and Relationships are to tools of conflict and conquest.
-
Logistics and how it can be given the elements of both Game
and Role-playing (Story).
Feedback
Feedback
is the limit by which we can know ourselves and surroundings. If I
dont express and know how it tests against reality then I would never
know what would be better or best. Feel free to give some feed back,
ask, or comment.
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