<!-- MHonArc v2.4.4 --> <!--X-Subject: a definition of role-playing --> <!--X-From-R13: Fenivf E Qnfrl <pnfrlNah.pf.sfh.rqh> --> <!--X-Date: from major.globecomm.net [207.51.48.5] by in1.ibm.net id 865602725.29828-1 Fri Jun 6 13:12:05 1997 CUT --> <!--X-Message-Id: Pine.GSO.3.95.970606081707.4360A-100000@xi --> <!--X-Content-Type: text/plain --> <!--X-Head-End--> <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> <html> <head> <title>MUD-Dev message, a definition of role-playing</title> <!-- meta name="robots" content="noindex,nofollow" --> <link rev="made" href="mailto:casey#nu,cs.fsu.edu"> </head> <body background="/backgrounds/paperback.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" alink="#FF0000" vlink="#006000"> <font size="+4" color="#804040"> <strong><em>MUD-Dev<br>mailing list archive</em></strong> </font> <br> [ <a href="../">Other Periods</a> | <a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a> | <a href="/search.php3">Search</a> ] <br clear=all><hr> <!--X-Body-Begin--> <!--X-User-Header--> <!--X-User-Header-End--> <!--X-TopPNI--> Date: [ <a href="msg01232.html">Previous</a> | <a href="msg01235.html">Next</a> ] Thread: [ <a href="msg01548.html">Previous</a> | <a href="msg01230.html">Next</a> ] Index: [ <A HREF="author.html#01234">Author</A> | <A HREF="#01234">Date</A> | <A HREF="thread.html#01234">Thread</A> ] <!--X-TopPNI-End--> <!--X-MsgBody--> <!--X-Subject-Header-Begin--> <H1>a definition of role-playing</H1> <HR> <!--X-Subject-Header-End--> <!--X-Head-of-Message--> <UL> <LI><em>To</em>: Mud Development List <<A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#null,net">mud-dev#null,net</A>></LI> <LI><em>Subject</em>: a definition of role-playing</LI> <LI><em>From</em>: Travis S Casey <<A HREF="mailto:casey#nu,cs.fsu.edu">casey#nu,cs.fsu.edu</A>></LI> <LI><em>Date</em>: Fri, 6 Jun 1997 09:12:02 -0400 (EDT)</LI> </UL> <!--X-Head-of-Message-End--> <!--X-Head-Body-Sep-Begin--> <HR> <!--X-Head-Body-Sep-End--> <!--X-Body-of-Message--> <PRE> Well, not exactly wanting to feed the fires, but wanting to get my two cents in, here's my take on role-playing: Role-playing a character in an RPG is simply playing that character as if he/she were a real person in a real world. Anything else you add on is simply excess baggage; a method of role-playing, if you will. The contrary position to role-playing is what I would call rule-playing: playing your character as if he/she is simply a piece in a game. (Note that this is *not* the same as powergaming; many rule-players are new to RPGs and simply don't understand that they're not supposed to "play the rules;" after all, they've done that in all the other games they've played. So, what's the game designer's responsibility? There are three main paths that are usually taken. 1 - Try to make the rules as close a fit to the "reality" of the game world as possible. The idea in this case is that if the rules perfectly represent the game world, rule-players will be forced to role-play at least somewhat. 2 - Decide that the rule-players are going to rule-play no matter how perfect you try to make the rules. Use means external to the game reality to control rule-players. 3 - Don't have any rules. Have all decisions made by a GM or by mutual agreement of the players. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. IMHO, which method is "best" is almost a religious question; it depends on what's important to you. -- |\ _,,,---,,_ Travis S. Casey <casey#cs,fsu.edu> ZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ No one agrees with me. Not even me. |,4- ) )-,_..;\ ( `'-' '---''(_/--' `-'\_) rec.games.design FAQ: <A HREF="http://www.cs.fsu.edu/~casey/design.html">http://www.cs.fsu.edu/~casey/design.html</A> </PRE> <!--X-Body-of-Message-End--> <!--X-MsgBody-End--> <!--X-Follow-Ups--> <HR> <!--X-Follow-Ups-End--> <!--X-References--> <!--X-References-End--> <!--X-BotPNI--> <UL> <LI>Prev by Date: <STRONG><A HREF="msg01232.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Life</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Next by Date: <STRONG><A HREF="msg01235.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Death</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Prev by thread: <STRONG><A HREF="msg01548.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] RP=MUSH/PG=MUD</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Next by thread: <STRONG><A HREF="msg01230.html">web archive for MUD Design List ?</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Index(es): <UL> <LI><A HREF="index.html#01234"><STRONG>Date</STRONG></A></LI> <LI><A HREF="thread.html#01234"><STRONG>Thread</STRONG></A></LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> <!--X-BotPNI-End--> <!--X-User-Footer--> <!--X-User-Footer-End--> <ul><li>Thread context: <BLOCKQUOTE><UL> <LI><STRONG>Re: [MUD-Dev] RP=MUSH/PG=MUD</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM> <ul compact> <LI><strong><A NAME="01514" HREF="msg01514.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] RP=MUSH/PG=MUD</A></strong>, Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Thu 26 Jun 1997, 11:10 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="01527" HREF="msg01527.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] RP=MUSH/PG=MUD</A></strong>, Caliban Tiresias Darklock <a href="mailto:caliban#darklock,com">caliban#darklock,com</a>, Thu 26 Jun 1997, 15:21 GMT </LI> </UL> </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="01547" HREF="msg01547.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] RP=MUSH/PG=MUD</A></strong>, Chris Gray <a href="mailto:cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA">cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA</a>, Fri 27 Jun 1997, 13:04 GMT </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="01548" HREF="msg01548.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] RP=MUSH/PG=MUD</A></strong>, Chris Gray <a href="mailto:cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA">cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA</a>, Fri 27 Jun 1997, 13:04 GMT </LI> </ul> </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="01234" HREF="msg01234.html">a definition of role-playing</A></strong>, Travis S Casey <a href="mailto:casey#nu,cs.fsu.edu">casey#nu,cs.fsu.edu</a>, Fri 06 Jun 1997, 20:12 GMT <LI><strong><A NAME="01230" HREF="msg01230.html">web archive for MUD Design List ?</A></strong>, Dmitri Kondratiev <a href="mailto:dima#paragraph,com">dima#paragraph,com</a>, Fri 06 Jun 1997, 17:02 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="01265" HREF="msg01265.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] web archive for MUD Design List ?</A></strong>, clawrenc <a href="mailto:clawrenc#cup,hp.com">clawrenc#cup,hp.com</a>, Tue 10 Jun 1997, 02:44 GMT </LI> </UL> </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="01228" HREF="msg01228.html">Re:[DESIGN] the physcis of magic.</A></strong>, Jeff Kesselman <a href="mailto:jeffk#tenetwork,com">jeffk#tenetwork,com</a>, Fri 06 Jun 1997, 12:57 GMT <LI><strong><A NAME="01227" HREF="msg01227.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Lorry's document on wizard-hood</A></strong>, Jeff Kesselman <a href="mailto:jeffk#tenetwork,com">jeffk#tenetwork,com</a>, Fri 06 Jun 1997, 12:44 GMT </LI> </UL></BLOCKQUOTE> </ul> <hr> <center> [ <a href="../">Other Periods</a> | <a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a> | <a href="/search.php3">Search</a> ] </center> <hr> </body> </html>