| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Brynweir |
Posted - 08 Dec 2007 : 02:07:06
The subject of RP has come up at work, mostly because we were discussing hobbies, and I tried to explain about FR and RP. They think I'm crazy. The only RP and fantasy they understand is...well, you know.
So the question is, how do you explain what we do to someone who has never so much as read a fantasy adventure novel? |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Skeptic |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 06:40:31
quote:
Originally posted by EvilKnight
If I may point you in a few directions. Fear the Boot (www.feartheboot.com) had a podcast recently on this subject. I would also point out The Harrow RPG section (http://www.theharrow.com/rpg/). What Is Roleplaying? is a good article found there.
I've given a read to the Harrow RPG section. IMHO, the answer given for "what is roleplaying", including the examples of actual play are to be avoided. If someone wants to know why, use PM. |
| Skeptic |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 06:37:55
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
D&D was a fun and exciting game, constructed to be just that.
Oh, I'm finally not alone here  |
| EvilKnight |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 04:11:38
If I may point you in a few directions. Fear the Boot (www.feartheboot.com) had a podcast recently on this subject. I would also point out The Harrow RPG section (http://www.theharrow.com/rpg/). What Is Roleplaying? is a good article found there.
EvilKnight |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 11 Dec 2007 : 06:36:12
Well, D&D (to me) is/was a great Role-playing game, but not the best Role-playing system. Other games did a better job if you are more of the story-oriented type. D&D was a fun and exciting game, constructed to be just that. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 11 Dec 2007 : 01:07:39
quote:
Originally posted by Skeptic
Don't get me wrong, D&D can be a very fun game, it's just so sad that many people think that D&D = RPG and RPG = D&D.
I know, it's just twagic.
Brynweir, introduce non-gamers to D&D and let them roleplay their characters to their heart's desire. |
| Brynweir |
Posted - 11 Dec 2007 : 00:39:09
I was introduced to RP through D&D in college and I LOVE it! I've played a few other systems and they don't seem to have the richness, the flavor you find with the D&D system. Just MHO. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 11 Dec 2007 : 00:30:14
Of course, some of us think D&D is a fine RPG system, and would happily recommend it to any and all newcomers. Thirty-plus years of existence, with millions of people all over the world having enjoyed it, is a pretty positive recommendation. |
| Skeptic |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 23:43:16
quote:
Originally posted by Brynweir
I never meant for this to start a debate (which could get banned). I was really just trying to get ideas for how to explain to non-gamers.
The only suggestion I could make to you if you want to introduce non-gamers to roleplaying, is to not begin with D&D (or one of his relatives).
Don't get me wrong, D&D can be a very fun game, it's just so sad that many people think that D&D = RPG and RPG = D&D.
|
| Brynweir |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 22:48:41
I never meant for this to start a debate (which could get banned). I was really just trying to get ideas for how to explain to non-gamers. |
| Wenin |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 20:08:41
I'm seeing where this is going, and can now understand why it's a banned topic. =)
|
| Skeptic |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 20:00:53
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great question. I don't think so, personally, because calling a game "educational" implies that there's another agenda behind it other than simply having fun (and, IMO, implies that "just having fun" simply isn't a valuable use of time).
I agree, the purpose of games (in general) is to have fun. I learned English partially because of D&D, but that was never the purpose.
Btw..
Saying that the purpose of a game is fun shouldn't be confused with identifying the goal of a particular game.
The goal of chess is to put the adversary in a check-mate position, the goal of Monopoly is to be rich enough to make the others agree that the game is over (no one really play it up to the end ), etc.
Of course, identifying to goal of a role-playing game seems more difficult... 
|
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 19:54:30
quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
But should D&D be described as "educational" to non-gamers? (To their parents, maybe, but to them...?)
Great question. I don't think so, personally, because calling a game "educational" implies that there's another agenda behind it other than simply having fun (and, IMO, implies that "just having fun" simply isn't a valuable use of time). |
| Jamallo Kreen |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 19:49:04
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
I'm not arguing the merits of D&D, just offering one example of how to explain the game to some people who might consider themselves too well-educated or too "cool" to play it.
On that note (education), I'm amazed at how many new things I've learned (like obsure vocabulary words) thanks to this hobby.
Darn tootin! From reading FR novels I've learned the correct pronunciation of several words which I had long mis-pronounced, and also learned the correct grammatical use of a couple (which I looked up in a dictionary).
Need I say that one learns a VAST amount of Medieval history by preparing games or researching a good background for a character? (AD&D's Unearthed Arcana appendix taught me more about polearms and their nomenclature than almost anyone else I know.)
But should D&D be described as "educational" to non-gamers? (To their parents, maybe, but to them...?)
|
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 17:48:35
quote:
Originally posted by Skeptic
In a previous post, I said that acting is a component of role-playing. (But I'm not sure I would say it's a essential one)
Can you copy this defition in your post so we can discuss it ?
By the way, when I say role-playing, I'm assuming the context is a table top role-playing game (i.e. including D&D not not limited to).
But the term "roleplaying game" must have come from somewhere.
The definition can be found on dictionary.com. I'm really not inclined to debate the topic any further, because I don't want to, and because it's already very close to the banned topic of "What type of gaming constitutes 'real' D&D?" |
| Skeptic |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 17:08:15
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
If acting has nothing to do whatsoever with roleplaying, than why is "acting" mentioned a few times in the definition for roleplaying on dictionary.com?
In a previous post, I said that acting is a component of role-playing. (But I'm not sure I would say it's a essential one)
Can you copy this defition in your post so we can discuss it ?
By the way, when I say role-playing, I'm assuming the context is a table top role-playing game (i.e. including D&D not not limited to). |
| Hawkins |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 17:07:18
Before my wife got into Roleplaying, she called it "playing house." And even though it is an oversimplification of the concept, in a way we are "playing house." However, often plot forces us to leave that house and go split some orc heads (wait, is orc no longer a politically correct race to kill? Then I meant "gnoll" heads). |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 16:58:16
If acting has nothing to do whatsoever with roleplaying, than why is "acting" mentioned a few times in the definition for roleplaying on dictionary.com?
Also, there are other types of acting besides acting in a movie...just so you all know. |
| Skeptic |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 14:30:06
quote:
Originally posted by Wenin
I think what Skeptic is trying to say, in a not so kind way (maybe that is why such discussions aren't welcome on the board....) is that roleplaying is not like playing a part in a movie, because the actors don't write their own lines. It would be better to compare roleplaying to free form theater, than a movie.
Unfortunatly, that's not so simple, because when comparing movie making to role-playing, the result is often the famous "Impossible Thing Before Breakfast".
Also, you can have role-playing without having the participants being authors of a story. Two cases :
1) Sometimes the story is already written by somebody else.
2) Simply because the result of any role-playing session is not guaranteed to be a story, i.e. having addressed a premise.
Like I said above, all you need to have role-playing is some participants sharing a imagined universe (in opposition with a board game). However, different kinds of RPG adds a different mindset on top of it, some having a lot in common with board games (that's the tricky part).
For example, you can have both a RPG and a board game where the focus is on the players guts decisions and strategies. |
| Nimriel |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 13:27:05
quote:
Originally posted by Wenin
I think what Skeptic is trying to say, in a not so kind way (maybe that is why such discussions aren't welcome on the board....) is that roleplaying is not like playing a part in a movie, because the actors don't write their own lines. It would be better to compare roleplaying to free form theater, than a movie.
And what I'm trying to say is Acting and Being in a movie is two different things, you aren't an actor playing the character, you are the character. |
| Nimriel |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 13:26:28
quote:
Originally posted by Wenin
I think what Skeptic is trying to say, in a not so kind way (maybe that is why such discussions aren't welcome on the board....) is that roleplaying is not like playing a part in a movie, because the actors don't write their own lines. It would be better to compare roleplaying to free form theater, than a movie.
And what I'm trying to say is Acting and Being ina movie is two different things, you aren't an actor playing the character, you are the character. |
| Wenin |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 12:35:55
I think what Skeptic is trying to say, in a not so kind way (maybe that is why such discussions aren't welcome on the board....) is that roleplaying is not like playing a part in a movie, because the actors don't write their own lines. It would be better to compare roleplaying to free form theater, than a movie. |
| Skeptic |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 01:30:19
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
That's quite an apposite comparison.
I was just trying to attack the common accepted idea that role-playing can't be described/definited in pretty exact terms in a funny way. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 00:51:49
quote:
Originally posted by Skeptic
quote:
Originally posted by Nimriél
While I personally don't RP I don't belive that there are any right or wrong ways to describe it, it varies from person to person. Ok some extremes like to describe it as satanistic may be wrong, but thats besides my point.
Well, some argues that the Earth isn't spherical but flat, so I guess it's right to say that for some role-playing is equals to acting.
That's quite an apposite comparison. |
| Nimriel |
Posted - 09 Dec 2007 : 21:28:40
He didn't say it equals to acting, he sayd it was like Rp is like playing a role in a movie, not being Viggo Mortensen in the set of LotR but being Aragon in the movie. Of course that just my take.
Besides FES has some compeling evidence(photos of earth from the moon). |
| Skeptic |
Posted - 09 Dec 2007 : 21:14:59
quote:
Originally posted by Nimriél
While I personally don't RP I don't belive that there are any right or wrong ways to describe it, it varies from person to person. Ok some extremes like to describe it as satanistic may be wrong, but thats besides my point.
Well, some argues that the Earth isn't spherical but flat, so I guess it's right to say that for some role-playing is equals to acting. |
| Nimriel |
Posted - 09 Dec 2007 : 21:10:05
quote:
quote:
Originally posted by BARDOBARBAROS
Rp is like playing a role in a movie ...
No (see my previous post).
While I personally don't RP I don't belive that there are any right or wrong ways to describe it, it varies from person to person. Ok some extremes like to describe it as satanistic may be wrong, but thats besides my point. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 09 Dec 2007 : 04:11:35
quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
I'm not arguing the merits of D&D, just offering one example of how to explain the game to some people who might consider themselves too well-educated or too "cool" to play it.
On that note (education), I'm amazed at how many new things I've learned (like obsure vocabulary words) thanks to this hobby. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 09 Dec 2007 : 04:08:18
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
It's a story like a TV show or a play where you make the decisions.
It's like telling jokes and stories, or the way you play a role in different social situations, but with continuity.
It's making your own art/entertainment with your friends, rather than consuming it.
It's part of the ancient tradition of oral storytelling, but collaborative.
It's like sexual roleplaying, but with a broader range of plots.
It's like the make-believe you played as children before disfunctional misanthropic puritan rationalist fantasies of adulthood told you to stop.
I love this response. |
| EvilKnight |
Posted - 09 Dec 2007 : 02:33:16
Like playing pretend with rules where plot directions can be decided on the outcome of dice rolls.
Mostly just people sitting around a table talking, eating, drinking, and rolling dice.
Evilknight |
| Skeptic |
Posted - 09 Dec 2007 : 01:36:55
quote:
Originally posted by Brynweir
So, it's like the make-believe you played as children in a shared imagined universe with rules everybody has to use?
Yeah (basically).
quote:
Originally posted by BARDOBARBAROS
Rp is like playing a role in a movie ...
No (see my previous post).
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