Glossary of Terms: Difference between revisions
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:* '''AKA:''' Meta Gaming, poor Roleplay, no roleplay, Being super boring at the table | :* '''AKA:''' Meta Gaming, poor Roleplay, no roleplay, Being super boring at the table | ||
Epic Path is designed as a classical tabletop RPG, designed to be played by a group of players and a Game Master. The term 'RPG' stands for Role-Playing Game (not rocket propelled grenade, which would a very different sort of experience). | : Epic Path is designed as a classical tabletop RPG, designed to be played by a group of players and a Game Master. The term 'RPG' stands for Role-Playing Game (not rocket propelled grenade, which would a very different sort of experience). | ||
What is a Role-Playing Game? Well, each player plays a defined Role, much like an actor in a play is pretending to be someone else, their character. | : What is a Role-Playing Game? Well, each player plays a defined Role, much like an actor in a play is pretending to be someone else, their character. | ||
Each player writes up their own Player Character (with the GM's permission), which is supposed to be their 'alternate persona' while they are at the gaming table. In a strict interpretation of this mechanism, a player should ALWAYS speak and behave 'in character' while at the gaming table. In such a strict Role-Playing table, the game is akin to an improvisational play, and every player is an actor, filling the role of their character. The players, as actors, should only make decisions and take actions based upon what their CHARACTERS could know, in-game, not what THEY know. | : Each player writes up their own Player Character (with the GM's permission), which is supposed to be their 'alternate persona' while they are at the gaming table. In a strict interpretation of this mechanism, a player should ALWAYS speak and behave 'in character' while at the gaming table. In such a strict Role-Playing table, the game is akin to an improvisational play, and every player is an actor, filling the role of their character. The players, as actors, should only make decisions and take actions based upon what their CHARACTERS could know, in-game, not what THEY know. | ||
For example, under strict role-play, the characters are not aware of game mechanics. They are not aware of their Armor Class numbers, Saving Throw bonuses, or Hit Points. They just know that some people and monsters are harder to hit, or luckier, or harder to kill, than others. | : For example, under strict role-play, the characters are not aware of game mechanics. They are not aware of their Armor Class numbers, Saving Throw bonuses, or Hit Points. They just know that some people and monsters are harder to hit, or luckier, or harder to kill, than others. | ||
Now, this can be very fun, but from the perspective of Role Playing, ANY knowledge of the game rules is considered to be 'meta knowledge'. IE, things that the PLAYERS have to know in order to play, but that the CHARACTERS cannot know, to maintain their immersion in the 'play'. | : Now, this can be very fun, but from the perspective of Role Playing, ANY knowledge of the game rules is considered to be 'meta knowledge'. IE, things that the PLAYERS have to know in order to play, but that the CHARACTERS cannot know, to maintain their immersion in the 'play'. | ||
If, on the other hand, the players don't really like or care about playing pretend at the gaming table, and instead, just use their characters as a collection of stats and numbers to kill bad guys, while having full knowledge and awareness of the game mechanics and talking to each other about their Armor Classes, hitpoints, etc, this is considered Meta Gaming, or, NOT pretending to be someone else. | : If, on the other hand, the players don't really like or care about playing pretend at the gaming table, and instead, just use their characters as a collection of stats and numbers to kill bad guys, while having full knowledge and awareness of the game mechanics and talking to each other about their Armor Classes, hitpoints, etc, this is considered Meta Gaming, or, NOT pretending to be someone else. | ||
This is a hotly contested topic, with some people believing that Role Play should be required (it's in the very name, after all), and others just not being very 'into' it. | : This is a hotly contested topic, with some people believing that Role Play should be required (it's in the very name, after all), and others just not being very 'into' it. | ||
We strongly recommend that the GM and the Players have a brief discussion about the level of Role Play versus Metagaming that is expected at the table. At a minimum, we recommend that the GM enforce [[Fog of War]] rules at the table, meaning that the players are not allowed to read any monster entries unless they make lore checks, and the hit points of the monsters and all players are private, with only the 'Unharmed, Injured, Bloodied, Unconscious, Dead' states being communicated between the players and the GM. | : We strongly recommend that the GM and the Players have a brief discussion about the level of Role Play versus Metagaming that is expected at the table. At a minimum, we recommend that the GM enforce [[Fog of War]] rules at the table, meaning that the players are not allowed to read any monster entries unless they make lore checks, and the hit points of the monsters and all players are private, with only the 'Unharmed, Injured, Bloodied, Unconscious, Dead' states being communicated between the players and the GM. | ||
We find that most tables eventually settle into a comfortable blend between Roleplay and Metagaming, with some player statements made 'in-character' and some 'out-of-character'. The GM should ask the players to clarify any and all statements made at the table if anything is unclear. We strongly encourage at least SOME roleplaying at every table, because that is just super fun stuff, but each group must seek their own balance as a consensus. | : We find that most tables eventually settle into a comfortable blend between Roleplay and Metagaming, with some player statements made 'in-character' and some 'out-of-character'. The GM should ask the players to clarify any and all statements made at the table if anything is unclear. We strongly encourage at least SOME roleplaying at every table, because that is just super fun stuff, but each group must seek their own balance as a consensus. | ||
The important thing is to have fun, and if roleplaying and metagaming both lead to fun, then that's fine with us! | : The important thing is to have fun, and if roleplaying and metagaming both lead to fun, then that's fine with us! | ||
=== Mind Affecting === | === Mind Affecting === | ||