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What is roleplaying?

Roleplaying games are different than traditional games. In games like Poker, Chess, Monopoly the object is to win and outsmart your opponents. In a roleplaying game, the object is to have fun and be creative with your friends. Usually, there is no win or lose within the group. The game is intended to be a cooperative game where the participants play characters that resolve a situation.

It is similar to a play, movie, tv show or book. The gamemaster is the director and, to an extent, the screenwriter. The players are the actors and ad lib their way along, based on what the gamemaster has written. The players create personalities and backgrounds for their characters and conduct themselves through the story using those as guidelines. Instead of doing what you think that you, personally, would do or say, a player endeavors to do what they think their character would do or say. Players also create an appearance for their character. This is so that other players can visualize with whom their character will be interacting.

The gamemaster plays out the roles of the people they meet during the story: the antagonists, the normal folks, as well as the allies. This person also sets the scene and describes the situations the character encounter.

The storyline is responsive to the characters actions and choices. Adventures are always unique because characters make different decisions based on their characters personalities, as well as the circumstances of the story.

Roleplaying games have rules of varying complexity. Their intention is to try to simulate 'real life' and balance playability. If the rules are too complex, then the session can drag while the group tries to figure out how to resolve things. On the other hand, if the rules are too simple, then the players might not get a feel for their character's ability and how they interact with the game world.

The fun of roleplaying games is that you can play out, or pretend to be in, a great story in any setting. All genres of fiction and movies have been made into roleplaying games. Instead of reading about it, you can immerse yourself in it.

The roleplaying closet

There is a very negative stereotype associated with roleplaying gamers. The image of high school nerds in a basement playing D&D and drinking the Dew is what most people think of immediately. There is obviously a reason for every stereotype. They don't appear out of thin air. There are a host of people with bad hygiene and abysmal social skills that these games often attract. Any trip to a gaming store or gaming convention can prove that.

However, there are some of us that have superlative hygiene and very good social skills. We may have geekish moments, or interests, but we don't like being lumped in with, or associated with, the stereotype. Many, if not most, of us are afraid to reveal our 'gaming' side for fear of being stereotyped. Only other gamers or trusted associates, given time, might learn that about us. Most of us would never reveal that interest to perfect strangers, lest they think we are the subject of comedy skits based on gamers. "Are there any girls there? I want to DO them. <nerd laugh>"

I have no problem coming out to people and telling them that I am gay, but I am often very hesitant to admit that I am a gamer.

Board games

No, not monopoly. Not Chess. Not even Pictionary…
Settlers of Catan, History of the World, Risk 2050, Eurorails, Supremacy and so on. These are the games I'm talking about. Games that can take from 30 minutes to many hours. I love games that simulate historical events, as well as military conflicts. Strategies, tactics, economic polices, and politics are what I like. I was playing this type of game by myself in the 5th grade. Avalon Hill was the big company that made all sorts of games when I was young. Now, they are owned by Hasbro. I have a few of the old classics, and a few of the new ones, since Hasbro bought them.

I also like historical miniature gaming. This can take quite an investment, but meticulously painted armies on tables covered with terrain can be quite a sight. The battles can be simulations of real events or you can play a 'what if' scenario. If you're history buff, it can be a very fun time.

Console games

I like to play Xbox as well. I don't play that often, but I enjoy first person shooters very much. I also enjoy playing Xbox live, cooperatively, with my friends. I rarely play it by myself, but sometimes the mood hits me and I get into a groove. I've played HALO, MechAssault, Ghost Recon, Crimson Skies, and few others.
I bought a Playstation a few years back and really got into DOA2. A friend and I played for over a year and unlocked all the costumes. We were addicted. Nothing else really struck my fancy that much. I loved the game Colony Wars, but it was too hard for me to control. It had awesome production values though.
I had an old Sega Genesis. I used to love to play Road Rash, Romance of the 3 Kingdoms, AeroBiz, Streets of Rage, and, most of all, Star Control 2. My friends and I used to play for hours on end.

Computer games

Don't care much for them at all. The only ones I have played were the Mechwarrior games and Crimson Skies. I liked them, but never really got into any others.

	What is roleplaying? Roleplaying games are different than traditional games. In games like Poker, Chess, Monopoly the object is to win and outsmart your opponents. In a roleplaying game, the object is to have fun and be creative with your friends. Usually, there is no win or lose within the group. The game is intended to be a cooperative game where the participants play characters that resolve a situation. It is similar to a play, movie, tv show or book. The gamemaster is the director and, to an extent, the screenwriter. The players are the actors and ad lib their way along, based on what the gamemaster has written. The players create personalities and backgrounds for their characters and conduct themselves through the story using those as guidelines. Instead of doing what you think that you, personally, would do or say, a player endeavors to do what they think their character would do or say. Players also create an appearance for their character. This is so that other players can visualize with whom their character will be interacting. The gamemaster plays out the roles of the people they meet during the story: the antagonists, the normal folks, as well as the allies. This person also sets the scene and describes the situations the character encounter. The storyline is responsive to the characters actions and choices. Adventures are always unique because characters make different decisions based on their characters personalities, as well as the circumstances of the story. Roleplaying games have rules of varying complexity. Their intention is to try to simulate 'real life' and balance playability. If the rules are too complex, then the session can drag while the group tries to figure out how to resolve things. On the other hand, if the rules are too simple, then the players might not get a feel for their character's ability and how they interact with the game world. The fun of roleplaying games is that you can play out, or pretend to be in, a great story in any setting. All genres of fiction and movies have been made into roleplaying games. Instead of reading about it, you can immerse yourself in it. The roleplaying closet There is a very negative stereotype associated with roleplaying gamers. The image of high school nerds in a basement playing D&D and drinking the Dew is what most people think of immediately. There is obviously a reason for every stereotype. They don't appear out of thin air. There are a host of people with bad hygiene and abysmal social skills that these games often attract. Any trip to a gaming store or gaming convention can prove that. However, there are some of us that have superlative hygiene and very good social skills. We may have geekish moments, or interests, but we don't like being lumped in with, or associated with, the stereotype. Many, if not most, of us are afraid to reveal our 'gaming' side for fear of being stereotyped. Only other gamers or trusted associates, given time, might learn that about us. Most of us would never reveal that interest to perfect strangers, lest they think we are the subject of comedy skits based on gamers. "Are there any girls there? I want to DO them. <nerd laugh>" I have no problem coming out to people and telling them that I am gay, but I am often very hesitant to admit that I am a gamer. Board games No, not monopoly. Not Chess. Not even Pictionary… Settlers of Catan, History of the World, Risk 2050, Eurorails, Supremacy and so on. These are the games I'm talking about. Games that can take from 30 minutes to many hours. I love games that simulate historical events, as well as military conflicts. Strategies, tactics, economic polices, and politics are what I like. I was playing this type of game by myself in the 5th grade. Avalon Hill was the big company that made all sorts of games when I was young. Now, they are owned by Hasbro. I have a few of the old classics, and a few of the new ones, since Hasbro bought them. I also like historical miniature gaming. This can take quite an investment, but meticulously painted armies on tables covered with terrain can be quite a sight. The battles can be simulations of real events or you can play a 'what if' scenario. If you're history buff, it can be a very fun time. Console games I like to play Xbox as well. I don't play that often, but I enjoy first person shooters very much. I also enjoy playing Xbox live, cooperatively, with my friends. I rarely play it by myself, but sometimes the mood hits me and I get into a groove. I've played HALO, MechAssault, Ghost Recon, Crimson Skies, and few others. I bought a Playstation a few years back and really got into DOA2. A friend and I played for over a year and unlocked all the costumes. We were addicted. Nothing else really struck my fancy that much. I loved the game Colony Wars, but it was too hard for me to control. It had awesome production values though. I had an old Sega Genesis. I used to love to play Road Rash, Romance of the 3 Kingdoms, AeroBiz, Streets of Rage, and, most of all, Star Control 2. My friends and I used to play for hours on end. Computer games Don't care much for them at all. The only ones I have played were the Mechwarrior games and Crimson Skies. I liked them, but never really got into any others.
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