The two dimensions of role playing games

30 Mar

Posted by tectuktitlay as Features, RPG

“The higher the level of the play, the more enjoyable the game” Gary Gygax

The day that the gentlemen who run this web came to me and asked me to write about RPGs, I knew that my first post was going to be about the two dimensions.

The two dimensions (from now on: TTD) are for me, the two components that build a solid, serious, and worth playing campaign. And I am not talking about the GM and/or the players, I assume that, for the creation of a great campaign, they are experienced, and correctly educated in the campaign setting (c´mon, you can´t have a real Paladin if he can´t pronounce correctly the name of his god, or a player asking what dice does he has to throw every time there´s a combat situation).

As you may see, TTD are non-human components of the RPGs, and they are: the system rules and the actual role playing. Simply as it may seem, TTD are the cornerstones of the rpgs and, the flow between them is what makes the game enjoyable. Each dimension is essential to the game, but there is one that is more important than the other, and that one is role playing.

Role playing is the key of RPGs (in fact, that´s what makes them RPGs, uh?). If you don´t have role playing, you don´t have the game. Of course, you can go to every inn or tavern in Waterdeep and fight every angry-drunken dwarf NPC, having hilarious situations in which the mage of the party could end with his fingers severed for trying to play the piano in a box full of knives, or the warrior could finish slashing that annoying and greedy bartender with a (two handed!) piece of juicy meat, but that´s not the point of the game.

Real role playing may be not so comical, but indeed is, by far, more enjoyable. A detailed campaign with an excellent plot (and hooks for future plots), singular NPCs, colorful scenarios, well measured distances, rich combat situations, and well made and played PCs, with deep and defined personalities, with a clear past (at least, for the player), suitably guided for expanding their capabilities and personalities, with them having the chance of choosing what to do for their future, is definitely the key for playing RPGs. It´s pointless to speak about the difficult of achieving this in all of the items, but, when a pair of these objectives fulfilled, and having in your mind that you and your group are working to get there, RPGs are the best game, and it´s impossible to beat them. It doesn´t matter if you play D&D, World of Darkness, GURPS, a homebrew campaign or whatever. The part that you enjoy of the game is here. That´s what makes this Dimension the most important of all dimensions.

The other Dimension I told you about is the game system. This is important too, but it´s not critical for the game. Yes, I know, you are going to tell me that the saving throws and THAC0 systems of 2e are no match for the simplicity of the d20 System. Let me ask you: it´s “minimalism” the key of the game? Are you telling me that you dropped your 7-year Dark Sun campaign because WotC release 3e books, and, for the rookie player those rules were easier? You don´t need those books to have fun, like you don´t need now 4e books to play and enjoy RPGs. One thing is the real need of changing the game system (because you´ve been playing for a long time, and maybe you need a break, play ANOTHER campaign with ANOTHER system, and them, coming back to the original, because, sooner or later, you´ll want to play with THAT PC again, you know what I mean?) and other thing is letting the Marketing Department of WotC (or another Publisher) tell you what you need to enjoy a game session. What I am trying to say here is that, if you want, you can role play without a system, just talking, you and your GM. How many RPGs sessions are built without even throwing one dice? Aren´t those the best of all them? And when that happened, you didn´t notice the game system, you were your character, discussing the possible strategy to enter the dragon´s lair, or how to break into the bank or how to do whatever your PCs were about to do (all of this, obviously, inside the tavern were you fellow warrior is eating a big piece of juicy meat which has just been used as a blunt weapon).

May the force be with you, mes amis.