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There are no such thing as "role playing" rules.

Started by Dominus Nox, September 09, 2006, 05:27:25 AM

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Balbinus

#45
September 12, 2006, 08:51:10 AM
Quote from: blakkieWho the hell said that I didn't?  Let me guess, I just need to read the threads since I last posted and left? :(

Well, I may simply have misread you.

I thought you were suggesting that:

1.  One could estimate that a group using an rpg with rules for combat but no social rules was playing a combat focussed game.

2.  Social rules tend to be absent not from positive design choice but due to a paucity of good social rules.

But, I am mortal and prone to error, so please correct me.  If those are correct, I'm happy to say why I think they're in error.

Whitter

#46
September 12, 2006, 10:33:02 AM
Quote from: TonyLBWhitter:  I'm as fast to point out a sore loser or bad sport as the next guy (and way faster than most) but I've met plenty of free-formers who play free-form with a serious edge, making themselves vulnerable to judgment/loss, and then taking those defeats with equanimity when they occur.

Sounds cool. Although I'm having trouble imagining a judgement/defeat statement without some kind of rule to base it on.

If people have fun playing freefrom, then more power to them. I don't much care for it, but then again I don't have to, to enjoy RPGs. :)
 

TonyLB

#47
September 12, 2006, 11:53:06 AM
Quote from: WhitterSounds cool. Although I'm having trouble imagining a judgement/defeat statement without some kind of rule to base it on.
Well, a classic for-instance is alliances in Amber.

Assume that you've got two players, each of whom wants their character to be King of Amber.  It is generally felt that the third player is a "swing vote".  Whoever he decides to ally with gets to be king.  So you both wheedle and convince and politick, and in the end that third player comes down on someone's side or another.  One of you got defeated ... I've seen people be good sports about that, and relish a hard-fought defeat as much as a hard-won victory.
Superheroes with heart:  Capes!

KrakaJak

#48
September 12, 2006, 02:14:21 PM
What do you mean by role-playing? In Character actions? Socializing/Talking? Personality?
Your characters actions are as much a part of the character as his words. Most rule sets only bother with rules for un-guaranteed actions. Your character makes an argument, does it convince the agued? Roll for it. You character is firing a gun at someone, does it hit? How much damage does it do? Having a character do things is as much a part of role-playing him as having him say things.
I can recall few games that limit or penalize out of character actions or reward in-character actions. A few DnD classes have alignment restrictions, and if you act out of alignment enough to change it, you lose your special abilities. Exalted has intimacies, where you have to fail a roll if your trying to act against an intimacy or take a point of limit break. OWoD had Nature and Demeanor as stats, receiving willpower and other benefits for role-playing them.
As for socializing: Schmoozing and general friend/enemy-making or political savvy is what I mean by general socializing. This is usually covered at least lightly by a mechanic. DnD has diplomacy and sense motive with circumstance bonus' based on what your character actually says. Exalted has Social fu where speaking in character can be counted as a stunt. WoD has a third of it's character sheet devoted to socialization, where speaking well can give your character a bonus on his roll.
As for personality. I already mentioned DnD has the Alignment System, which can detriment your character if it shifts. In old DnD you lost a level when it shifted. Again, OWoD had the nature and demeanor system. Exalted Social-Fu can play with, deconstruct and build intimacies for people, things and ideas.
I think what you mean is most RPG's have no rules restricting player freedom to choose his characters actions even if they're out of character. Most RPG's try not to do this probably to maximize fun. A lot of games, however, will penalize out of character and/or "bad role-playing" and/or reward in character action and/or "good role-playing". Leaving good and bad Role-Playing up to the discretion of the GM as a experience bonus or stunt die.
-Jak
 
 "Be the person you want to be, at the expense of everything."
Spreading Un-Common Sense since 1983
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