10 Goals For Roleplaying

Yesterday I read a short article asserting that the primary goal of roleplaying is “player immersion”. The context of the article was the idea that giving players narrative control is fatal to this goal… and that may well be true. That, however, wasn’t the value of the article for me: instead, I find myself pondering what the goals of roleplaying are.

In short, there seem to be many and variable goals. Even for the same player or Gamemaster, there are going to be different goals for different gaming experiences. This article throws out some suggestions on a few of them, and why I find myself moving between them.

Why Roleplay?

After playing online last night and also playing around a table the weekend before, the answer to that question is complicated.

I got into roleplaying because RuneQuest sparked my imagination and interest. I kept playing because of my friends at school… at least, I did right up until I left school. I keep playing because it continues to satisfy and develop my desire for imaginary adventures. But that’s a pretty general answer.

Here’s my shortlist for why I play roleplaying games.

1. Sometimes I want to play.

I’m almost always the Gamemaster. My motivation is two-fold: a) without me GMing we probably won’t have a game; b) I enjoy seeing and experiencing people at play.

Play is the real reason, and the largest reason, why I want to roleplay. Play is the vital essence of what it means to be a human being. Stuff making money and all the crap of “normal life”: I like to play. I enjoy playful people.

Roleplaying is specifically my favourite form of play because it offers a rich variety of experience. While I love a good wargame, boardgame, card game, computer game, and many other types of game… in the end, I keep roleplaying with humans. It’s the most vibrant and rich play experience for the reasons that will largely follow. In short, however, it provides the most variety in play and brings out the deepest experiences and emotions of play.

So, yeah, first of all I find myself agreeing with Shakespeare: “The play’s the thing.” Not that this was what he really meant, but hey – it works for me.

2. Players can choose immersion.

Picking up on the idea of character immersion, yes you can. This is an option. It’s a really fun option too because playing the role of another (and often amazing) character is often both very revealing and pleasant.

But, I’m afraid, it’s a choice like any other in your gaming. Immersion is not THE goal of roleplaying, but simply a pretty common goal. It is possible to play roleplaying games without any depth of immersion: you simply “roll up” a character and have at a problem that needs sorting out. What’s that? There’s some rats in the cellar? Ok, let’s go clear them out. And my friends, there is nothing wrong with shallow immersion.

So, yeah. Sometimes I play for immersion. But as a GM, that’s my least important reason to play – ask anyone who plays with me and you’ll know my weakest skill is acting.

3. Heroic action is fun.

Doing stuff that you can’t do in “real life” is fun. From zapping off magic spells or psi power through to negotiating a big deal in modern politics… it can all be very entertaining.

Sometimes I come to the table to do cool stuff. My players love it when their characters get to use their cool abilities and show off. I enjoy it when I can offer them opportunities to do so. Every one wins.

4. Tactical combat interests me.

I love my wargaming, from strategy down to tactics… but none so much as the one-on-one action of a roleplaying game. Character versus monster is a lot of fun, whether the monster is literal or metaphorical.

Usually, for me at least, the combat needs to be tactical and “crunchy” so that I can plan out cool plans and execute nifty tricks. For that reason, I find “rules lite” and “narrative” games generally less satisfying when it comes to a fight. But hey – each to their own, right?

Last night’s online session featured one large combat as a big part of the session – about half of the three-hour session – but everyone had a good time. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but in that particular campaign it’s one of the upfront stated goals of the game: we’re going to have a fair few tactical combats.

5. Fantastic places and situations excite me.

Glorantha was the first world of roleplaying for me. The Traveller universe came next, along with the universe of Star Frontiers. Since then, we’ve been playing in different worlds – some are published, some are homebrewed. All have been, to one degree or another, a reason to come and play games.

We get to wander around and imagine different worlds. Different places. Alternative lives. Strange situations. That is a lot of fun, especially when you do it together with friends.

6. Rolling dice is fun. So is playing with cards, counters, and miniatures.

While I really like the diceless game idea, I REALLY like rolling dice… or flipping cards, turning in a counter, or moving my miniature hero around the tabletop.

Sometimes I just want to roll dice. Roleplaying usually involves some roll-playing too… and I love that! It’s a lot of fun to hold those dice, take a risk and see what happens. Let the dice lay where they fall, right? Well, usually.

Certainly, dice and other randomisers can royally stuff up the immersion goal, but they are a big element of fun nonetheless. The trick, of course, is to stack the odds in your favour.

7. Reading roleplaying books is relaxing.

I can play anytime, even alone. Traveller taught me that there is solo gaming… but the very act of opening a roleplaying book (whether rules, adventure, or supplement) is a really fun moment an awful lot of the time. That’s why, even though my wife doesn’t understand, I keep buying and reading roleplaying books.

Roleplay starts in the mind. You don’t even need to be “playing” to play.

8. You can hack the game to your tastes.

Roleplaying is the game play that invites (nay, insists!) that you change things to suit your tastes. Most games have options that you choose to use or not use. I have yet to meet a roleplayer who always plays “by the book”. Maybe that’s because no one person has the monopoly on imagination and “how to play”.

Don’t like the way the game plays? Well, change it dumb-ass! It’s your fantasy, right? Your game world will vary.

Hacking is a goal for me. I play therefore I hack.

9. It’s fun to be with like-minded people.

I have no idea why this is near the end of my list because it’s a vitally important goal for me. I like hanging around with people who, while wildly different to me in many ways, are like-minded. They share one or more of these goals. Some come only when the goals they seek to fulfill are at the table, but that’s ok. Best of all, of course, is when they share many of your goals… that’s how to gain a group.

I’m very proud to share three groups of gamers, each with goals that are different. Most of all, though, that gives me access to around 25 very different yet like-minded people. And that’s before we even get to the sub-hobby of chatting on social media with hundreds more.

Awesome!

10. I like cool art.

Playing online is especially cool for this: I get to see and share wonderful pictures and maps. From relatively crude dungeon maps drawn by hand through to awesome high-quality full-colour artwork – I love it!

Who can open a roleplaying book or .PDF without wondering what the art will be like? Who can resist looking at a cool map? Come on: it’s a goal for we who enjoy roleplaying games.

And there’s more…

To be honest, I could go on but I want to go and play something now. This wonderful hobby has many, many goals… loads of reasons to do it!

Sometimes I want to create and play a really well-designed and carefully thought out character. Other times, I am happy to roll up a hero and set him loose in a simple dungeon. Neither is right nor wrong in the cosmic sense: they are right or wrong for what you want to experience at that time.

If anything, this is a plea to realise how rich your hobby can be. Go and play!

Game on!