Table Top RPGs: Just What Are They?
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A Definition of Table Top RPGs (sort of)
I've used a lot of analogies for RPGs in a lot of different places, mainly because analogies take a lot less space then actual explanations. But, here is an attempt at an actual explanation -
Role playing games are a group activity, involving 1 person who is the Game Master, and a varying number of people who are players.
The Game Master designs an imaginary world, and challenges in that world for the players to over come, while the players design characters that get added to the GMs imaginary world, and get put through tasks, quests, goals and challenges.
Each player is in charge of what his character (called the player character) says and does, the GM is in charge of everything else, including all the other characters that make up the world (called non-player characters). Normally, the player characters are the 'heroes' of the story the GM and players tell together.
Some Classic Role Playing Games
Interested in trying role playing? Check out:
Legend of the Five Rings
Legend of the Five Rings 4th Edition RPG
If you are a fan of Akira Kurosawa, you will love Legend of the Five Rings. Set in a fantasy version of samurai Japan, this game mixes potential for political intrigue, mystery, and full scale battle with room for pretty much anything to happen. The system is one of the more realistic (read: combat is deadly), but includes optional modifications that make it more likely for characters to survive long term.
The fourth edition provides several improvements on previous editions, including a much better lay out, more world details, and more balanced character abilities.
Role Playing Systems
Role playing systems are the rules that govern the game - really the only difference between most role playing games and children's let's play pretend games are the system, and more complex storylines (though I've seen some pretty complicated let's pretend games!)
Most role playing games use a dice system. The original dice systems were based on the rules of miniature war games, but over the years a number of variations have developed.
The two purposes to a dice system-
- Determine what happens
- Add an element of chance
Determining What Happens with A Dice System
On the other hand, if I'm trying to open a door, and someone else is trying to hold it shut - then who knows what is going to happen?
The warrior, Balehue is trying of get out of room before the knockout gas over powers him. He slams into the door, trying to force it open, and hears the latch crack. The door is open a crack, and fresh air floods the room. Unfortunately, the lock hasn't broken completely yet. From the other side come yells and shouts -
"He's breaking the lock!"
"Hold the door!"
"Don't let him escape!"
There are several thuds from the other side of the door, and the door gets forced closed. Balehue braces himself for another push.
Who will win? Well, who is stronger? Balehue, or the guys trying to hold him in? But wait a minute - Balehue is breathing knockout gas will that effect him? What about the fact that there's one of him and a whole bunch of them.
Well, read the rules. Every game system has a different way to use dice, but in this situation pretty much every dice system works the same - Balehue roles either a number of dice equal to his strength, or rolls a die and adds his strength, and the other guys do the same.
Who ever rolls higher, wins.
Hold on a minute . . .
Alright, I did a quick roll using the Legend of the Five Rings dice system, Balerue got a total of 6, and his enemies got a total of 25, so what happens?
Balerue slams the door so hard the wood cracks, but he can't budge it against all the men holding it shut from the other side. He tries to gather his strength for another try, but it's taken to long, and he stumbles to the ground, slowly falling unconscious from the gas.
Adding the Element of Chance
Sure, in the story of Balerue above, the Game Master could have simple compared the characters involved, and said, 'Alright, Balerue is obviously weaker then all these guys put together, so he's stuck,'
But real life doesn't work like that - the strongest guy doesn't always win, the smartest guy doesn't always come up with the answer, and sweat in the eye can get the best swordsman killed.
Dice are the random element that allow mediocre character to rise, on dumb luck, to the heights of greatness, and great characters to fail abysmally for the stupidest of reasons. Because sweat in the eye isn't heroic, isn't glorious, isn't even dramatic, but it's real life. And hey, recovering from an ignoble defeat caused by dumb luck is heroic, glorious, and all that other stuff. But you need to get hurt first.
Role Playing Story
I then spent forever and a day going on about system.
I'm not going nearly so heavily into heavily into story, however:
For most (though admittedly not all) gamers, the story is the point of the game. The story the combination of what all the characters and GM run non-player character are doing, and how it effects the world. The red blocks with the description of Balerue's situation - that's story.
Of course, when you're actually gaming the story isn't told quite to neatly -
A Role Playing Game
Putting Story and System Together
Tom and Alice are playing a one-on-one game of Legend of the Five Rings, Tom is the Game Master, and Alice is the only player. Alice's character is a gaijin warrior named Balerue, who has been trapped in a secret lair of the Spider Clan.
Tom: Alright, the door just slammed just, and you hear the latch slide into place. You hear a hiss from the corner, and see a greenish gas start to spread through the room.
Alice: (curses) I don't know what that gas is, and I don't want to know, I'm charging the door.
Tom: (rolls a few dice) Ok, you're already starting to feel a little woozy from the gas, roll your strength, you need to get 15.
Alice: (rolls) I got 14.
Tom: The latch is damaged, and the door opens a crack. You get a breath of fresh air. You also here some of the guards in the next room start yelling. They push the door shut, and you lose your fresh air.
Alice: I don't have much choice, I'm going to bull rush the door.
Tom: Alright, roll stength again (Tom and Alice both roll).
Alice: I got 6.
Tom: No good, the door doesn't budge. The gas is effecting you fully now, and you start to black out.
Some Other Good RP Lenses
Role Playing Poll
Lens Love Widget
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What Do You Know About RPGs?
Heard horror stories of cults and blood rituals?
Did you best friend tell you a crazy insane tale involving paladins and orcs?
Did you son leave a d4 in the middle of the living floor one day to cripple you by accident (improvised caltrop, +1 damage)?
How did you first hear about role playing games?
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awelldressedbullet
Feb 15, 2009 @ 6:54 am | delete
- I certainly learned something new! You also did a great job on the lens, well done! - Kathy
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Treasures-By-Brenda Jan 26, 2009 @ 5:54 am | delete
- My teenage sons have been playing a homemade game like D&D for about five years. Obviously, they love it although they tell me that they do not know how to play D&D because they have created their own game.
Brenda
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Charlyjl
Jan 25, 2009 @ 2:02 pm | delete
- My husband was an avid D&Der when I first met him (he would be now too, if he had the time!) and my son is picking up the torch! RPG's are great. I enjoy computer based RPGs and have played for many, many years myself.
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About Me
by Jessica_Burde
Currently residing in the Lehigh Valley, I am a mother, storyteller, gamer, geek, and amateur historian.
Never have managed to decide what I want to...
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Getting in the Mood
Kurosawa's Seven Samurai
Seven Samurai (The Criterion Collection)
Amazon Price: $31.83 (as of 06/04/2012)
Our feature RPG this month is a samurai fantasy - and there is nothing like a Kurosawa film to get your head into life as a samurai.
