Tabletop RPG Elements

TABLETOP SYSTEMS

or  “When I was your age, video games were called books!”

Tabletop RPG is: 

A game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters.

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Participants determine the actions of their  characters based on their characterization,

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…and the actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines.

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Within the rules, players have the freedom to improvise. Their choices shape the direction and outcome of the game.

It’s about the books… For each tabletop role-playing game system, there are one or more books.

*This is the exception to the “If it isn’t interactive, write a book”  rule I’m always on about.

 Nearly every one of them… …has an introduction section explaining what the purpose of a tabletop RPG is. …contains the specific “core rules” and mechanics of the game. …provides an overview of the game world. …provides instructions on character creation and a “character sheet” template …provides everything needed to play the game.

Three types of books: 

Core Books (“Core Rules”, “Rule Books”, etc.)

The main book with the rules. r ules. Sometimes Sometimes this is split into two books like “D&D” or “Burning Wheel”  

Source Books

 Additional books that provide further elaboration on the game world. This can be additional character  information, information, additional settings, advanced rules, or  scenario ideas.

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Scenario Books

(“Adventure Books” & “Modules”)

One or more pre-designed adventures or storylines for a gamemaster  to play with his or her players.

Some Vocabulary: 

RPG: Role Playing Game

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LARP: Live Action RPG

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PC: Player Character 

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NPC: Non-Player Character 

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GM: Gamemaster 

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DM: Dungeonmaster (D&D)

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D2, D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, D20, D100: Dice where X equals the number of sides

It’s all about the System… 

D6 or D20? Other?

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Dice Pool or Single Roll?

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Simple or Complex Math involved?

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Simple or Complex Rules involved?

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Which Rules Version?

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Which Source Books?

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How Long will each session take?

The Basics 

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Source: Wikipedia

Most role-playing games are conducted like radio drama: only the spoken component is acted. In most games, one o ne specially designated player, player, the game master (GM), creates a setting in which each player plays the role of a single character. The GM describes the game world and its inhabitants; the other players describe the intended actions of their characters, and the GM describes the outcomes. Some outcomes are determined by the game system, and some are chosen by the GM. There is a variety of role-playing game in which players do perform their characters' physical actions, known as live action role-playing games (LARP).

The Dice: In most RPG systems, most non-trivial actions require dice rolls. Most RPGs roll a fixed number of dice, add a number to the die roll based on the character's attributes and skills, and compare the resulting number with a difficulty rating. However, in some systems the character's attributes and skills determine the number of dice to be rolled.

Source: Wikipedia

Dice Pool: Dice pool systems generally use a single type of die, the most common being six- or ten-sided dice (d6s or  d10s), though in some games a character's Attributes or Skills may determine the size of the dice in the pool, as well as their number (Deadlands ( Deadlands is an example). While such games may require different sized dice for different rolls, the dice in a given pool are usually all of the same size (Serenity  (Serenity is is an example of an exception to this). Source: Wikipedia

It’s all about the Campaign… Modules/Scenarios or Freeform it?  Rail Campaign or Player-Led?  “One-shot” or extended campaigns?  Party size? “Lone wolf” it?  Time and Place? (Setting)  Pre-set or Original World?  Starting Character Level?  Character Generation Method?  Will you Physrep? 

It’s all about the character…          

•Feats •Talents Traits •Languages Stats •Beliefs Attributes Characteristics •Instincts •Life Path Skills •Encumbrances Hit points •Advantages Condition Defense Rating •Disadvantages •Quirks Equipment Level

•Initiative •Ability •Action Points •Movement •Senses •Race •Alignment •Class •Attacks •Powers

Four Basics: 

Qualities

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Abilities

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Statistics

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“Personality”

(Yes, sadly this is optional)

Four Basics: 

Qualities

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Statistics

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Abilities

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Personality

Four Basics: 

Qualities



Statistics



Abilities



Personality

Four Basics: 

Qualities



Statistics



Abilities



Personality

Four Basics: 

Qualities

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Statistics

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Abilities

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Personality 

The catch: 

Munchkin: Plays in an aggressively competitive manner within the context of the game to amass the greatest power, score the most "kills," and grab the most loot, no matter how deleterious their actions are to role-playing, the storyline, fairness, logic, or  the other players' fun.

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Minmaxer: Lives by the decision rule used in decision theory, game theory, statistics and philosophy for minimizing the maximum possible loss by calculating possibilities mathematically.

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Twink: Power levels a character, through the assistance of a higher level character or the use of otherwise unattainable high level equipment; or the process of keeping ke eping a video game character at a low level while using in-game currency, earned by a high level character, to provide it with superior equipment.

Tabletop RPG is: 

A game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters.



Participants determine the actions of their  characters based on their characterization,



…and the actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines.



Within the rules, players have the freedom to improvise. Their choices shape the direction and outcome of the game.

HW: 

Begin looking for a tabletop RPG (not ( not boardgame) you want to do an in-depth in -depth review of  (Deliverable 2). It can’t be one of the ones we will do at length in class. (If you are poor, see the blog for some free fr ee game downloads.)

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Look over the following two web comics and comment about them on the blog: DM of the Rings Darths and Droids