SubjectRe: [dq] Game dynamics
FromJohanna and Hamish
DateSun, 19 Feb 2006 09:46:59 +1300
> Seems a little harsh, Jim, as some may not see the evil grin spreading
across
> your face... You may find time or priorities could be more of an
impediament
> than application. I am certain Hamish will announce when he is able to...
:-D


I'm not grinning.

That might reveal the fangs.

Jim.

LOL 

Hamish


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SubjectRe: [dq] Game dynamics
FromJohanna and Hamish
DateSun, 19 Feb 2006 10:07:17 +1300
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>A story-focused role player will be what you call an 'action gamer'. Story
>is

>the development of character in the face of an unfolding event or events.
>Role

>playing games are story-telling events where there is interactive dialog

>between players and the DM. The 'action gamer' has become involved in the
>story

>and is expressing their character's nature.

 

>Story is the way a character changes in response to, in our case, stimulus
>from

>the DM. Two dimensional characters are created when their properties and

>responses are delivered rather than played. Three dimensionality is a
>function

>of interacting.

 

>Being a good DM isn't much about rules. It is about knowing how to engineer

>tension and drama, how to create situations where players are forced to
>make

>real decisions, decisions that reveal the nature of the character to the
>rest

>of the group. It's about taking an active hand in the development of a
>player

>character, so that that character reflects something special and different

>which makes the game more rewarding and engaging.

 

Yep I agree with this - role playing is an active endeavor where we 'be' the
character we are attempting to portray rather than talking about it.

 

Picking up bread crumbs of the bar room floor could probably be role played
with great hilarity but talking about how you picked up bread crumbs last
week is likely to leave the rest of the participants cold.

 

The GM job is to create a story which requires the players to express their
characters personalities in action, rather than talking about it. A key GM
skill is the ability to create dramatic tension - I think in all kind of
games, perhaps in some games you have dramatic tension less of the time -
this is a preference thing.

 

The point of my original email really is to highlight how some of the
dynamics we experience may get created.  If we do this then it is a small
step to creating something different, which we enjoy more.

 

Hamish      

 

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<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;A story-focused role player will be what you call an 'action
gamer'. Story &gt;is<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;the development of character in the face of an unfolding =
event or
events. &gt;Role<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;playing games are story-telling events where there is =
interactive
dialog<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;between players and the DM. The 'action gamer' has become =
involved
in the &gt;story<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;and is expressing their character's =
nature.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;Story is the way a character changes in response to, in our =
case,
stimulus &gt;from<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;the DM. Two dimensional characters are created when their
properties and<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;responses are delivered rather than played. Three =
dimensionality is
a &gt;function<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;of interacting.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;Being a good DM isn't much about rules. It is about knowing =
how to
engineer<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;tension and drama, how to create situations where players =
are
forced to &gt;make<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;real decisions, decisions that reveal the nature of the =
character
to the &gt;rest<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;of the group. It's about taking an active hand in the =
development
of a &gt;player<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;character, so that that character reflects something special =
and
different<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&gt;which makes the game more rewarding and =
engaging.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'>Yep I agree with this &#8211; role =
playing
is an active endeavor where we &#8216;be&#8217; the character we are =
attempting
to portray rather than talking about it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=


<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'>Picking up bread crumbs of the bar =
room
floor could probably be role played with great hilarity but talking =
about how
you picked up bread crumbs last week is likely to leave the rest of the
participants cold.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=


<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'>The GM job is to create a story =
which
requires the players to express their characters personalities in =
action,
rather than talking about it. A key GM skill is the ability to create =
dramatic
tension &#8211; I think in all kind of games, perhaps in some games you =
have
dramatic tension less of the time &#8211; this is a preference =
thing.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=


<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'>The point of my original email =
really is to
highlight how some of the dynamics we experience may get created.&nbsp; =
If we
do this then it is a small step to creating something different, which =
we enjoy
more.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>=


<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Courier =
New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'>Hamish =
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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style=3D'font-size:
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