How do you Roleplay?

[BP]

How much of you or your players game play is 'in-character'?

-By in-character include describing actions as well as talking (i.e. acting - accents, colloquialisms, etc.).
-Out of character would include stating stats, skill checks, and other game mechanics directly.

NOTE: This poll isn't refering to referees - but referees are encouraged to answer regarding their players.

 

[rust]

I did not quite know how to vote. My players only rarely act their player
characters' roles (accents, gestures ...) and "third person" is used more
often than "first person", but we also try to avoid to mention game me-
chanics - and especially game mechanics numbers - during the game.

 

[BP]

I did not quite know how to vote. ...

Used 'in-character' to try and describe role-playing versus say traditional board game type playing. Are they moving the pieces or are they being the pieces?

First person would generally be in-character. Third person can go either way - though generally would be out of character.

In-character examples:

• I'm picking the lock. (rolls)
  Couldn't do it.
  -or (more in-character)-
  "Standback - I'll get us through." (rolls)
  "Darn - I think I broke a nail - do we really need through this door?'

Out of character example:

• My guy attemps to pick the lock. (rolls)
  I failed the check.
  -or-
  I'll use my Lockpick-3. (rolls)
  Only got a 4.

Kept the answers broad - since this is a matter of opinion - some may only consider example 2 in-character, while others might include example 3 as in-character. Your vote would probably be 'Less than half.' either way.

 

[rust]

Yep, thank you - "Less than half". :wink:

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

I used to be frantic about not being proven to be 'wrong' or not wholly in posession of all the facts and data. This was the early days, after all.

After a while, I relaxed and the group as a whole became more informal, drifting from roleplaying, to mechanic driven conversation and back again, its the best way I find. If a GM admits that hes falible, players tend to become more understanding and helpful themselves.

We just try to avoid metagame thinking, but, the primary motivation of characters is to survive, and the primary motivation of the players is to aid them in that wish.

So, a bit of a mix.

 

[Dave Chase]

As much as needed based on the players in the game.

Prefer more in character but not at the exspense of having a boring game.

Dave Chase

 

[BP]

...Prefer more in character but not at the exspense of having a boring game.

Too much 'in-character' is boring? (All talk and no action?)

 

[rust]

Well, there is a certain kind of roleplayer ...

"To go or not to go, that is the question - whether it is nobler in the mind
to suffer the slings and arrows of those outrageous primitive Vargr, or to ..."

 

[BP]

Ah! I see (referee situation #176) :lol:

'... and thus, I say, being as intuitive as ...'
Uhm - Larry. Larry! You suddenly feel a very violent prick in your neck - and instantly you lose your voice. Roll to see if you manage to swat the insect...
'Gee - Larry, first at the starport, then on the Queen of the Skys and now at the bar. Those bugs really seem to like you!'

 

[rust]

Yep.

I really like drama, now and then even opera (if they only would stop
singing, it ruins the story ...), but as a referee I see it as my job to en-
sure that every player character gets his time at "centre stage", as well
as each of the important NPCs, and that the plot moves on, at least to a
point where it makes sense to end the session.

It can sometimes be great fun to have a player describe details of his
character's feelings, motivations and thelike, but just as often it tends
to steal "spotlight time" from other players' characters, or to slow down
the plot too much to keep it really interesting for all the players.

Therefore I usually try to keep at least this kind of "in-character play"
out of the actual adventures and to make it a part of the "after adven-
ture chat" instead, when those who like it can listen to it, while all the
others "must go now because they have to get up early".

 

[BP]

... as a referee I see it as my job to en-
sure that every player character gets his time ...

Ah! Referee Golden Rule #3!

Like a great many things, roleplay 'acting' can benefit from moderation!

(And things other than RPGs could benefit from good refereeing. Case in point - just finished watching an older movie - must have been made before acting was invented :?. At least the cervezas were good!)

Cheers!

 

[zozotroll]

As much incharecter as the players can hancle. Some people can do it all the time, some are not comfortable with it if it would keep them from going to jail. The players, not the charecteras.

 

[Rex]

My players have figured out that the more Out of Character you are.....well, in a Space RPG, only the other people at the table can hear you scream.

~Rex