What Is A Roleplaying Game?

Hello, and welcome to episode 1 of D20 Advice.

First of all, I'm going to talk to you about what a roleplaying game is, and that's the theme for this week.

Roleplaying games cover a whole plethora of materials such as Live Action Roleplaying Games, Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games, and Computer Roleplaying games.
Some game mechanics considered to be roleplaying game mechanics are utilised in a whole manner of game systems. A lot of computer games these days are using character development mechanics in first person shooters and adventure games, even fighting games. These have roleplaying game elements, but aren't necessarily roleplaying games.
In this blog we're going to concentrate on Pen and Paper roleplaying games, and the D20 system primarily. I would love to branch off and do other systems, but for now I'll stick with this and see how we go.

I'm going to introduce 4 primary concerns of the game mechanics in D20 roleplaying games that often are split into more specialised categories or overgeneralised in their descriptions. This makes it hard for new players to know what each thing really does and encourages them to go through the motions in their first few games. I feel that this is the wrong path to take, and that in fact to get real enjoyment from the games you need to understand why each thing is there, what its purpose is, so you can start your first game knowing who and what you are, what your function is and what you can do.

The 4 primary concerns are what a GM is, what a Player is, why we use Dice and how to use this information.

To start off with, in a D20 roleplaying game you will need at least 2 people to play as the two types of player in the game. The first type often acts alone, and is called the GM, or Games Master. This person sets the scene for the other type of player, referred to as a Player. These control usually one Player Character.
Player Characters, or PCs, have character sheets which are essentially just pieces of paper with writing on. The numbers say what to add to a roll of the dice, and everything else helps you work out what the character can do, such as fight with two swords or cast spells or breathe water.
Players tell the GM what their PCs do and say during whatever the GM says is going on, and a story is told between everyone.

No story is complete without danger, and the most fun is had when there's a chance of failure. It's like when you see the first part of a film trilogy and you know a character survives to the end. It's less tense when they enter the snake pit because you know what will ultimately happen. It's much more tense when it's the final chapter and they could die at any moment.
In roleplaying games, your PC could die at any moment. Anything could happen at any turn. There are so many deciding factors for the outcome of things, that it sometimes appears random. To replicate this, we use dice to create random outcomes. You roll a die, usually a D20, and add whatever number on your sheet is most appropriate. Your GM can help you with this. The final result is what you scored.

How does all of this fit together? We'll use this example.
I'll be the GM, and you are a Player playing a PC who is the fighting type. They're good at it, and they're known for it. From here on out, I'll use the word "you" to refer to both you as a player and your PC to aid in the immersion. It's what GM's do.
You're in a town square and you're looking around. I ask you to make a Spot check to find out if you spot anything. You roll a D20 and get a 13. You're not the most observant, but you still have +2 to your Spot skill on your sheet, so that means you scored a 15. As a GM, I decide that's enough to notice a thief on the other side of the square picking a pocket.
Congratulations, you've succeeded at your first check.

From this point on the story progresses with the Player deciding what to do next and the GM deciding and explaining what happens. The PC could go over and attack the thief, or just call for the authorities, or ignore this completely and check out the local tavern. The choice is yours.

I'll expand on all of these concepts in future posts. To help pick what gets covered next week, and to say what you think so far or even just to have a few questions answered, just e-mail me: D20Advice@live.co.uk.
I've been your host Drew Murray, and this is D20 Advice; Here to Help.
Have a nice day.