Sunday, February 6, 2011

Mapping into the Character

Here's something that I think is important about traditional RPG design - player actions should map into character actions. Why does rolling the dice not break immersion? Because it maps directly into something the character is doing. the character is using a weapon, or defusing a bomb, or casting a spell. Rolling the dice maps into that action.

Just a thought that came to me.

-clash

4 comments:

  1. One reason, I dislike mechanics that take too long to resolve, or requires TOO much attention to the mechanic rather than the PC action.

    I due try to be pretty tight in connecting play elements of the game to the fictional actions.

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  2. Exactly, Tim! You certainly do, and it's one reason why your games, while unconventional, are still traditional.

    -clash

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  3. I think this also applies to the management of gameworld resources (rations, hit points) versus metagame resources like fate points.

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  4. I agree entirely! Managing things that are part of or belong to the character feels entirely different from managing things that are not really there in the game.

    -clash

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