Update

Work, work, work.

Not that I have too much work, mind. I have lots of free time. I have to make something of that time though! I don't mind a routine too much, but I also don't cherish the thought of doing the exact same thing at the exact same time every day until the end of the semester. So, I have decided to look up some courses (extracurricular) or maybe go to the gym a couple of days a week. I still remember that a Doctor told me that my back pains would be eased by proper excercise, so I guess I won't lose anything if I give it a try. :p

Right now I'm working on a Detective story, I won't be able to post it here, but, when I finish it, I'll send it to those interested.

Anyway, hopefully I will update again soon.

-Nya!

Well, about a week or so ago we roleplayed D&D again. I had one of THOSE days when you always seem to rol a 1 despite just how absurd it is for it to happen more than 2 times in less than an hour. While it was the subject of much amusement from the others it was annoying. Heh.

Anyway, I have talked about Role Playing here, but I have never really delved deeper into the meaning of Good roleplaying vs Bad Roleplaying and what Roleplaying actually is. As instruction material I would reccomend Commissioned Comic. Most important, besides the comic itself, are O's comments and blog.

Anyway, here's some hints. Wikipedia defines roleplaying as:

A role-playing game (RPG) is a type of game in which players assume the roles of characters and collaboratively create narratives. Gameplay progresses according to a predetermined system of rules and guidelines, within which players may improvise freely. Player choices shape the direction and outcome of role-playing games.

Role-playing games are typically more collaborative and social than competitive. A typical role-playing game unites its participants into a single team that adventures as a group. A role-playing game rarely has winners or losers. This makes role-playing games fundamentally different from board games, card games, sports and most other types of games. Like novels or films, role-playing games appeal because they engage the imagination.

Computer games incorporating gameplay mechanics from role-playing games are referred to as computer role-playing games, or CRPGs. Due to the popularity of CRPGs, the terms "role-playing game" and "RPG" have both to some degree been co-opted by the computer gaming industry; as a result, traditional non-digital pastimes of this sort are increasingly being referred to as pen and paper role-playing games (PnP RPG or PPRPG) or tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG).

Now. The basic concept of Role Playing is explained above. Online RPGs (such as forums, choose your own adventure-types, online chats) are much more different than the Pen and Paper RPGs which is the one I play and I will be reffering to through this post, and again, it works differently from LARPS (Live Action Role Playing Games).

The books. Well, I have heard several people tell me that they don't really role-play because whenever they see the books, such as the "Player's Handbook" they grow discouraged by the amount of pages it contains. Let me put it this way.
There are several ways to understand RPGs. Here are a few...
You can sit down and read the books.
You can sit down and play and learn the rules through practice.
You can sit down, have a coffee, and talk it over with someone that has actually played before.
You can sit down and observe a gaming session.

To be honest my opinion is that all of them are important. I have been told I am a pretty good roleplayer (ok, so I am a great role-player) but I have NEVER in more than 12 years of roleplaying read ANY core book from cover to cover in one sit. I learnt by playing with more experienced people, by observation, by talking. I borrowed the books, and looked into them.

Some people complain when a player or Dungeon Master (DM), or Storyteller gets into the books to check a detail. Why complain? It's not about sticking to the rules, it's about having fun. More often than not the DM will just do what advances the story more efficiently or help the players have more fun.

That has to do with the Dinamic of the game. If you have all agreed to play Vampire: The Masquerade in a serious, dark context, fall into character and play like so. Keep aside jokes to the minimum. But, if it is a relaxed, let's have fun game, 70% of the time might be spent making snide remarks to other players and get answered, "Well, who rolled the 1 and dropped the scimitar on his foot?" It's all in good humor.

Another thing that I have seen, sadly lots of times and even recently, in some players that claim to have a certain experience, is that they role-play ALL and I mean ALL their characters EXACTLY the same way. Hint: Remember, everyone might be hearing your normal voice, but in their minds, and to their characters eyes, it is SOMEONE ELSE that is doing the actions or saying the things.

Your character is another, completely different person. What you know, even what you consider common sense, might be something completely usless or unknown to your character. No two characters should be exactly the same. Particularly if you are playing more than one setting and more importantly if the settings are completely different, you are playing a different species and/or sex.

Anyway, I'll leave you with a couple of tests and some links you can check to find more about Role Playing.

-Nya!

This first test I answered with Akasha Sunhorn in mind, since the type of answer would depend completely on the character.




Find your Role-Playing
Stereotype at mutedfaith.com.


This other, for example is the result with my character "Ryan" from a Final Fantasy VI RPG I played a few years ago. It completely fits her! :p




Find your Role-Playing
Stereotype at mutedfaith.com.

Your Ultimate Roleplaying Purity Score
Category	Your Score	Average
Hacklust	50% Will kill for XP	53.5%
Sensitive Roleplaying	20.25% All the game's your stage	54.6%
GM Experience	68.84% Ran a module once or twice	69.5%
Systems Knowledge	86.86% Played in a couple of campaigns	90.4%
Livin' La Vida Dorka	60.92% Goes nuts on the weekends	63.3%
You are 61.86% pure Average Score: 68.8%
Take The Ultimate Roleplaying Purity Test and see how you match up! (By The Ferrett)

LINKS:

Wikipedia (You know what Wikipedia is.)
White Wolf (Vampire, Werewolf, Mage, etc.)
Wizards of the Coast (Dungeons and Dragons, Forgotten Realms, Alternity, etc.)

Saint Seiya!

Is it already 16 years since we saw this TV series in Mexico? Seems like a long time, but yet, the memories of the series that brought so many people into Anime, and accompanied many of my generation's younger years and taught us so many things, among them the "never give up your dreams and hopes" lesson -for those that chose to listen- remains clear in my mind.
True, it was recently butchered by American dubbing and worse; editing, when taken to the USA, and sadly it was too late for many people that got exposed to that sad imitiation of its former self to trully understand what this series was about.

Anyway, few years ago the last part of the Saint Seiya Manga, the Hades, was brought into anime. The Sanctuary Chapters were incredibly well done, and most importantly, fast paced. While we eagerly awaited the rest of it someone fished out "Starway to Heaven" which is an OVA series that was supposed to follow AFTER all of Hades was finished.

But now, after having to wait a couple more years, Saint Seiya: Inferno is finally out! Apparently 6 episodes long for the first part of Hell and already blood is boiling (and splashing) as Seiya and the gang follow Athena's and Shaka's lead. I am extremely happy that the series is again on its way!

Way to go, Kurumada!

-Nya!