Roleplaying Games

A roleplaying game is a game where the participants assume the roles of a character. Each game has a formal system of rules and guidelines in which to play. Within these rules, the players have the freedom to act out their characters and choose the direction in which they want to guide their character in-game. There are three primary forms of roleplaying: pen and paper, live-action, and electronic media. With technology becoming more and more prevalent each day, will the new version of electronic media roleplaying games spell the end of old school pen and paper roleplaying games?

Pen and paper roleplaying games are often considered the precursor to the other two game types. The most popular of the pen and paper roleplaying games is Dungeons & Dragons, which was first published in 1974. Since the release of Dungeons & Dragons, the game has spawned an entire industry. The roleplaying industry includes book publishers, dice companies, miniatures companies, game developers, conventions, and much more.

Live-action roleplaying is often also referred to as LARPing. A live action roleplaying game is played out more like actors would act out their characters in an improvisational theatre. LARPs focus less on dice rolling and rulebook references, and more on the acting and theatrical side of roleplaying. Often LARPers will use rock-paper-scissors or a direct comparison of their attributes to resolve conflicts symbolically. This allows them to carry out their storyline which can take place in just a few hours or over the course of several weeks or months.

Electronic media roleplaying games come in several varieties, the most popular being the MMORPG (massively multiplayer online roleplaying game). In the MMORPG genre, the most popular games are World of Warcraft and Everquest. There are also other types of electronic media roleplaying games, such as online text-based roleplaying games, play-by-mail games, and play-by-post games. Finally, there are also computer-assisted roleplaying games which combine elements of traditional pen and paper roleplaying with PC gaming.

Roleplaying games are a form of storytelling and social interaction. The emphasis is less on competition like in board games, card games, and sports. Participants in roleplaying games will often create specific characters and take on the role of that character in an ongoing storyline. By following the rules laid out by their game, whether it is a pen and paper game, live-action game, or electronic media game, they are able to act out and tell their story within the confines of the game they are playing. The level of realism in the games ranges from just enough consistency to set up a believable story to a full-blown simulation of a real-world story.

When it comes to roleplaying games, many people will say that the electronic media versions of roleplaying games, such as the MMORPG World of Warcraft, are ushering in a new era of roleplaying. New gamers seem to be gravitating towards this new type of gaming over the old type of pen and paper roleplaying games that were typically played decades ago before the explosion of popularity with computer games and game consoles. Although pen and paper roleplaying can still be found, it seems that it is starting to become a game for a more aging and matured audience, while MMORPGs are grabbing the younger gamers.

Overall, the roleplaying games in the computer and video game industry are vastly overpowering and outselling the pen and paper roleplaying industry. However, although some people enjoy playing both, in general each industry seems to be catering to a different type of gamer. Although we may eventually see the end of printed books in favor of an electronic media format, it seems both pen and paper roleplaying games and online roleplaying games are here to stay.