by Joel P. Shempert

Created on: December 24, 2008

To get the most out of roleplaying games, you should know what you want out of them in the first place. This is probably the single most neglected step of organizing and playing an RPG, based on the vague notion that everyone will just do what they want to do and it will all come together somehow. The idea that everyone "just knows" what good roleplaying is can be damaging and frustrating unless critically examined. Roleplaying is such a versatile and diverse hobby that it pays to know what you're getting into.

So before you start worrying about where to assign your skill points and deciding between the Shadowblade or Felldancer classes, or plotting out the five-point master plan of your evil Half-Werewolf Lich-lord of the Underdepths, it's vital to follow these three steps:

1) Talk to your players.

2) Talk to your players.

3) Talk to your players.

How this happens is personal, and different for every group. A formal conference with an agenda, perhaps questionairres, might work for some, but be too stiff for others. Perhaps a casual dinner at home, a pizza place or a pub, would be an inviting setting for the talk. Or maybe a series of group emails. Whatever. The important part is to get everyone, as equals ("players" includes GM for this purpose), talking. And not just about, y'know, whether a Shadowblade is better than a Felldancer, either. Folks need to talk about what they enjoy most in a game, and (gasp!) WHY. This might take some digging, but try to peel back the layers. If you find yourself saying, "Well, I like it when I have a +3 sword because I can hit better," you're still scratching the surface. Try asking yourself, "what is it about hitting better that I like?" Is it because you like the thrill of killing or beating a lot of enemies? Is it the warm feeling of accomplishment of triumphing over adversity? Relief at not "dying" and thus losing your well-loved character? The sense of adherence to a beloved genre trope? The expression of something vital and meaningful about that character?

The fact is, there are tons of posible modes of playing roleplaying games, each providing their own particular form of enjoyment or fulfillment. Some are more escapist, some more cathartic. Some more lighthearted, some more grim. Some more broad and thrilling, some more quiet and intimate. You can play for casual, low-commitment leisure with your friends, or for the sheer joy of building and exploring an imaginary world, or for cutthroat competition with all the intensity

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