Comments on: Psycholigical motives of a character’s choice http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/ Your source of extra RPG knowledge. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:31:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: RPG Thoughts - Where are the Orcs ?! http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-286 RPG Thoughts - Where are the Orcs ?! Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:37:14 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-286 [...] of half-orcs was one of the biggest disadvantages of newest DnD edition for me. I am a real orc-barbarian-lover, absence of my favourite race really hurts. However, I am not going to write about my sadness [...] […] of half-orcs was one of the biggest disadvantages of newest DnD edition for me. I am a real orc-barbarian-lover, absence of my favourite race really hurts. However, I am not going to write about my sadness […]

]]> By: Maikl http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-119 Maikl Tue, 13 May 2008 14:00:27 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-119 Well, I enjoy killing innocents sometimes... But usually I quick-save first, than kill, than load the game. Well, I enjoy killing innocents sometimes… But usually I quick-save first, than kill, than load the game.

]]> By: Termite http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-118 Termite Tue, 13 May 2008 11:24:10 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-118 I have to agree that it would largely depend on things that the person cannot do in real life. I'm not RPG expert so I'll just give a Video Game example (Being that is my area of knowledge :P) In all Open-ended games (Oblivion, Morrowind, GTA, etc) the first impulse that many people get (Developers have confirmed this) is to randomly kill people. There are large threads on forums in Morrowind websites where people show the imaginative ways in which they have killed the first person you typically meet in the game, most of them saying they killed him quite soon after starting the game. Obviously games and RPG's are both involved in letting a person do what he/she cannot normally do. I would say however that some people indeed do like playing as characters that are similar to themselves in real life instead of the opposite. All depends on what kind of person you are and what you enjoy I guess :P I have to agree that it would largely depend on things that the person cannot do in real life. I’m not RPG expert so I’ll just give a Video Game example (Being that is my area of knowledge :P)

In all Open-ended games (Oblivion, Morrowind, GTA, etc) the first impulse that many people get (Developers have confirmed this) is to randomly kill people. There are large threads on forums in Morrowind websites where people show the imaginative ways in which they have killed the first person you typically meet in the game, most of them saying they killed him quite soon after starting the game.

Obviously games and RPG’s are both involved in letting a person do what he/she cannot normally do. I would say however that some people indeed do like playing as characters that are similar to themselves in real life instead of the opposite.

All depends on what kind of person you are and what you enjoy I guess :P

]]> By: Maikl http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-108 Maikl Sat, 10 May 2008 16:41:29 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-108 Wow. It's getting serious. I think that more important is how you act in the game, not what class you choose. But, as I stated in the silly post, it is a really big topic. Wow. It’s getting serious. I think that more important is how you act in the game, not what class you choose. But, as I stated in the silly post, it is a really big topic.

]]> By: Tommi http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-107 Tommi Sat, 10 May 2008 14:28:08 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-107 Michal: Like Sien said, it is not that every class signifies something about the real life. Rather you can play a confident character in game and when preparing for some task in real life get into the mindset of that character and maybe pick up a bit of confidence yourself. For example, that is. Michal: Like Sien said, it is not that every class signifies something about the real life.

Rather you can play a confident character in game and when preparing for some task in real life get into the mindset of that character and maybe pick up a bit of confidence yourself. For example, that is.

]]> By: Sien http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-106 Sien Sat, 10 May 2008 12:06:18 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-106 Class choice is part of the character choice. It's not that every class is a specific thing, but rather that the different classes appeal to most players since together they encompass the different things you might want to do. There are the Paladin and the Rogue classes in D&D which are somewhat opposites. This is because naturally people want to play these characters. I'm not saying that a single class is meant to fulfill one thing, but rather that the classes together enable any choice of character the player does conform with the standards. It should also be observed that the setting in most RPGs (at least in the past) is not the same as the modern world. It seems very obvious but it really shouldn't be. Players want to do actions and be placed in positions that are not likely to happen in the real world. It is called fantasy because that's what it is. Another evidence is that fantasy worlds in RPGs are idealized. In D&D you ignore the actual historical facts of life in the middle ages, and there are often many unexplained things (magic, gods, etc.). Playing in a modern world setting is probably different from fantastic settings thus: when playing fantasy, players can do things they completely can't in real life, while in modern settings, players can do things that they *can* do in real life but just don't dare to (I think). Class choice is part of the character choice. It’s not that every class is a specific thing, but rather that the different classes appeal to most players since together they encompass the different things you might want to do. There are the Paladin and the Rogue classes in D&D which are somewhat opposites. This is because naturally people want to play these characters. I’m not saying that a single class is meant to fulfill one thing, but rather that the classes together enable any choice of character the player does conform with the standards.

It should also be observed that the setting in most RPGs (at least in the past) is not the same as the modern world. It seems very obvious but it really shouldn’t be. Players want to do actions and be placed in positions that are not likely to happen in the real world. It is called fantasy because that’s what it is. Another evidence is that fantasy worlds in RPGs are idealized. In D&D you ignore the actual historical facts of life in the middle ages, and there are often many unexplained things (magic, gods, etc.).

Playing in a modern world setting is probably different from fantastic settings thus: when playing fantasy, players can do things they completely can’t in real life, while in modern settings, players can do things that they *can* do in real life but just don’t dare to (I think).

]]> By: Maikl http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-105 Maikl Sat, 10 May 2008 11:37:27 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-105 Tommi said: "It sometimes helps in real life, when used properly." Well, I have heard that some psychologists use RPG as a therapy in treating some fobias etc. But I wouldn't go that far, to say that every class choice fulfill some secret dreams or fears... Tommi said: “It sometimes helps in real life, when used properly.”

Well, I have heard that some psychologists use RPG as a therapy in treating some fobias etc.
But I wouldn’t go that far, to say that every class choice fulfill some secret dreams or fears…

]]> By: Sien http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-98 Sien Fri, 09 May 2008 23:55:19 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-98 The actual choice of character is also influenced by other factors, such as past events relating to a certain race/class/whatever and the amount of work it needs to manage that character. However, the in-game rules don't do very much to limit the resulting character, so you can choose pretty much any class and find some way to create the same character. Classes, in systems where they exist, make the job easier on us since they provide stereotypes from which we can derive our wanted character. But very often you encounter characters who are "not a regular barbarian" or "not a regular druid", etc. The meaning of the different stereotypes is also different from player to player, and more specifically, from group to group. The associations we have with rules-specific choices don't affect the behavior of the character very much in the end. The actual choice of character is also influenced by other factors, such as past events relating to a certain race/class/whatever and the amount of work it needs to manage that character. However, the in-game rules don’t do very much to limit the resulting character, so you can choose pretty much any class and find some way to create the same character. Classes, in systems where they exist, make the job easier on us since they provide stereotypes from which we can derive our wanted character. But very often you encounter characters who are “not a regular barbarian” or “not a regular druid”, etc. The meaning of the different stereotypes is also different from player to player, and more specifically, from group to group. The associations we have with rules-specific choices don’t affect the behavior of the character very much in the end.

]]> By: ScottM http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-97 ScottM Fri, 09 May 2008 22:15:03 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-97 Hmm, I suspect it's actually measuring other things as well. If you're tired on game night, or aren't up to "dealing with more paperwork" then you might pick a simpler class-- Barbarian, Fighter, etc. all work well. The same thing can be true even among casters-- the spontaneous casters are good for making choices between sessions (when picking spells learned), while daily spell memorizers require frequent in session thought-- every morning/dawn/spell prep time. I know which one I have the patience to manage... Hmm, I suspect it’s actually measuring other things as well. If you’re tired on game night, or aren’t up to “dealing with more paperwork” then you might pick a simpler class– Barbarian, Fighter, etc. all work well.

The same thing can be true even among casters– the spontaneous casters are good for making choices between sessions (when picking spells learned), while daily spell memorizers require frequent in session thought– every morning/dawn/spell prep time. I know which one I have the patience to manage…

]]> By: Tommi http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-95 Tommi Fri, 09 May 2008 21:12:12 +0000 http://www.rpgthoughts.com/psycholigical-motives-of-a-characters-chocie-2/#comment-95 I wouldn't say that is scientific, but probably true to a large extent. (Never say everyone.) I prefer to call it practice. It sometimes helps in real life, when used properly. I wouldn’t say that is scientific, but probably true to a large extent. (Never say everyone.)

I prefer to call it practice. It sometimes helps in real life, when used properly.

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