After giving you all a little break from my columns, you now get to enjoy (or suffer through?) reading the third part of the “Nerdhobbies” series.
You have already heard a lot from me about “Role-Playing in MMOs“, but this hobby obviously goes further:
- Even outside the server worlds of SW:TOR or WoW, you can engage in role-playing, and often the experiences here are even more interesting, as there is no strictly predefined world, but you must rely entirely on your imagination – and on the “small” rule sets.
We are talking about “Pen&Paper” role-playing, which appropriately gets its name because you need nothing more than paper, a pencil, and a few dice to get started. In the following, I will try to make this type of role-playing appealing to you and provide a brief description.
Pen&Paper Introduction
Well, regarding the needed items, I may have held back a little. You also need 3-4 players, or a person to lead the game unless you wish to do it yourself. The game master can be imagined as a storyteller: They provide the framework for the story, incorporate tasks, rewards, and enemies into the narrative, ensure that the rules are followed, and take on the role of all NPCs – meaning any character not portrayed by a player.
Basically, there is only one rule for Pen&Paper: The game master is always right. Regardless of what any rulebook says, no matter what the dice result shows: In case of doubt, the game master is God and can override everything.
All others take on the role of a character – either the game master creates a character with each person individually, ensuring everything fits together, or the master creates their own selection of characters. Especially when trying to engage new players, it is advisable to provide them with ready-made characters so they can jump straight into the action. The creation of such characters generally follows the same principles as that of a role-playing character in an online game.
What exactly your “hero” can do is recorded on the character sheet, which most will already know from MMOs: Each character has attributes like “Strength”, “Stamina”, and “Willpower”. Pen&Paper goes even further into detail here, as there is a unique attribute for almost every possible action: picking locks, tracking, lying, or sneaking, almost everything is represented by a value.
What is the exact process?
Every game night is essentially an interactive story. The players decide what they want to do with their character, like visiting a tavern, breaking in somewhere, or simply living their everyday life. Dialogues are conducted by the players, who either converse with each other or with the NPCs via the game master.
Of course, players might also try to follow the game master’s storyline – but here too, there is a golden rule: If you give players option A, B, and C, they will choose E – the guiding person often has a tough job, which is why one should be lenient with “fresh” game masters.
The Power of the Dice
The character’s attributes come into play whenever a significant action is taken. A simple example: Halgrim the dwarf wants to try to pick a lock. The game master sets a difficulty value of 25. Halgrim has a picking locks value of 12 on his character sheet. Now Halgrim must use a D20 (a 20-sided die). He rolls a 15, which is then added to his value of 12 in picking locks, resulting in a total of 27.
Since 27 is above the difficulty of 25, the attempt is successful, and the lock opens, allowing the players to explore whatever lies behind the door.
Such and similar actions are often decided in all game areas through the use of a die, meaning there is always a certain element of chance determining success and failure – or the all-encompassing power of the game master.
Who is this for?
In Pen&Paper, there are hardly any limits, except for one’s imagination. Since there is a specific rule set for almost every major fantasy world, any taste can be catered to. Whether Warcraft, Star Wars, or “Vampire – The Masquerade”, the possible game worlds are limitless, as one can also play any other world with relatively little effort. For example, with the “Pathfinder” rule set, you could also represent a world like that of TERA or WildStar.
Thanks to the internet, it is even possible to hold a game session completely over Skype if the respective friends are not nearby – online dice programs make that and much more possible. Numerous rule sets for beginners are available for free on the internet, or “beginner kits” with pre-made characters and a short adventure can be tried out.
So let your imagination run wild, grab a few raid buddies, and start your own Pen&Paper campaign! And believe me: What seems difficult and cumbersome at the beginning will become an addiction after just a few game nights, as you increasingly identify with your character.
The RPC 2014: A Day Among Nerds – Just Like You and Me!
If you have nothing planned for the upcoming weekend and live within reach of Cologne, you should treat yourself to two days of abstinence from the computer and visit the annual “Role Play Convention” at the Cologne Exhibition Center. Both Saturday and Sunday, you can experience and try out news from the realm of “Role-Playing”: This includes table-top games, LARP, Pen&Paper, board games, and also a lot of cosplayers will be present. Of course, computer games also fall under this theme, and one or another manufacturer will also be represented with a booth and PCs for testing.
Moreover, there is also a large area for the medieval market, and the “gamer musician” Jan Hegenberg (“The Horde Runs”) will again hold a concert.
If you prefer something a bit macabre, it should be noted that the “Zombie Walk” will also take place in Cologne at the same time, which also moves through the RPC. More than 1000 people will dress up as zombies and pilgrimage around the cathedral.
You can view the RPC program booklet here to get an overview of the countless activities.
The tickets can usually still be bought on short notice on-site, so spontaneous visitors also get a chance to see everything.
This is my fifth RPC, so let me tell you: It’s worth it!
Have you already read my last columns?
Nerdhobbies Part 1: Game of Thrones.
Nerdhobbies Part 2: Anime.
