Gamer or Player?

[timm meyers]

(This is an offshoot of the expanding discussion on the house rules board topic "Leveling up skills")

Pondering the motivations and rewards we gain from participating in an RPG and how this effects our games. I see two different aspects of play that are prominent factors.

"Gamer"- Studies the factors, rules, and systems of the game. Enjoys the mental contest, testing their strategies, and achieving well defined goals/wins.

"Player"- Studies the genre, story, or world building aspect of the game. Enjoys giving agency to their PC or adventure and achieving goals/wins based on personal or unregulated objectives.

These two aspects are not exclusive to one another and all of us employ both in greater and lesser degrees. Example. The 90% Gamer 10% Player is keen on the process and analytical to any outcome. They focus on the trees of a mythical forest location as a series of modifiers to their ballistic skill. The 10% Gamer 90% player is enthralled with the tantalizing mythical environment of the forest while practically ignoring the tactical detriment of the trees.
(can anyone see my poor attempt at the analogy of "One can't see the forest for the trees while the other can't see the trees for the forest")

So when designing a character, we all approach the process within the same guidance of the rule system but with slightly different end goals. Our “Gamer” side seeks to min/max the defense and damage and project optimal outcomes for future adventures. Our “Player” side seeks ways to reflect or amplify the ideas and story of a fantasy we wish to experience.

Informal poll time.
When designing your PC are you more Gamer or Player?

I am going to say I am 30% Gamer and 70% Player.

[tomc]

20% Gamer. 80% Player

[Shostak]

I’d like to think that I’m 10% Gamer/90% Player, but in reality the ratio is probably more like 30:70.

That said, I think that three factors significantly influence that ratio. The demands of a campaign’s core activity is especially important. For instance, a campaign focusing on combat encourages a more Gamer approach. Closely tied to this is what the GM tends to reward (both XP and in-game-narrative benefits). And, I’ve found that supporting new players can lead to early sessions emphasizing mechanics, which in turn can push things in a Gamer direction.

[whswhs]

In terms of the listed categories, I would say 40% Gamer/60% Player.

However, I think there's a third category, which I'll call Modeler: The person who wants the game world to represent the objects and processes that exist in the real world, or believable analogs of these in an altered world. The person who wants to work out fictional languages, like J. R. R. Tolkien or M. A. R. Barker, or who wants to develop a detailed alternate history, or who thinks about the biomechanics of imaginary creatures.

In those terms, I'd say I'm about 15% Gamer, 40% Player, and 45% Modeler.

[timm meyers]

Legolas (LOTR) as a PC would be a 90% Gamer and 10% Player. I would have fun making super shots and fighting evil but probably get kinda bored outside of combat. ie his "player" side seems limited or not much motivation beyond being an elf.

Sam G. (LOTR) as a PC would be a 20/80. Not much fun in combat but still skilled in a few mundane/travel talents. I would probably get more long-term enjoyment from his super loyalty quirk, bravery tests and other self-imposed character goals.

Elric (M. Moorcock eternal champion) as a PC is probably a 50/50. This PC would be a joy to play in all aspects. Has enough stats and skills to be confident when in danger (especially when he gains his magic sword!). His personal situation and innate weaknesses would be a never-ending struggle to manage, so lots of fun there.

[Drakenbow]

meehhh.... was about 70 player / 30 gamer (gotta learn the rules)

now trying to get back into some gaming it's about 10 player / 30 gamer / 60 wondering if the others are able to get online. haha

[timm meyers]

Originally Posted by whswhs

In terms of the listed categories, I would say 40% Gamer/60% Player.

However, I think there's a third category, which I'll call Modeler: The person who wants the game world to represent the objects and processes that exist in the real world, or believable analogs of these in an altered world. The person who wants to work out fictional languages, like J. R. R. Tolkien or M. A. R. Barker, or who wants to develop a detailed alternate history, or who thinks about the biomechanics of imaginary creatures.

In those terms, I'd say I'm about 15% Gamer, 40% Player, and 45% Modeler.

Thats a great point!
I would think that the "Modeler" category shares allot of aspects with the "Gamer". Analyzing factors and seeking balance to Model a world build or reality simulation is extremely rewarding (and important imho).
Perhaps the "Modeler" is more from a GM perspective as opposed to a PC perspective.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by timm meyers

Thats a great point!
I would think that the "Modeler" category shares allot of aspects with the "Gamer". Analyzing factors and seeking balance to Model a world build or reality simulation is extremely rewarding (and important imho).
Perhaps the "Modeler" is more from a GM perspective as opposed to a PC perspective.

I'll agree that there is synergy between the modeler and the gamer, in that the game rules are a language in which to express the world model. On the other hand, for me, at least, the "player" or story aspect ideally emerges out of the model, so there's synergy there, too.

Certainly as a GM I do a lot of modeling. (Back in the 1980s, a player in one of my campaigns told me, "Bill, there are national governments that keep fewer statistics than you do for your campaigns!") But I do modeling as a player, also, thinking out what my characters are capable of and how their abilities work. Perhaps that's particularly important to me because I'm fairly strongly oriented to supers as a genre . . .