RE: Player types

From: Bruce Ferrie <bruceferrie_at_...>
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 14:08:24 +0100


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul May [mailto:kax_at_...]
>
> Very interested; I'd like to compare them to the stuff in
> Robin's Laws of
> Good Roleplaying...

Here we go, it's an abridged version, obviously...

THE BUILDER
Wants to have a lasting effect on the world - to build institutions, clean up the city, save his people, etc.

THE BUDDY
Is only here to hang around with his friends and probably says and does little. Best thing to do may actually be to let him carry on like this, but you might discover that he's another "type" underneath and engage his interest that way.

THE COMBAT MONSTER
Wants fighting. Every session must have some fighting, or he's unhappy.

THE GENRE FIEND
He's an expert in whatever setting you play, and insists on "doing it right".

THE COPIER
He likes to run carbon-copies of characters he's seen in films, books and comics, on TV, etc. Gets annoyed if they're not "as good as" the original version.
(Variant: the player whose characters, no matter what the game or setting, are all more or less the same character).

THE MAD SLASHER
Wants to blow off steam in the game. Kills NPCs, destroys things, won't take any garbage from anyone and will never see reason. Bit of a campaign destroyer, unless everyone else is also a mad slasher.

THE MAD THINKER
Loves outwitting people or problems. Can slow the game down to a crawl while he thinks up interesting solutions, but his mad creativity can be great fun.

THE PLUMBER
Creates characters with intricate and detailed personalities and wants to plumb their depths. Will love a Narrator who gives them moral quandaries, emotional subplots, etc.

THE PRO FROM DOVER
His character must be the best at what he does - the strongest hero, the mightiest warrior, the cleverest scientist, etc. Hates being overshadowed by other PCs or NPCs.

THE ROMANTIC
He's most interested in the personal relationships of his characters. A "soap opera" type game is ideal for him.

THE RULES RAPIST
He simply enjoys twisting the rules to create the "best" characters. To be honest, a bit of a pain for the Narrator.

THE SHOWOFF
Must be the centre of attention at all times. Unhappy if anyone else gets the spotlight.

THE TRAGEDIAN
Loves to play through tragedies for his character - betrayal, bereavement, mistakes that result in catastrophe, all played out in gloriously tragic detail. Somewhat masochistic, but a good sources of plots and outlet for the Narrator's crueller impulses.

Regards,

Bruce

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