Roleplayer types and motivations

All roleplayers want to have fun, but different people get their enjoyment from different aspects of the game. If you’re preparing and running an event for a group of players, understanding player motivations — what they enjoy about RP and what makes them happiest when they play — helps you build a harmonious group of players and a fun game for all.
Most players enjoy many aspects of the game at different times. For convenience, we define the primary player motivations as types of players: actors, explorers, instigators, power gamers, slayers, storytellers, thinkers, and watchers.
==Actor==
The actor likes to pretend to be her character. Every roleplayer is a an actor by definition, but the real actor especially emphasizes character development that has nothing to do with powers, trying to make her character seem to be a real person in the fantasy world. She enjoys interacting with the rest of the group, with characters and monsters in the game world.
The actor values narrative game elements over mechanical ones. Unlike the storyteller, she values her character’s personality and motivations over other
story elements.
An actor...
*Provides PC background, emphasizing personality.
*Plays according to her character’s motivations.
*Prefers scenes where she can portray her character.
*Often prefers social encounters to fights.
Engage the actor by...
*Facilitating her PC’s personality and background development.
*Providing roleplaying encounters.
*Emphasizing her character’s personality at times.
*Recruiting her to help create narrative campaign elements.
Be sure that the actor doesn’t...
*Bore the other players by talking to everyone and everything.
*Justify disruptive actions as being "in character."
==Explorer==
An explorer loves to see new places in the fantasy world and to meet the residents of such places, fair and foul. All the explorer needs is the promise of an interesting locale or different culture, and off he goes to see that place.
The explorer wants to experience the wonders the game world has to offer. He also wants to know that there’s more out there to find. He presses for details: proper names of characters and places, descriptions of the environment, and some idea of what’s over the next hill. He’s sometimes interested in the adventure plot and his character’s motivations. (The explorer is close kin to both the actor and the storyteller.) The wonder of new discoveries is what is key to keeping the explorer happy.
An explorer...
*Seeks out new experiences in the game’s setting.
*Likes learning hidden facts and locating lost items and places.
*Enjoys atmosphere as much as combat and story.
*Advances the plot by being willing to move ever on.
Engage the explorer by...
*Including encounter elements that call for exploration.
*Rewarding curiosity and willingness to explore.
*Providing rich descriptions, and using cool maps and props.
*Recruiting him to map for the party.
Be sure that the explorer doesn’t...
*Use knowledge of the game world to his own advantage.
*Bore the other players or exhaust you with his thirst for detail.
==Instigator==
An instigator enjoys making things happen. She has no patience for careful planning or deliberation. She’ll open an obviously trapped chest “just to see what happens.” She provokes authority figures and opens dungeon doors to bring more monsters into an already difficult fight. The instigator loves the vicarious thrill of taking enormous risks and sometimes just making bad choices.
The instigator can be disruptive, but she can also be a lot of fun for the other players. Things rarely grind to a halt with an instigator in the group, and the stories that get retold after the game session often revolve around whatever crazy thing the instigator did this week.
An instigator...
*Likes to make things happen.
*Takes crazy risks and makes deliberately bad choices.
*Thrives in combat and dislikes having nothing to do.
*Takes decisive action when things grind to a halt.
Engage the instigator by...
*Including objects and encounters that invite experimentation.
*Letting her actions put the characters in a tight spot but not kill them all.
*Including encounters with NPCs who are as feisty as she is.
Be sure that the instigator doesn't...
*Get the rest of the group killed.
*Attack the other characters or allies.
==Power Gamer==
A power gamer thrives on gaining power and loves the cool abilities that come with that power. He defeats monsters to take their stuff and use that stuff against
future enemies. The story and roleplaying are secondary to action and awesome abilities and magic items.
Most players have a little power gamer in them. A couple of elements of fun in RP are the accumulation of power and the use of that power to accomplish astonishing deeds. Nothing is wrong with enjoying that in the game.
A power gamer...
*Optimizes character attributes for combat performance.
*Searches for better character options.
*Spends less time on story and roleplaying elements.
*Prefers combat to other kinds of encounters.
Engage the power gamer by...
*Stressing rewards.
*Using a desired magic item as an adventure hook.
*Facilitating access to new options and powers.
*Including encounters that emphasize his character's abilities.
Be sure that the power gamer doesn't...
*Become a lot more powerful than the other characters.
*Try to take more than his share of treasure.
*Treat the other characters as his lackeys.
==Slayer==
The slayer is like the power gamer, but she is even easier to please. She emphasizes kicking the tar out of enemies. Maybe she does so to let off a little steam in a safe way, or she likes the joy of feeling superior. Perhaps it's the pleasure of having the power to mete out punishment to villains.
Combat is thrilling. Few other aspects of the game put a character in such apparent jeopardy. Beating the bad guys is a clear success. Most players enjoy these, but the slayer seeks them foremost.
A slayer...
*Optimizes like a power gamer.
*Might pick simple options to get into the action quicker.
*Spends less time on story and roleplaying elements.
*Wants to fight and take bold action all the time.
Engage the slayer by...
*Springing an unexpected battle when the slayer looks bored.
*Making some battles simple and others more complex.
*Vividly describing the havoc the slayer wreaks with powers.
*Recruiting her to track initiative during combat.
Be sure that the slayer doesn't...
*Ruin adventures by killing monsters the characters should talk to.
*Rush past social and skill encounters to the next fight.
==Storyteller==
The storyteller is a player who prefers the narrative of the game to individual character motivations and personality. This player sees the game as an ongoing chronicle of events in the fantasy world, and he wants to see where the tale goes.
For the storyteller, the rules are there to support the game’s ongoing story. He believes that when the rules get in the way, the narrative should win. Compromise for the sake of the story is more important than individual character motivations.
A storyteller...
*Often provides an extensive background for his PC.
*Works hard to make sure his character fits the story.
*Likes dramatic scenes and recurring characters.
*Prefers adventures that include at least some plot.
Engage the storyteller by...
*Facilitating his PCs background development.
*Using his background to help define adventures and nonplayer characters.
*Include at least a little plot in every adventure.
*Recruiting him to record important events and encounters.
Be sure that the storyteller doesn't...
*Insist on making his character the center of the story.
*Dictate other characters’ actions to fit his idea of the story.
==Thinker==
A thinker likes to make careful choices, reflecting on challenges and the best way to overcome them. She also enjoys herself most when her planning results in success with minimal risk and use of resources.
Solving a challenge in a creative way is more important to the thinker than character power or roleplaying issues. In fact, the thinker might prefer sound tactics to acting in character or straightforward, brute force battle.
A thinker...
*Engages any challenge as a puzzle to be solved.
*Chooses her actions carefully for the best possible result.
*Is happy to win without action, drama, or tension.
*Prefers time to consider options over bold action.
Engage the thinker by...
*Including encounters that require problem-solving skills.
*Rewarding planning and tactics.
*Occasionally allowing a smart plan to cause a one-sided win.
*Recruiting her to help come up with events.
Be sure that the thinker doesn't...
*Constantly tell the other players what to do.
*Grind the game to a halt when considering tactical options.
==Watcher==
A watcher is a casual player who comes to the game because he wants to be part of the social event. A watcher might be shy or just really laid back. He wants to participate, but he doesn’t really care if he’s deeply immersed, and he doesn’t want to be assertive or too involved in the details of the game, rules, or story. He enjoys the game by being part of a social circle.
A watcher...
*Shows up to be a part of the group.
*Helps calm disputes by not being as attached to the game.
*Often fills a hole in the group, facilitating the fun.
Engage the watcher by...
*Never forcing him to be more involved than he wants.
*Accepting that he’s fine with his watcher status.
*Prompting him when he needs it.
Be sure that the watcher doesn’t...
*Distract the other players with OOC, such as new games, memes or something he saw on TV.
*Disappear from the table at crucial moments.
Category:Guides