What do players do?

I've been thinking about the things we instinctively expect new roleplayers to understand when they start playing a game. How do we describe these things to new players?

With this in mind, I'm thinking of including this at the start of Walkabout's player section...

The responsibilities of a player

A game of Walkabout is a collaborative event. Everyone needs to contribute to the session for it to run smoothly; while some participants may choose to take a more active role in the storytelling, no single person is responsible for the entertainment of everyone else.
Before the session begins
Create a character.
Discuss the types of stories youā€™d like to tell with the oracle and the other players.
Have a general understanding of the storyā€™s genre conventions.
Help describe the specifics of the setting.
During a session
Contribute to the story.
Allow others to contribute to the story.
Have a general understanding of the way the rules work.
Donā€™t argue with the Oracle or the other players.
Maintain the flow.
After a session (and before the next one)
Provide feedback.
Develop your character.

Provide ideas for future sessions. 

These are basic section headings which will be followed by a short paragraph on how to accomplish the instruction, and why it's important to the session. A similar list with a few differences will open the GM section of the book.

The responsibilities of an Oracle

A game of Walkabout is a collaborative event. Everyone needs to contribute to the session for it to run smoothly; while some participants may choose to take a more active role in the storytelling, no single person is responsible for the entertainment of everyone else.
Before the session begins
Discuss the types of stories youā€™d like to tell with the oracle and the other players.
Have an understanding of the setting as accepted by the group.
Create a setting, some characters and a scenario for the wayfarers in interact with.
During a session
Feed the players with interest and variety in the plot.
Be prepared to run with the players.
Have a general understanding of the way the rules work.
Be consistent.
Maintain the flow.
After a session (and before the next one)
Contribute to the feedback.
Develop the world by building on the ideas from the session. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Guide to Geomorphs (Part 7)

A Guide to Geomorphs (Part 1)