All The Galaxy's A Stage: Freeform and Structured RP

All The Galaxy’s A Stage is a regular column at Ask A Jedi with some lofty, creative goals.  On one hand, we will be discussing and exploring meaningful topics to support the role-play experience and community.  On the other hand, we also want to introduce the casual Role-Player to the writing-acting experience that can add so much more to an MMORPG like Star Wars: The Old Republic.  Share your perspectives and experience as we co-create magical story in that galaxy far, far away!

The more time you’ve spent Role-Playing, the more likely it is that you’ll have come to realize that there are many different styles of RP.  Whether you’ve experienced the cliques that form within real life or on-line RP communities, or the differences between those that prefer RP within a guild to mixing it up on forums, the reality is every RPer has their own preference and opinion when it comes to RP.

For those of you new to RP it is worth providing a little context.  Perhaps the two most obvious ‘types’ of RP in an online setting concern what I’m choosing to title as Freeform RP and Structured RP.

Freeform RP occurs when players get together and simply co-create story.  By its very definition, Freeform RP really doesn’t have a planned story to work through or cleverly set challenges to overcome (unless of course you’re RPing with an amazingly creative friend who has a way of effortlessly drawing you into their world).  An example might be a gathering that starts in a cantina, that becomes a duel and a chase through the depths of Coruscant.  Or perhaps a player starts with a simple revelation about their history that becomes a big scene about the newly revealed dark secret.

Structured RP is, as the term implies, more about providing a structured series of events for players to play through.  Such RP can occur over a few hours or result in many, many hours of being led through a story by a GM (Game Master) over a period of months.  The idea of Narrators in our last article really was an example of how to help improve the quality of structured RP events.

Personally, I think both approaches have a place.  I happen to enjoy both Freeform and Structured RP.  I have some great memories of RP that started from a simple question to become an event far bigger than its’ humble beginnings would have ever suggested.  And I’ve also experienced unforgetable epic RP events.  RP really can be top-notch food for the mind.

Did I tell you about the Gooberfish I caught once? It was this big!

For Freeform RP to thrive you’ll likely need some experienced RPers with clearly developed characters.  Those involved will also benefit from being very creative, able to think on their feet and having active imaginations.   I suspect that many fans of this approach would tell you that the lack of systems to memorize and the freedom to take the dynamically growing plot wherever it may go can be liberating.

Still, without thought and planning around the beginning, middle and end of a story, Freeform RP can die out before realizing its potential.  Without direction a random gathering of players can be a little confusing to those less experienced with the craft of RP.  No one has to compete to dominate the rails that the story travels along (since that’s invariably the GM’s role).  And in my experience those who know each other’s character and have RPed in the past are far more likely to be drawn to Freeform RP with each other.

Structured RP (where there’s a GM planning for story, describing what’s going on in the environment and coordinating Non-Player Characters) for those involved to interact with can be a lot of fun.  A good GM will put difficult choices in front of players.  A great GM does this in such a way that before you know it you’re wrestling with your typing fingers and what your character is in your mind.

In the structured RP context one of the roles of a GM is to be an arbitrator empowered to make a final call on how events unfold.  This is particularly important for those RP scenes where there are opposing challenges not resolved by dice.  For example, if my character tries to prevent an NPC from leaving the room to get help this is an opposing challenge (the NPC wants to leave, my Jedi Knight wants to stay, we’re opposed in our actions).  And obviously, opposing challenges between Player Character (PC) can also benefit from having a GM to settle any disputes.

However, structured RP can set a precedent and players can become expectant.  If a GM or guild starts making a habit of running exciting and adventurous events players will begin to build expectations around all such events.  And obviously, the facilitation skills of a GM really can make or break an event.

Regardless of your preference, it is worth noting that there is no ‘best’ way to RP.  There’s ‘your’ preference.  Freeform RP will often make sense for smaller events, personal plots and focused character development.  I don’t need a GM to help me reveal something about my character’s history as a driver for a gathering.  However, Structured RP events with a capable GM are all about big adventures, being confronted by obscenely challenging moral dillemas, NPCs and puzzles to solve.

Whatever your preference and style, having an awareness of the many styles out there will only contribute to your own RP style.  In the next article I will be writing about something near and dear to my heart – character backgrounds.