[Ansteorra] Role Playing Was

[Peer2]

Ack! Flashbacks!

Okay everybody, think back. I know it's happened to us all . . .

You were standing in a tent at some event trying not to overtly eavesdrop on
a small group of newbies and their semi-veteran Scadian guide. The guide
pointed at someone walking by and said "That's Lord Joe" or whatever. The
newbies went into an instant frenzy of discussion.

        "He's a Lord?"
        "But he looks too young to be ninth level."
        "He must be some kind of super-fighter."
        "Doesn't look like a fighter at all."
        "Must be a wizard."
        "Yeah. Wizards can be tricky that way."

And you tried not to laugh as the Guide started explaining the way thing
really work but just managed to confuse them even more.

So the SCA combines aspects of roleplaying and true history. If it helps a
newbie to think of things as a big RPG, use that to our advantage. It'll
give him a basis from which to grasp the rest of the SCA. They can be weaned
off the RPG mentality later.

-- Ld. Cedric Einarsson
-- 9th Level Texas Hippie Viking Redneck



----- Original Message -----
From: Greg Shetler <mordockvonrugen at home.com>
To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2001 10:21 AM
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Role Playing Was:bryn glad


> Having been a participant in live action role-playing and the SCA, both
> -
>
> "Role playing" without the connotation of a game similar to those
> currently in vogue (Vampire, Nero, etc) is exactly what we do - within
> limits.  We don't have characters killed, and we don't include the
> crushing oppression that was frequently the lot for foreigners,
> peasants, women, or those of lesser rank.  But we do assume roles and
> play them.
>
> However, most newbies who hear "role playing" immediately assume it's
> like Nero, Vampire, et al, and start asking questions about how to
> create a character, how to get it approved, who the storytellers are,
> what to do when a character dies, and how to kill other characters.
> They also start asking about magic, and elves, and such.  Comments like
> "we aren't a role playing game" probably come from a desire to forestall
> this reaction....
>
> Dux