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[bryant]

WISH 76 asks:

A lot is made of the role of the GM in a game, but what is the role of the player?

I’m not really sure if I can answer that one, since so much depends on the game. The single most important trick to master can be summarized as “support interaction,” which covers a lot — sharing spotlight time, making your character sticky, and so on. Most other stuff depends on the game, I think.

Some games really are GM-driven, and I don’t actually have any problems with that. Sometimes I want to be a spectator. Not often, but sometimes. Some games, the role of the player is to be tactical opposition. Some games, the players help drive plot.

Idle question: is the GM playing the game as well? Shouldn’t we call him or her a player?

Comments

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

The GM is definitely a player. I can't imagine how anyone could say he isn't.

The role of the player is whatever the player wants to, and the GM lets him, assume. The players are the engine and the GM is the transmission of the game's flivver.

Erm.

[agentsirus.livejournal.com]

Something isn't right here.

Let me try this again, since that last blurp was a little premature. *Peers at mischeivious cat* You are lept from talking about politics to gaming in one short breath. I'm in shock, and impressed. Most people can't have room in their heads for both.

Whoever you are, it's nice to see someone on Livejournal posting something other then useless scribbles about themselves.

And to answer the question from my angle: That question doesn't matter that much because it's the gaming itself that needs to function right more then the GM or players. It all depends on the group... Not just the GM or players, but the whole collective mind of people around the table. A storyteller game means the GM is telling a fable using the PCs as main characters. A hack and slash game more resembles a game of craps, which makes me wonder if anyone is trully playing. Somewhere in between the storyteller playing the game and playing God lies the key to a good experience.