03-04-2014, 07:19 PM
I'd be lying if I said that a recent post didn't spark this tip from me, but I'll neglect to mention any details, or even if it was from this site.
What your character knows and what you know are two separate things. For example, Greg may know that Ganondorf is working on a hostile takeover of the Omniverse because he's read my roleplays and the unvoiced thoughts that Ganondorf has had. Samus, on the other hand, wouldn't know about these unspoken plans. Samus, the character, would only know those things which she could see or hear, which thus far has merely been Ganondorf's physical capabilities and his rather pompous attitude.
On the other hand, Link would have every reason to believe that Ganondorf is attempting to do here what he did in Hyrule. Just not the details. However, the character's prior experience with the Gerudo gives Link's player a good reason why his character would feel apprehensive around his old foe.
The whole point of a roleplaying game is to step into the shoes of someone else. If you interject your own observances into your character, without having a reason why your character should know this, then you're not only god-modding... you're cheating yourself of the rewarding experience of these secrets becoming known to your character naturally.
This is all what I've learn through 10 years of writing and playing tabletop games. Metagaming really breaks the illusion, folks.
What your character knows and what you know are two separate things. For example, Greg may know that Ganondorf is working on a hostile takeover of the Omniverse because he's read my roleplays and the unvoiced thoughts that Ganondorf has had. Samus, on the other hand, wouldn't know about these unspoken plans. Samus, the character, would only know those things which she could see or hear, which thus far has merely been Ganondorf's physical capabilities and his rather pompous attitude.
On the other hand, Link would have every reason to believe that Ganondorf is attempting to do here what he did in Hyrule. Just not the details. However, the character's prior experience with the Gerudo gives Link's player a good reason why his character would feel apprehensive around his old foe.
The whole point of a roleplaying game is to step into the shoes of someone else. If you interject your own observances into your character, without having a reason why your character should know this, then you're not only god-modding... you're cheating yourself of the rewarding experience of these secrets becoming known to your character naturally.
This is all what I've learn through 10 years of writing and playing tabletop games. Metagaming really breaks the illusion, folks.