For an example, I'm going to use 3 players to show how everyone fits in every category. Myself, Judging Eagle, and Prak. I have gamed with all three of these. I'll also provide comments on the actual advice.
stupid people wrote:Actor
The actor likes to pretend to be her character. She emphasizes character development that has nothing to do with numbers and powers, trying to make her character seem to be a real person in the fantasy world. She
enjoys interacting with the rest of the group, with characters and monsters in the game world, and with the fantasy world in general by speaking “in character” and describing her character’s actions in the first person.
The actor values narrative game elements over mechanical ones. Unlike the storyteller, she values her character’s personality and motivations over other story elements.
aN actor . . .
✦ Provides PC background, emphasizing personality.
✦ Plays according to her character’s motivations.
✦ Prefers scenes where she can portray her character.
✦ often prefers social encounters to fights.
eNgage the actor bY . . .
✦ Facilitating her PC’s personality and background
development.
✦ Providing roleplaying encounters.
✦ emphasizing her character’s personality at times.
✦ Recruiting her to help create narrative campaign elements.
be sure that the actor doesN’t . . .
✦ Bore the other players by talking to everyone and
everything.
✦ Justify disruptive actions as being “in character.”
Well fuck, likes being their character? Making their character a real person in a real world? I do that! So does Prak and Eagle.
I mean, play according to character motivations? Like to portray their character? That's everyone ever in the world. But they also prefer social encounters sometimes. Wow, that narrows it down to maybe half of everyone.
But look at that, they have to ignore numbers. So in other words this is for people who think people that "being a good fighter" has nothing to do with having a high AB. Guess what, I've seen those people, they don't act at freaking all.
stupid people wrote:Explorer
An explorer loves to see new places in the fantasy world and to meet the residents of such places, fair and foul. All the explorer needs is the promise of an interesting locale or different culture, and off he goes to see that place.
The explorer wants to experience the wonders the game world has to offer. He also wants to know that there’s more out there to find. He presses for details: proper names of characters and places, descriptions
of the environment, and some idea of what’s over the next hill. He’s sometimes interested in the adventure plot and his character’s motivations. (The explorer is close kin to both the actor and the storyteller.) The wonder of new discoveries is what is key to keeping the
explorer happy.
aN exPlorer . . .
✦ Seeks out new experiences in the game’s setting.
✦ Likes learning hidden facts and locating lost items and
places.
✦ enjoys atmosphere as much as combat and story.
✦ Advances the plot by being willing to move ever on.
eNgage the exPlorer bY . . .
✦ Including encounter elements that call for exploration.
✦ Rewarding curiosity and willingness to explore.
✦ Providing rich descriptions, and using cool maps and props.
✦ Recruiting him to map for the party.
be sure that the exPlorer doesN’t . . .
✦ use knowledge of the game world to his own advantage.
✦ Bore the other players or exhaust you with his thirst for
detail.
So an explorer wants to learn things, sometimes about the story, sometimes about mechanics, sometimes trivia about the world, whatever. I like learning things. I ask for the names of shit, and like discovering the plot, or finding out about the Mage's guild. I bet Eagle and Prak do too!
But remember, we have to make sure that no matter what the Explorer learns, it never benefits him. It's right in the advice. Knowledge of the game world should never be used to a characters advantage.
stupid people wrote:Instigator
An instigator enjoys making things happen. She has no patience for careful planning or deliberation. She’ll open an obviously trapped chest “ just to see what happens.” She provokes authority figures and opens dungeon doors to bring more monsters into an already difficult fight. The instigator loves the vicarious thrill of taking enormous risks and sometimes just making bad choices.
The instigator can be disruptive, but she can also be a lot of fun for the other players. Things rarely grind to a halt with an instigator in the group, and the stories that get retold after the game session often revolve around whatever crazy thing the instigator did this week.
aN iNstigator . . .
✦ Likes to make things happen.
✦ Takes crazy risks and makes deliberately bad choices.
✦ Thrives in combat and dislikes having nothing to do.
✦ Takes decisive action when things grind to a halt.
eNgage the iNstigator bY . . .
✦ Including objects and encounters that invite
experimentation.
✦ Letting her actions put the characters in a tight spot but not
kill them all.
✦ Including encounters with nonplayer characters who are as
feisty as she is.
be sure that the iNstigator doesN’t . . .
✦ Get the rest of the group killed.
✦ Attack the other PCs or their allies.
Okay, fine. Instead of everyone being every character. No one is this character. Deliberately makes bad choices? WTF! I had this one friend Zak, he fucking stole something from my families mansion, and lied about it, even though I had detect magic, and knew he had. He instigated right? Well, except for the part that he was just acting his character.
So I guess he's more of a Instigator/Actor/Storyteller/Watcher hybrid. Oh wait, that's like half the fucking types.
stupid people wrote:Power Gamer
A power gamer thrives on gaining levels and loves the cool abilities that come with those levels. He defeats monsters to take their stuff and use that stuff against future enemies. The story and roleplaying are secondary to action and awesome abilities and magic items.
Most players have a little power gamer in them. A couple of the core elements of fun in the D&D game are the accumulation of power and the use of that power to accomplish astonishing deeds. Nothing is wrong with enjoying that in the game.
a PoWer gamer . . .
✦ optimizes character attributes for combat performance.
✦ Pores over supplements for better character options.
✦ Spends less time on story and roleplaying elements.
✦ Prefers combat to other kinds of encounters.
eNgage the PoWer gamer bY . . .
✦ Stressing story element rewards, such as quest XP.
✦ using a desired magic item as an adventure hook.
✦ Facilitating access to new options and powers.
✦ Including encounters that emphasize his PC’s attributes.
be sure that the PoWer gamer doesN’t . . .
✦ Become a lot more powerful than the other characters.
✦ Try to take more than his share of treasure.
✦ Treat the other characters as his lackeys.
Well fuck. Powergamer. Everyone I know is a powergamer, and everyone who isn't I hate. But 3 on the list of what it is, "spends less time on roleplaying elements" Fuck. Cause I was going to say everyone was, but then I realized that 90% of the people who fit every single other part of this description spend just as much time on planning elaborate backstories.
Maybe they are Actor/Storyteller/Thinker/Powergamer/Slayer hybrids? Do you think that describes you Eagle?
And as for the advice. Number one on how to engage the powergamer, do something he doesn't give a flying fuck about. Number one on things to not let him do, play the type of game he wants. Fuck you. If you have 4 actors and a powergamer (if there were any such thing as people who fit in one category) that powergamer better be more powerful. Or else 1) he's going to be pissed. And 2) They are all going to fucking die.
stupid people wrote:Slayer
The slayer is like the power gamer, but she is even easier to please. She emphasizes kicking the tar out of monsters. Maybe she does so to let off a little steam in a safe way, or she likes the joy of feeling superior. Per-
haps it’s the pleasure of having the power to mete out punishment to villains.
D&D combat is thrilling. Few other aspects of the game put a character in such apparent jeopardy. Beating the bad guys is a clear success. Most players enjoy these D&D elements, but the slayer seeks them foremost.
a slaYer . . .
✦ optimizes like a power gamer.
✦ Might pick simple options to get into the action quicker.
✦ Spends less time on story and roleplaying elements.
✦ Wants to fight monsters and take bold action all the time.
eNgage the slaYer bY . . .
✦ Springing an unexpected battle when the slayer looks
bored.
✦ Making some battles simple and others more complex.
✦ Vividly describing the havoc the slayer wreaks with powers.
✦ Recruiting her to track initiative during combat.
be sure that the slaYer doesN’t . . .
✦ Ruin adventures by killing monsters the characters should
talk to.
✦ Rush past social and skill challenge encounters to the next
fight.
So a Powergamer who spends less time on character creation? That's not a different type, that's the same type but not as good at it. Fuck this shit.
At least the Slayer gets to kill monsters, unlike poor powergamer who can't be powerful. But of course, they encourage playing fucking smash brothers when skill challenges come up, because he's not allowed to 'rush past them.'
stupid people wrote:Storyteller
The storyteller is a player who prefers the narrative of the game to individual character motivations and personality. This player sees the game as an ongoing chronicle of events in the fantasy world, and he wants to see where the tale goes.
For the storyteller, the rules are there to support the game’s ongoing story. He believes that when the rules get in the way, the narrative should win. Compromise for the sake of the story is more important than individual character motivations.
a storYteller . . .
✦ often provides an extensive background for his PC.
✦ Works hard to make sure his character fits the story.
✦ Likes dramatic scenes and recurring characters.
✦ Prefers adventures that include at least some plot.
eNgage the storYteller bY . . .
✦ Facilitating his PCs background development.
✦ using his background to help define adventures and
nonplayer characters.
✦ Including at least a little plot in every adventure.
✦ Recruiting him to record important events and encounters.
be sure that the storYteller doesN’t . . .
✦ Insist on making his character the center of the story.
✦ Dictate other characters’ actions to fit his idea of the story.
Fuck. Slayer is bad Powergamer, and Storyteller is bad Actor. The Storyteller wants to tell stupid stories. He wants to tell the epic story of Lord of the rings, but without Boromir's betrayal, without the splitting, and ending with the 9 at mount doom facing the nine (or maybe the one?).
Right in the description, some dumb fuck who thinks that character motivations should subject themselves to the story. Go right a fucking novel and suck my cock.
As for the advice. He would never insist the story be about him, because he thinks his character motivations aren't as important as the whim of the DM, so even if he really really hates Kobolds, he'll protect the Kobolds from the demons given even a hint about that being the 'story' the Dm wants to tell. And dictating other characters actions, if he doesn't do that, then he's not a storyteller. If he lets other people's character motivations dictate their actions, then he has objectively failed in his endeavor.
stupid people wrote:Thinker
A thinker likes to make careful choices, reflecting on challenges and the best way to overcome them. She also enjoys herself most when her planning results in success with minimal risk and use of resources.
Solving a challenge in a creative way is more important to the thinker than character power or roleplaying issues. In fact, the thinker might prefer sound tactics to acting in character or straightforward, brute force
battle.
a thiNker . . .
✦ engages any challenge as a puzzle to be solved.
✦ Chooses her actions carefully for the best possible result.
✦ Is happy to win without action, drama, or tension.
✦ Prefers time to consider options over bold action.
eNgage the thiNker bY . . .
✦ Including encounters that require problem-solving skills.
✦ Rewarding planning and tactics with in-game benefits.
✦ occasionally allowing a smart plan to cause a one-sided
win.
✦ Recruiting her to help come up with quests.
be sure that the thiNker doesN’t . . .
✦ Constantly tell the other players what to do.
✦ Grind the game to a halt when considering tactical options.
I honestly can't tell whether this is supposed to be people like me, who play casters with elaborate spell combos and actual plans of attack (I spent two fucking pages discussing how we were going to teleport into a fight once) or stupid fucks who think saying shit like "I ignore all tactics and sense and rules, by running behind the boss and grabbing the Mcguffin, I win teh gamzor!" Either way it's fucking dumb.
Let's look at some of the brilliant advice:
Reward planning and tactics with in game benefits. Okay, so this is bullshit 4e, where tactics don't actually matter, but fuck. Tactics and planning have actual benefits, that's why you fucking do them.
Occasionally allow planning to be useful, but not often, heaven forbid planning be a good idea or something, then all the Actors and Slayers and Powergamers might do it. And then where would we be? Without any distinctions in player types, you might have to actually DM instead of being a damn fool.
But whatever you do, don't let the fucking person with the plan tell the other people how to implement the plan, cause fuck, that would make sense.
stupid people wrote:Watcher
A watcher is a casual player who comes to the game because he wants to be part of the social event. A watcher might be shy or just really laid back. He wants to participate, but he doesn’t really care if he’s deeply
immersed, and he doesn’t want to be assertive or too involved in the details of the game, rules, or story. He enjoys the game by being part of a social circle.
a Watcher . . .
✦ Shows up to be a part of the group.
✦ helps calm disputes by not being as attached to the game.
✦ often fills a hole in the PC group, facilitating the fun.
eNgage the Watcher bY . . .
✦ never forcing him to be more involved than he wants.
✦ Accepting that he’s fine with his watcher status.
✦ Prompting him when he needs it.
be sure that the Watcher doesN’t . . .
✦ Distract the other players with TV, a video game, or surfing
the Internet.
✦ Disappear from the table at crucial moments.
WTF? Social event, to be part of a group. Because they are shy and not involved? Fuck this shit. A fucking Chimp could right better shit than this. The Watcher player type is fucking mental diarrhea.