Since it emerged in the 70s, tabletop RPG has been gaining fans all over the world. Being considered a hobby, this type of game brings several advantages in your life. But you might be wondering: What is tabletop RPG?
In this article, you will check the definition of RPG, the types and seven points so you can have more clear in your mind the main benefits of the tabletop RPG and also for you to have some arguments when someone asks you: So, what is this tabletop RPG? How to play? Is it like a video game? Is it like a theater?
The content here is organized so you don't get stuck when explaining what RPG is.
If you still don't follow me here, my page is https://rpgtips.itch.io/
I hope by the end of this article I have shown you all the main benefits of this wonderful hobby, which I've been playing for about 10 years, to get you started on this journey more motivated.
This article starts with an introduction, where I will introduce you to RPG concepts and types. Later, you'll check out the 7 advantages of playing tabletop RPG, plus 3 bonus testimonials left by other RPG blogs here for this text.
Introduction
First of all, it is important to clarify the general definition of what is RPG. You've probably heard this acronym a lot, talked about it, or even played it, but haven't really stopped to think about what's commonly known as roleplaying.
Of course, there are several definitions and the one I've brought you here is the broadest definition of roleplaying and the one that encompasses most of the games we have.
What is tabletop
RPG, short for Role-Playing Game, is a game in which players assume character roles in a fictional setting and their actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines.
It is a game where people who are playing roleplaying characters, often only in the world of imagination, along with the system of rules and guidelines that vary from game to game will define the whole character of the roleplaying game we know today.
In addition to this RPG that is known as tabletop RPG it is interesting that you know that there are two other types of games that are included in the acronym RPG. It's important for you to know this so that you don't get confused when researching or if you want to explore a little more about these other options.
Live action RPG
The second type of RPG that we find is called live action RPG (LARP). It is also a role-playing game like the tabletop RPG, but it goes a little further and people actually physically play the characters, beyond just playing in the realm of ideas or in the realm of storytelling, like in tabletop games.
So if you see people walking around dressed as warriors or wizards and carrying fake shields and swords, they are likely playing live action.
These people then have fun telling a story and gesturing together, making almost a theater of what is being done.
I personally have never had the opportunity to play a live action RPG and maybe today it's not much of my interest anymore, as I prefer to keep the game in the imaginative field. But here's the tip if you want to know a little more about this hobby. There are several events of this type that you can go to meet people who also like and develop in this area.
Electronic RPG
The third type of RPG you will find in your research is the electronic RPG. This game variation is also very famous and often competes with tabletop RPG fame.
This type of game is very strong today and, unlike the tabletop RPG that had a somewhat hidden phase, electronic rpgs have always been gaining strength over time, including the evolution of technology available consoles and computers.
The Games industry today is stronger than the music and film industries combined between them.
Board games are old games
Before we talk about the first advantage of roleplaying, another interesting thing to know is that board games in general are pretty old.
When you take RPG, it's subsumed in the larger group of table games where you'll also find board games and card games.
RPG has its own classification within table games and the big advantage of these types of games is that they are very analogue.
7 ADVANTAGES OF PLAYING ttRPG
There are numerous advantages to playing ttRPG and it would be impossible to list them all here in this article. Based on that, I put the seven that I think are most relevant.
I hope that after reading all these benefits you will start playing RPG as soon as possible to enjoy all the benefits!
Generate really fun moments
Let's talk now about the first advantage that I think is the coolest, not to mention the most important one for you to take into account when playing your tabletop RPG: It has a great ability to generate really fun moments.
I'll put it here as a great title: Fun. This for me is the main advantage of the tabletop RPG and it has this ability to generate fun that comes from moments with other people, in other words, a very analogue fun.
When I talk about fun, it's important that you understand that it's not just laughter or comedy fun, but fun in the sense of entertainment.
RPG has the ability to generate moments with strong emotions, which can be laughter, fear, affliction, expectation, among many others.
When you're introducing a person to the hobby, it's important to point out that RPG is very unpredictable. You'll want to make this clear, because the fun of RPG comes precisely from the development of those conflicts that come up in the middle of the story and generate every opportunity for fun.
As an example, you are needing to pass the test to prevent your character from falling into a pit. In this moment of expectation, you roll the die and roll 17 on a 20-sided dice and pass the test.
So the main advantage, which I think is the top 1 advantage of roleplaying, is the fun.
Develop your creativity
The second main advantage I think of playing RPG today or convincing someone is that they develop creativity a lot.
RPG is a storytelling game and all storytelling has a big influence on how creative you are at that moment or in general.
Of course there are techniques and more techniques for creating a narrative story, which you can check out a lot of them here on the RPGTips blog, but a big part of the story comes from the creativity itself.
As a GM, you'll be creating things all the time and adapting them according to how the game goes in the RPG. So, you have to be always alert, with your mind on, when a player does something you already create something to complement it, something to make the story more organic, more real.
During the breaks between sessions you will have to stop to think and create things, create NPC, cities, expand the world that you have already created or that you have studied about and all of this will accumulate and you will develop more criatively.
This is very interesting because it is not only stuck in the RPG field, but extends to your whole life and you can use this skill in many different ways in your personal or professional scope.
Creativity is always good and I particularly like to develop this skill in myself, because I think it makes you see life in a different way when you are always willing to create new things and have new ideas. This is good to keep us with an active mind and always creating.
This is the second one that I think is one of the main advantages of playing RPG, as it develops your creativity.
Enjoying a social activity
The third big advantage I see in playing RPG is that it allows you to enjoy a social activity. Since its inception, RPG has come with this idea of bringing people together to tell a story and this differs a lot from other types of games, especially electronic ones.
I think it's really cool that you have this opportunity to talk to other people and nowadays we have a lot of access to technology to help too, so we can create tables on the most diverse servers and we can play online with people from all over Brazil and even around the world.
In the role of master, you will also develop your skills as an interlocutor or storyteller, as you will need to be always active in the conversation, managing the group and often making long descriptions alone, almost like a monologue and having to keep all the attention of the group.
That way, you will definitely develop these social skills of yours as well. If you are a little shy person, a person who has a little difficulty talking to other people, you can be sure that in RPG you will have the opportunity and a very healthy environment to be able to develop these skills that otherwise you would have to develop in more difficult environments such as presenting a paper in college or another that is more aggressive, let's say.
In RPG you can develop while having fun, create things and talk to people who are wanting to exchange an idea and have fun times.
So, it will be much more interesting to develop your social skill through roleplaying, so the third advantage I think of tabletop roleplaying is that you can enjoy a social activity and still develop your skills to talk to people.
Working in a team (the main thing about table)
RPGThe table RPG almost forces you to work in a team. One of the skills most valued by human beings, working as a team is related to our evolution as a species and if it wasn't for that, we would have already been extinct at a time like this.
You'll have to work as a team when you're playing RPG, whether in-game or even outside of it. As a social activity, you will have to get used to working with other people while developing your hobby.
And when you set yourself apart from being a master to play roleplaying as a player, you will see that this skill is extremely important for fun, because most rpgs are designed to tell stories in co-op mode.
Of course there are stories and stories and you can create one however you want, including stories where the famous PvP is played, which is Player vs Player, but in general you will seek to work as a team with the group in search of the infamous fun.
Learn to tell good stories
When playing tabletop RPG, especially as a GM, you will learn to tell good stories. This will generally influence all areas of your life, because whoever knows how to tell a good story knows how to keep people's attention.
So when you start telling a story in RPG sometimes at the beginning it's kind of difficult if you're starting GMing today, but you have to understand that even if you have a lot of difficulty it's good, because you keep training and By learning to tell good stories as you study about and get your hands dirty you will see your skill develop with each session.
Learning another language
The number six advantage I put in this article is that you can learn English by playing RPG. Yes, I put that here as an advantage, because I think it's very relevant since games were one of the main ways I captured this language and also through RPG readings.
A lot of good RPG content is published in English and by following this type of content, you can while learning RPG, also develop in the ability to understand English.
Problem Solving Skill
The number seven advantage I see in roleplaying is that you develop problem solving skills. You as GM will have a lot of problems at hand to solve, not only within the game, but also outside of it.
Fights between players, people who don't show up in the session, don't file, don't know the rules, I could make a huge list here of these problems outside and inside the game that you might have.
The problem solving skill is one that you will have a lot of opportunity to develop in roleplaying, because you end up becoming a certain party judge.
Conclusion
Playing tabletop RPG can bring you several advantages, as demonstrated in this article. Being a RPG master is often mastering skills that will help you throughout your life, so you will have fun and at the same time become a better person.
Thanks for reading this RPGTips article. For more content, follow me here https://rpgtips.itch.io/
What are the main advantages you notice in tabletop RPG? Tell me in the replies.
Play well, to play forever.