Enter the Narrativist
Way back in 1999, the tabletop role-playing game designer Ron Edwards wrote an essay titled “System Does Matter.” In it, he proposed three categories of role-playing gamers: Gamist, Narrativist, and Simulationist. I won’t go through the definitions of all these gamer types because I don’t really have the space or inclination to do so. Instead, I will focus on the kind of gamer I am, and what this blog will (hopefully) come to represent.
I am a Narrativist. While I enjoy some systems with Gamist and Simulationist leanings (with the significant exception of D&D), I always approach roleplaying from a story standpoint. Because, to me, the entire point of role-play is to tell stories we largely improvise about characters we create. And I tend to think the majority of players, wherever they fall on the GNS spectrum, think the same thing. Consider that every “how to role-play” section in every game ever written, even heavy-duty systems that can’t be remotely described as Narrativist, has brought us back to that primary goal.
The GNS theory pissed a lot of people off, but I’ve always considered it a handy shorthand for describing systems to people who might otherwise struggle with a game’s approach. Likewise, prefer it or not, gamers really can be categorized in this way. So, I’m not ashamed to call myself what I am, nor am I shy about promoting games that fit my philosophy.
What do you say? Want to play along with me?