So, you've got no idea what it's all about? well here's the gen.

Introduction.

Imagine watching your favorite TV series, as the action reaches a climax the hero does something really dumb. You think to yourself...'if that were me I'd never have done that I would have....'

In essence this is what role-playing is.. Taking on the role of a hero in a particular setting and controlling that characters decisions and actions. You will play with a group of other people who each control a character of their own. Directing the episode is a player who is called the Storyteller (also knows as Game master, Dungeon Master, Keeper etc.). The Storyteller decides if the character's actions are valid and gives the player a chance of success. The player rolls a die or dice to see how the character performs. The end result is an interactive experience where the outcome of the story is undecided right up until the final scene.

In Role-playing success is not always guaranteed, your character may become injured or even die but the story goes on. The appeal is that you have a chance to see your character expand and gain depth, insight, wisdom as well as fame and fortune within the game world.

What it's all about

Role-playing emerged during the seventies as a hobby and has grown considerably since it's beginnings. In a role-playing game or RPG there are several players, usually at least two or three as well as another player who 'directs' the game This player is called the Storyteller (or GamesMaster, Dungeon Master etc. defendant on the game). The group traditionally sits around a table with the Storyteller at one end. The Storyteller devises adventures within an imaginary world and the players take on roles of characters which they have invented who would logically exist in that world. The players direct the actions of their characters but the Storyteller controls the environment, and every other inhabitant of that world. In this way the players interact with the imaginary world and the Storyteller is the primary mover and creator in that world.

Most of an RPG consists of a verbal dialogue between the players and the storyteller, most actions are considered to be automatically successful if that character would normally be able to do it. E.g. walk, speak, run etc. When there is some doubt over a character's ability, or there is a conflict between that characters actions and other players or storyteller controlled elements, then some means needs to be used to 'test' the characters skill. This is usually accomplished with dice.

The Storyteller in a role-playing game directs the flow of action while the players control their characters, the Storyteller describes what is going on, where the characters are, what they can see, hear smell touch and taste. The players choose actions for their characters based on this information and the story progresses. In addition, the Storyteller oversees the imaginary world but is not an adversary but rather a guide and mediator. When the players have questions that need answering the Storyteller is whom they would ask. Likewise the Storyteller may need specific information about what a character is doing to enable her to make accurate judgment.

Players have different knowledge to their characters, and players must remember to differentiate between what they know and what their characters would know. A good Storyteller will be able to work with the players to come up with an exciting adventure for all concerned.

An Example of Game Play.

The Cast.

Heather : Heather's Character is called Jamila Bourne who is both smart and attractive. Jamila has a hard time accepting anything out of the ordinary but is having to learn to cope with the supernatural. Jamila has recently developed the psychic talent of psychometry which means she can pick up images and scenes of the previous user of an object.

Michelle : Michelle is playing Dr Robyn Williams, a clinical psychologist with experience in forensic medicine. Dr Williams is a good thinker and often sees the underlying pattern in things. Robyn has troubling dreams which often seem to foretell some future event.

Robert : Robert plays an ex US Government operative called Mike Keller. Mike has seen a lot of strange stuff and is occasionally haunted by flashbacks in traumatic situations. He is handy to have around in a fight. Mike is an expert in the Occult. Mike has a talent with computers, they seem to work for him better than for others in the team.

Lawrence : Lawrence plays a scientist called Alan Grey. Alan has bad legs and needs calipers to walk. He is an excellent physicist and can do anything with electronics. He has recently started to notice that he can aid in the healing of damage.

Rashid : Rashid plays a young man called Adam who has a mysterious background. Adam is an exceptionally good hand to hand fighter and is adept at handling security systems both setting up and bypassing.

Gameplay

The team are investigating reports of strange occurrences at a research lab near Boston. They have arrived on the scene and are scoping the place out. The team are currently huddles in some bushes not far from the main entrance.

Michelle :(to the Storyteller) What can we see?

Paul : Well the place seems deserted, as the daylight begins to dwindle you don't see any lights going on and you cannot see any guards present. The main gate does have a security guard and you can see the telltale flicker of light from several security monitors in his hut.

Robert : Hmm strange, you'd have thought a place like this would have more security.

Rashid : Definitely odd. What electronic security can wee see? is the fence electrified?

Paul : You can see several security cams around the main building, the fence is wired and.... (rolling a die to see if Rashid's character Adam spots something - the die rolls well)....you also see several thermographic sensors near the doors.

Rashid : keyed to large warm moving objects no doubt.. Clever. They don;t need many patrolling guards that way, they'll be in a nice warm security station waiting to pounce if we so much as get close to a door.

Heather : What about windows?

Paul : There are plenty!

Heather : No, I mean, is there any obvious security on the windows.

Paul : Not that you can see. The windows are all around 10 feet off the floor so they probably don;t see them as a direct entry. They may be alarmed though, you can't tell from here.

The party discuss things for a few minutes considering various plans to get in.

Robert : Okay, I get out my laptop and I want to try and get into their system (rolls a 6 sided die and adds a value representing his skill with computers, because he has a talent with computers he then rolls an extra die).. . okay I scored a 13 altogether.

Paul : Good, you are into the computer system. What do you want to do?

Robert : First Mike is going to down the fence, then knock out the thermo systems.

Paul : Okay roll on your computing again for the fence.

Robert rolls his dice and adds his rating to get.....

Robert : Yess! 19!

Paul : Well done, the fence is down and with that score you also managed to make the security system think it's still up. Excellent work Mr. Keller

Robert : Cool!

Rashid : Well done Mike.

Paul : Okay, now see what you can do with the thermographic sensors.

Robert rolls dice again.

Robert : hmm a measly 9 (a distinctly average die roll)

Paul : (thinking) okay, you have done an adequate job, the sensors appear down.

Robert : appear? what do you mean? are they down or not?

Paul : Mike thinks they are down.

Robert : Okay.

The party makes their way stealthily around to the rear of the centre and Adam cuts through the fence. They make their way to the nearest door.

Michelle : Okay, what do we make of the door.

Paul : It's a 7ft by three foot block of wood.

Michelle : Very funny, what about security?

Paul : an obvious lock and a keypad.

Rashid : Easy, Adam knows this stuff, leave it to me. (rolls a dice and adds his security skill) Paul, that's 12 in all.

Paul : Okay, the door is open. You get a distinct smell of antiseptic and you hear the hum of equipment. It's dark in the room except for a few LED's which may be on PC's or some such.

Heather : Can Jamila sense anything about the room? (referring to her psychic talent)

Paul : Hmmmmm well you get the feeling that there is a lot of pain associated with this room.

Heather : ICK!

Laurence : I feel around for the light switch.

Paul : You got it... CLICK! The light comes on. You are in a laboratory about 20 feet by 20. There is an array of fancy high tech equipment. There are a lot of lab desks with jars, beakers and test tubes. There is a large freezer unit on the left wall and a big steel door with heavy bolts and an electronic lock. There is a door on the far wall with a small glass window at head height. Light comes through the pane. There are several computer terminals. One appears to have been left running. It is running a screen-saver. On the floor is a body, male, dressed in a lab coat.

Michelle : I run to the body? life signs?

Paul : He's dead no doubt, you can see that his face is covered in small puncture wounds.

Michelle : How small?

Paul : tiny.

Michelle : I don;t like the look of this at all. Okay, Mike, check out the computer terminal, Adam the big steel door. Alan take a look through all this gear and tell me what you think it's for. jamila? could you help me make sense of this chemistry set?

Heather : sure Robyn.

The Storyteller takes each player in turn.

Paul : Okay Mike. The computer is still logged in. Careless. There are all manner of applications available. a lot of them seem to be to do with genetics. There is a complex molecule on the application which is running. You can't make head or tale of it. Adam, the door is very solid. The lock works with a swipe card. You might be able to jury rig a bypass. The bolts are conventional but very heavy and strong.

Rashid : hmmm Locks on the outside... interesting.. wonder what's in there...

Paul : Alan, there is a gene sequencer and several electron microscopes. There is a spectroscopy unit and a number of low intensity ruby lasers. These lasers seem to focus on a particular gizmo which you haven't seen before.

Laurence : Energy requirements?

Paul : this gizmo must need a lot of juice from the looks of it.

Laurence : Hmmm high energy system, laser focusing.. gene sequencers... I need to think about this.

Paul : Jamila and Robyn. Looks like someone is doing some major league brewing in here. You see all manner of paraphernalia. There is definitely a genetic leaning to all the gear though. There are a lot of sample jars. You also have a number of petrie dishes which appear to be growing cultures. They are in a sealed unit.

Robyn : Okay nobody open that.

Paul : You also not that there are a lot of diagrams of insects on the walls and there are some sample jars containing a number of living bugs, moths, beetles and the like. One of the jars is over on it's side and the lid has come off, it looks like whatever was in there got out...

Robyn : Marvellous.everyone quiet... what do we hear?

Paul : Hmmm there is a low buzzing noise like tiny wings....it's coming form above you.

Rashid : I look up, what do I see?

Paul : You see several large black bugs on the ceiling.....

Party : AAAARGH!!!

What happens next depends on the character's actions, the dice rolls they make and the decisions of the Storyteller, as you can see role-playing is more like interactive stories than cludo or monopoly. Now, take a look through the rest of the site, find a game and let's get cracking.