Back to the EPM HomepageThis guide is primarily for those poor souls that haven't played many (or any) fantasy roleplaying games. We're going to ease you through the experience of joining a new world. If you've done some gaming, know what a rpg is, but are unfamiliar with play by mail gaming then look at this explanation page.
The basic answer to that question is "imagining you are a character in a fantasy world." A young child swinging a stick at a tree while imagining he's a knight in shining armor battling with a fierce dragon... that is fantasy roleplaying. Or maybe she's imagining the tree is Darth Vader, and she's dueling with light sabers to save the universe. I consider such play acting to be a step beyond day dreaming. Once you assume a role in a fantasy world within your imagination you are fantasy roleplaying.
A good book or movie will capture you... it will make you feel as if you're part of the fantasy world created by the book or movie. To enjoy the fantasy world of Star Wars or Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is a wonderful experience. Taking part in a good fantasy roleplaying game will go far beyond the pleasure of being an observer in a fantasy world. In a fantasy roleplaying game you become a player, and are able to interact with the imaginary fantasy world. The imaginary role that you play is referred to as your "character."
Sure thing. Let's imagine we're watching a play. The person who wrote the play created characters to be in the play. If the play is a murder mystery, then there's probably a detective character or two, a victim character (a small role most likely), and lots of suspect characters. Now a play is not a fantasy roleplaying game because the characters have specific lines to say, predetermined actions, and roles they cannot deviate from.
But if we threw away the script for the play, gave a different audience member control of each character, and had the characters say and do as the controlling audience member dictated then we'd have something very close to a fantasy roleplaying game. You'd no longer be a passive audience member. Instead you'd be controlling a character within the play. One vital aspect is missing though, the game moderator.
Even though we've tossed out the script of the play, and given control of each character in the play to an audience member we still need a director to moderate the play. The director would introduce the setting and general story line. Perhaps our hypothetical murder mystery play is taking place at a tropical island resort hotel, where a high school class is having their 20th class reunion. It would fall on the director to make sure the characters understood where they were and what was around them. For the play to get really started the director would arrange events so that the murder takes place. After that the characters still alive could try to do whatever they want... AND the director would be the person deciding how whatever actions the characters wanted to do turn out.
So it's the game moderator who oversees the action of the game. Imagine you're a character in a medieval setting, looking for a chalice rumored to have the power to protect your city from a disease which is sweeping the land. It's up to you to decide how your character is going to look for (and hopefully find) the chalice. If you want to ask the elders of the village for any legends or stories about the chalice then that's what you'll tell the game moderator (otherwise known as GM). The GM will then tell you what happens when your character approaches the elders for help. Let's assume the elders point your character towards a long-deserted monastery, thought to now be the lair of a fire-breathing dragon. As your character prepares for the journey, travels to the monastery, and deals with whatever lurks there you will be interacting with the GM. You'll decide what your character does or tries to do, and the GM will tell you what actually happens.
It's important to realize here that this gaming experience is not a competitive game pitting you against the GM. Rather it's the two of you having fun developing and participating in an imaginary story. Want to slay a dragon? Fly a spaceship? Rescue a prince or princess? With a GM controlling the story and you roleplaying a character you are ready to play a fantasy roleplaying game.