To understand inappropriate roleplaying in video games, we first need to understand what role playing is. Role playing is a type of game where players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through acting or through a process of structured decision-making regarding character development. Players must abide by a formal system of rules and guidelines during play. In this type of play, the players are fully immersed in the gameplay. Unlike games where players sit and play passively, they are involved in what happens next in the game. Their actions direct the play. Players take on the persona of the character in the game and commit to living out their character during game play.
Read more about Toxic Gaming Behavior: Doxxing.
There are different types of role play games (RPG’s), from tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons to role play video games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
What is inappropriate role playing in video games?
There are rules that are meant to be followed in RPG’s. With that said, inappropriate role playing can take on many forms. Here are some examples:
- Killing everyone in the game: Instead of playing by the rules, a player my try to kill everyone in the game.
- Twinking: This is when characters act nonsensically from an in character perspective. This is a violation of realism and believability.
- Cheesing: This is forcing the plot or expected outcome of roleplay by invoking an unmentioned fact.
- Munchkin: A munchkin is a roleplayer show plays a non-competitive gave in an aggressively non-competitive manner.
- Drop and Swap: This is when a bad roleplayers picks up and drops characters very frequently. They don’t maintain a character long enough to establish themselves.
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