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[Silent]

Why do people roleplay as themselves in an ARG?

[Degausser]

My understanding is that it's an extension of the TINAG trope; the distance between player and game is reduced (that is, the game is played on the platform of 'real life'), and therefore, your interaction with it matches that closeness. Since tabletop RPGs are played in a separate, created world that exists only in the minds of the players, interaction takes place through a character that ALSO only exists in the players mind.

That's my guess anyways.

[krystyn]

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, ARGs take up so much of my time already, you mean I gotta figure out what perfume my character likes to wear, and what's in her fridge, too???



I think for a lot of people the enjoyment of an ARG comes from the Alternate Reality that they can exist in, as themselves - it's enough of a removal from their normal lives that it's exciting, but they still get the benefit of the excitement because it happened to THEM, and not some character that is decidedly not them.

Does that make sense?

Players of an ARG are the heroes. It is fun to really feel like a hero, sometimes, instead of donning a cape and pretending someone else is.

[Rogi Ocnorb]

If there's a rule that says I have to be "myself", I'll just quit the genre, now.
Anybody want to buy a slightly used pink tutu and some matching size 14 toe shoes?

[Star Spider]

RPG's & ARG's

[anonymousloli]

In all honesty, I do not roleplay as "myself" but as who I would be in that reality. Monsters are commonplace in that reality? Then I wouldn't be afraid of them.

For instance, in one of the games I'm playing there are beings that can cross from other dimensions. I imagine that in that reality, I would have known this, because I wouldn't be entirely surprised if that were true in THIS reality.

Basically you roleplay a version of you that fits the story best.

[Caz]

How I see it is that in RPG's you are in some why super human you can have gun fights or throw fire balls. But you only do this in side the system of the game and all you have to do is roll a dice. In an ARG you play with only you own wits and knowledge, because any thing you do you have to do your self. so you can play as your self with out making a alter ego with in the system. But there nothing to stop you character that has the same skill set.

But can't say I going to going to play an world class hacker in this game when you don't have the skills to back it up. you just look a fool after week of biging you self up on the forum and then you get a puzzle with a java codes and you ask what java is. saying your a mage will make you look even more of a idiot.

well if were all have to play as characters now here's my character sheet

CaZ
Level 4 ARGer

Sta 10 Dex 9 Con 10 Int 16 Wis 12 Chr 7

Computer 55%
Code braking 40%
Occult 20%
Research 20%
Spelling -15%
Melee 15%

Can summon an internet sprite to find a website once per day per every 2 levels

[dr_worm]

ARGs are supposed to supposed to be treated like reality. RPGs, on the other hand, are pure imaginative fantasy, a sort of escape from reality. RPG means role-playing game, and therefore, in an RPG, you role-play as someone else. In an Alternate Reality Game, however, the goal is to make the experience as real as possible. Unless you have multiple-personality disorder, playing an ARG as someone other than yourself takes away from the surreal realism present in the game.

That's my take on it.

[Rekidk]

Because ARGs take place in our world--or at least through some connection to our world--we must be the characters. If a player emails a character in an ARG saying that he (the player) will use magic powers on the character to possess them, the character will ignore the player. Why? Because it's not possible for a player to do such a thing in our world!

Yes, you have to roleplay a bit--like others have said, most people coming across some sort of online criminal activity would probably report it to the police, not try to take it into their own hands--but that's still a possible action for a normal human being. Casting fireball spells is not a possible action for a normal human being.

And why do ARGs take place in our world (or through some connection to it)? Because if they did not, it would ruin TINAG. A player should never have to roleplay a situation outside of the game; in other words, the game should not say, "On Earth, magic exists and all of you can use it." It could, however, say, "On Mars, where we are, there is magic. Unfortunately, you are on Earth and cannot use magic." A game could not say, "You are on Mars." Because you're not.

Does this make sense?

[konamouse]

However, we did play a game that took place in Perplex City - that was NOT of this Earth. And sometimes we play on Earth, but in the FUTURE!

We play according to the world as designed by the PM. How did we communicate with the future in Year ZERO? Or in The Beast?

We play ourselves (human beings who use a computer and the internet) but we are not restricted to be ourselves (many times I've used a persona that is younger and unmarried - allows me to flirt with characters).

[Rekidk]

[myf]

Yes, as far as I was ever aware, Perplex City itself was in some other world somewhere. But we were always the "Earth Contingent" (or Earth Division, or whatever else we were called), because players and characters knew that somehow the Cube had been transported to and hidden somewhere on Earth, and in this time and reality (rather than 200 years in the future for example).

[FLmutant]

Re: Why do people roleplay as themselves in an ARG?

[Silent|away]

[Silent|away]

Um, doublepost, but what I meant is, this is probraly the reason why I don't RP as me, but most people raise valid points on why RPing as you is good. I hope that previous post isn't preachy or bad or anything.