Role-Playing Mastery is the 1987 book by Gary Gygax examining many facets of RPGs. In these days of examining the words of the old masters for clues towards traversing the One True Path, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at this one in-depth and see what interesting bits we can take from it.
Several notes...
This being a 1987 work, it's hardly a seminal work from the pre-commodified period of the hobby, nor is it from Gygax's prime creative period. Gygax was already gone from TSR and D&D was out of his hands. Yet the book is mainly about D&D, despite examples concerning other RPGs thrown out there as a token of "general application."
The most surprising thing I read is that Gygax mentions continuing to develop monsters that he will submit for AD&D use (page 115). The mention of the Dungeoneer and Wilderness Survival Guides in the text dispel the notion that this book was an earlier effort that was published much later than written. So then... through what venue were these monsters to be presented?
The most assuring thing upon my latest re-read of the book was that even though Gygax uses and puts an emphasis on the dreaded "F" word that we do not use in this house, he doesn't use it in the way that has caused me to consider it an obscenity. Gygax considers role-playing a skill that needs to be trained and developed with great care and effort. "Role-Playing Mastery" isn't self-congratulatory advice to have great fun, it's a process one undertakes in order to gain the greatest benefits from the hobby one has chosen to undertake. I think our little bloggy community should have a happy grin as it is practicing and promoting a Gygaxian approach to Game Mastery (rather than simply practicing and promoting a Gygaxian game).
As a final note to this introductory post: My copy was bought used several years ago. A previous owner's name is written on the first page, one M. Wendy Hennequin. It's always fun to do an internet search of names you find scribbled on the inside of books.
Several notes...
This being a 1987 work, it's hardly a seminal work from the pre-commodified period of the hobby, nor is it from Gygax's prime creative period. Gygax was already gone from TSR and D&D was out of his hands. Yet the book is mainly about D&D, despite examples concerning other RPGs thrown out there as a token of "general application."
The most surprising thing I read is that Gygax mentions continuing to develop monsters that he will submit for AD&D use (page 115). The mention of the Dungeoneer and Wilderness Survival Guides in the text dispel the notion that this book was an earlier effort that was published much later than written. So then... through what venue were these monsters to be presented?
The most assuring thing upon my latest re-read of the book was that even though Gygax uses and puts an emphasis on the dreaded "F" word that we do not use in this house, he doesn't use it in the way that has caused me to consider it an obscenity. Gygax considers role-playing a skill that needs to be trained and developed with great care and effort. "Role-Playing Mastery" isn't self-congratulatory advice to have great fun, it's a process one undertakes in order to gain the greatest benefits from the hobby one has chosen to undertake. I think our little bloggy community should have a happy grin as it is practicing and promoting a Gygaxian approach to Game Mastery (rather than simply practicing and promoting a Gygaxian game).
As a final note to this introductory post: My copy was bought used several years ago. A previous owner's name is written on the first page, one M. Wendy Hennequin. It's always fun to do an internet search of names you find scribbled on the inside of books.
"'Role-Playing Mastery' isn't self-congratulatory advice to have great fun, it's a process one undertakes in order to gain the greatest benefits from the hobby one has chosen to undertake."
ReplyDeleteI think Nabokov called this the pursuit of 'aesthetic bliss' -- which sounds a bit too tea-&-crumpets maybe. I do agree that the goal should be to make the game experience richer. This is a lot more complex than throwing scads of 'cool shit' at the players. We should be trying to provoke them rather than seeking ways to constantly appease them.
As it goes, I unexpectedly received a copy of this book as a Christmas gift, though I am yet to read it. I look forward to the rest of your thoughts on the text.
ReplyDeleteI love synchronicity. You write this, and I write what I wrote...and I had no idea we would conflict.
ReplyDeleteVery funny.
Assistant Professor Wendy Hennequin teaches courses in medieval literature, British literature, world literature, and composition.
ReplyDeleteHeh, figures a professor would buy a book on "Role Playing Mastery".