A “quiz” or questionnaire of sorts, for Players, especially new ones, that a GM would likely very much want to know the results of, to help better slant the game toward the players’ interests.

1. Do you understand and like the concept of the “party” or group of players’ characters, being formed either by chance or design, traveling and exploring together, as friends and associates, watching each others’ backs and doing things to keep the party (and gameplay) cohesive and dynamic, in pursuit of one or more usually group goals and/or a split/share of whatever “treasure” is recovered?

2. What is your opinion thus far of the role of the Game Master (GM)? Not a particular person but the position itself, its duties, obligations and scope of world-controlling power.

3. How do you view the GM, from a Player/Character perspective? Do you consider it an adversarial role, with the PC’s competing against the GM, who is trying to “get them”?

4. Or do you see the GM as a writer/director, setting up the environment and obstacles for the PC’s to encounter and overcome, allowing them to shine and “star” in a movie or television type series or novel?

5. Or do you consider the group a form of collaborative storytelling, with the GM allowed the initial setup and segues between and for chapters, and the players providing the heroic narrative and exhibiting the virtues and dramatic excitement to keep the players and anyone else entertained?

6. Do you TRUST the GM? To do right? Not cheat, not take unfair advantage of your character or a situation, to exploit weaknesses or flaws inherent or as a result of an action, for personal reasons of revenge, rather than for the scenario/plot itself?

7. Do you see/agree in the intent of the importance of the Player and Player-Character, as well as the GM, to help provide interesting and entertaining narrative and actions and “scenes”, for everyone to enjoy, without unduly intentionally attempting to “sabotage” the adventure itself, likely “ruining” the game for everyone else, for whatever reason?

8. Do you want to play characters that start in or are part of, or have arrived in, Happytown?

9. If yes, do you want to become part of it, the town, and work toward development of it, set up your own place there, find a job/get an in-game role or social status?

10. If no, what would you like to do, as a “foundation” for the adventuring party of Player-Characters (you the players)? Do you want in the vicinity of Happytown, to do crossover type stuff, to do business with it, or would you prefer to be entirely removed from that aspect of the overall campaign, in a different location altogether with a different local “plot” and politics, which are likely to be less “intrigue” and multi-layered?

11. Do you like the idea of a headquarters at all, or would you rather play a ragged bunch of wayward drifter types that camp, stay at inns and wander from place to place, seeking out their fortune on the road and by their wits and blades?

12. If you do want a headquarters, do you prefer a town type setup, or a smaller scale such as a farm, “cleared” cave or abandoned ruin, tower, etc.?

13. Do you prefer more action/daring/stunts, more combat and/or competition, character development, plot/town/environment development and influence, NPC interaction, intrige and politics, religion, or something else not mentioned? Picking all or none isn’t wrong but it would be helpful to get a general idea of your priorities for playing the game and what you enjoy more. In other words, for you, right now, what do you like the most and what do you consider the most FUN, and vice versa, what do you have the most problems or “boredness” with?

14. Do you understand and like your character(s) and/or his “role”, in the game world in general, or the Happytown town and campaign itself? Can you imagine various pursuits and activities and objectives and motivations for your character and reasons to want to adventure, or are you drawing a blank most of the time?

15. Freeform: Anything else you can think of to say here?

The answers will help GM’s understand and develop more toward players’ interests and expectations, when possible, but remember – GM’s are PLAYERS too – and want to have FUN also – they don’t get to play one character and focus on it, they have to “run” the entire world and everyone and everything in it.

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This entry was posted by J P on Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at 3:22 pm and is filed under General RPG. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.