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The act of roleplaying is a communal creative process, which turns social interactions into the basis for a fictional story. Every player has to take on a fictional role, assuming the mantel and personality of a made up character, and then acting as that character, interacting with others and the world in an imaginative way to tell an overall story. It is a living process which can change at the drop of a hat, and so the style of the people involved can be very important to the outcome of the story told.

Some people prefer a loose and laid back style of storytelling. This method allows jokes to be told, and out of character comments to be made at appropriate times. It is an easy, comfortable experience. The up side of all of this is that each person has the ability to express unfettered freedom, enacting whatever actions they feel will be most enjoyable for the group. The drawback is that the story can often be derailed by silliness, or inconsequential matters.

A stricter, more rigid style will often have characters following what is almost a script. You dont actually have a script, or pre written lines which the players must recite, but there are many rules as to the nature of the interactions and a strict guideline as to how the narrative of the story should unfold. In these cases the authority, whoever that may be, is usually given a large amount of power to regulate the entire process. The draw is that you always get a quality story that makes logical sense. The problem which often arises is that this methodology can actually be rather restrictive, stealing much of the creativity from the game and replacing it with tedium and boring work.

In most cases, the best way to handle a roleplaying session is with a certain amount of balance. You want to understand things from both perspectives. In some cases it’s a good idea to be silly. In others it’s important to maintain a serious atmosphere, in order to support the illusion of the game.

The idea is to create the most enjoyable experience for the players, and as such you should strive to make sure that everyone is comfortable and feels engaged. You have to balance humor against stuffyness, strict rules versus good story telling, a mixed balance of both sides of the game will allow you to explore the full depth of the creative experience.

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