Players
There are two distinct types of TTRPG players: Players and Game Masters. This section deals with Players. Imagine making a movie (an analogy we use often in these rules). The Game Master is akin to a director, behind the camera, setting scenes, checking with the SFX department to make sure the animatronic beast is working. The Players are akin to the leading actors of the film. Players will assume the role of a character. Unlike the movie analogy, their character is created by them. They will choose its name, its looks, its powers, its hair color, and its tragic backstory, all without the interference of writers.
Like actors in a movie, there is no one way to play a character. Some will create a new voice, complete with an accent, to play their characters. Some will use their natural voice. Some will act using their personal sensibilities. Some will have distinctly different sensibilities for their characters. What they won't have is a script. When the GM sets a scene, each player will, in turn, improvise their actions for that scene. The options available to them are limited only by the character they chose to play, but few other limitations exist. Players may choose for their characters to interact heavily with the scenery, run away, confer with other players, challenge the beast, hide from the beast, or use one or more of their special powers (described later).
These acts of player agency combine to create the overall story. The Players will act; the GM will formulate reactions. The back-and-forth cycle repeats until the scenario is played out, i.e., the beast is dead, the beast has fled, the players have defeated the beast at checkers. Whatever the outcome, there is usually an obvious time for the GM and the players to move on to the next scenario.
Winning the Game
Many Players new to RPGs ask how the game is won, and they are startled to learn there is no "winning condition." Like many activities, RPGs remain one of the few games where the point of the game is simply the enjoyment of playing. There are certainly going to be times when scenarios get tense. Surviving a difficult battle can be considered a small 'win'. Gaining power for your character is a win. Learning new skills and powers for your character is a win.
Other metrics for "winning" will vary from player to player. A few examples include:
- Toppling the reign of terror of the BBEG (big bad evil guy)
- Building a physical legacy, such as a castle or a fleet of ships
- Acquiring a legacy item of epic power or proportions
- Taking control of a political region or settlement
As play continues from a single session to an enduring campaign. One or all of these examples become possible, creating a story and a legacy for the Player's character.
Next Concept
Character creation in Will to Power is as easy as pushing a button. Perhaps a few buttons.
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