Let’s Roleplay: An NSA Connection to the World of Imagination
By Keziah H.
Fantasy role play board game still life concept. by FotoHelin from FotoHelin Images Created in Canva
Imagination, or the ability to think beyond reality to come up with new ideas, is a vital skill in life, though different from academic skills that are normally taught in school. However, it is often difficult to think creatively, especially for those who have not had practice. Enter the world of roleplays.
Roleplays, or RPs, as they are often called for short, are adventures of the imagination. They can be played online, as a board game, or even just by talking. These adventures might include tales of knights and dragons, a science-fiction storyline, or even something completely chaotic like a food fight. The only thing that is necessary is a good imagination and a friend or two. Or a lot more- the Dungeons and Dragons chat has around eighteen members and is still going strong. At NSA, there are two main types of RPs: chat-based and table-top. Both are fun and engaging, but there are some key differences to note.
Chat-based RPs have a simple format. The leader creates a chat and a concept for the plot of the game, and the game is played in Microsoft Teams, where the words and actions are written in Teams messages. The leader decides what actions the characters are allowed to take, but the rules are usually only very loosely defined, and almost anything can be part of the storyline. For example, in a game about wolves, a student created a magical talking wolf who drinks enchanted water and starts growing and shrinking in size randomly. As long as the creator of the game says it is fair, anything and everything can happen – and usually does.
Tabletop or board game role-playing games, on the other hand, have a more rigid design. As in the chat roleplays, players have control over how their character looks and acts, but the result of those actions is ultimately decided by the roll of the dice, literally. In the most famous RPG, Dungeons and Dragons, participants must roll a twenty-sided dice to determine whether their action succeeds or fails, one being a critical failure and twenty an instant success. The Dungeon Master controls all non-player characters, and instructs the players in their quest.
Though both chat-based and tabletop RPs are both similar in that they improve imagination and collaboration, many people have definite preferences for one or the other. Some people prefer the simpler chat RPs because there are not as many rules to remember. There is also more control over the character’s destiny. However, the tabletop game has its own merits. Graham, the current leader and Dungeon Master of the Dungeons and Dragons group at NSA, summarizes, “Dungeons and Dragons creates more depth to the characters, since you can use their stats to flesh them out, and also make the scope of your allies, and your enemies abilities a lot more precise and quantifiable. The fact that ability checks are required to perform certain actions also builds tension and makes the story you're in feel a lot more intense and engaging.”
Roleplays are important not only because they encourage creativity, but they foster cooperation and friendship among those who join. Caleb, a student involved in several RPs, explains that he loves the roleplay groups because “they can be for creative people and non-creative people. It does not matter. I would suggest people to get into them because they are enjoyable and fun and give people a better sense of community.” Caleb has joined dozens of role-playing games. Though he is not the most active member, he enjoys getting to know his friends through their crazy misadventures. The truth is, the sky is the limit when it comes to RPs. So why not begin a new adventure?
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Keziah H. lives in East Africa with her parents, two brothers, and a mischievous puppy named Bandit. This is her fourth year at Northstar but her first year at the Navigator. She likes to read almost any book she can get her hands on, but especially fantasy books. She also enjoys creative writing, coming up with awesome ideas with her brothers, and playing outside. She has been writing stories ever since she can remember and hopes to be an author when she grows up.