Dialogue and interaction in role-playing games
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Frans Mäyrä
Abstract
Dialogue is central to role-playing games (RPGs). It serves multiple purposes, some of which are related to its functional role in mediating in-game clues or actions, some to the role of language in the collaborative construction of shared fantasy. The aim of this chapter is to identity the multiple functions dialogue has in role-playing games, and to provide illustrative examples and analyses of typical and inventive applications of dialogue in role-play. The examples are also chosen to highlight the similarities and differences between such RPG forms as table-top, pen-and-paper RPGs, larp or live-action role-play, as well as single-player and multiplayer, online computer role-playing games.
Abstract
Dialogue is central to role-playing games (RPGs). It serves multiple purposes, some of which are related to its functional role in mediating in-game clues or actions, some to the role of language in the collaborative construction of shared fantasy. The aim of this chapter is to identity the multiple functions dialogue has in role-playing games, and to provide illustrative examples and analyses of typical and inventive applications of dialogue in role-play. The examples are also chosen to highlight the similarities and differences between such RPG forms as table-top, pen-and-paper RPGs, larp or live-action role-play, as well as single-player and multiplayer, online computer role-playing games.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Creating characters through dialogue
- Pragmatic stylistics and dramatic dialogue 19
- Dialogue and character in 21st century TV drama 37
- Look who’s talking 55
- All talk 77
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Part II. Involvement, audience design and social interaction
- Studying everyday conversation 95
- Dialogic interactions on radio 117
- Dialogism in journalistic discourse 137
- Friends and followers ‘in the know’ 155
- Dialogue with computers 179
-
Part III. Playfulness and narrative functions of dialogue
- Dialogue in Audiophonic Fiction 205
- Dialogue in comics 225
- Dialogue in video games 251
- Dialogue and interaction in role-playing games 271
- Index 291
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Creating characters through dialogue
- Pragmatic stylistics and dramatic dialogue 19
- Dialogue and character in 21st century TV drama 37
- Look who’s talking 55
- All talk 77
-
Part II. Involvement, audience design and social interaction
- Studying everyday conversation 95
- Dialogic interactions on radio 117
- Dialogism in journalistic discourse 137
- Friends and followers ‘in the know’ 155
- Dialogue with computers 179
-
Part III. Playfulness and narrative functions of dialogue
- Dialogue in Audiophonic Fiction 205
- Dialogue in comics 225
- Dialogue in video games 251
- Dialogue and interaction in role-playing games 271
- Index 291
