A typology of table-top players

Matt Miller

A table-top players. And what's more classic than the DnD alignment system? 

1. "Strivers" (LG) Players who want to advance the plot and level up their characters.
2. "Listeners" (NG) Into the story being told, but a participant on an ad-hoc basis.
3. "Thespians) (CG) Enriches the game with an engaging, dramatic, memorable character.
4. "Min-maxers!" (LN) Use and abuse of the rules to combo abilities and effects together in crazy and sometimes awesome ways. Can be game-breaking.
5. "Socializers" (NN) Doesn't care about the game, is just here to hang out with friends. Would happily watch a movie instead.
6. "Mad man" (CN) Uses a roleplaying game as an opportunity to be feckless, reckless, and wild. Isn't out to wreck your plot, but acts like a maniac, always doing something. Easily bored.
7. "Rules Lawyer" (LE) Anal about enforcing the rules, to the detriment of both plot and role-playing.
8. "Distracted" (NE) Not paying attention. Vanished into their phone. Enjoys side-coversations, but prefers them to the game, and will not shut up.
9. "Troll" (CE) Is playing a meta-game, vs. the DM. Foments party discord, kills critical NPCs, ignores the plot.

In general:

• Good: Active participants in the game, furthering it.
• Neutral: Along for the ride
• Evil: Tends to fuck up your game.

• Lawful: Into the rules of the game
• Neutral: Obedient to rules
• Chaotic: Don't feel constrained by the rules. They do things on the fly and expect the GM to wing it. Thespians tend to improv to enhance the story; madmen tend to just do things to see if they can; trolls try to push the GM to breaking point. Will justify actions by saying say "But that's what my character would do!"