Draft:Outline of role-playing games

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to role-playing games:

A role-playing game (sometimes spelled as roleplaying game or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume and play out the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting or through a process of structured decision-making regarding character development. Actions taken within many games succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines.

There are several forms of role-playing games. The original form, sometimes called the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG), is conducted through discussion, whereas in live action role-playing (LARP), players physically perform their characters' actions. Both forms can have features of a storytelling game. In both TTRPGs and LARPs, often an arranger called a game master (GM) decides on the game system and setting to be used, while acting as a facilitator or referee. Each of the other players then takes on the role of a single character in the experience.

What type of thing are role-playing games?

Role-playing games can be described as all of the following:

• A form of entertainment
  • A class of games –
• A form of role-playing –

Types of role-playing games

• Tabletop role-playing game –
• Live action role-playing game –
• Role-playing video game –
• Single-player –
• Online text-based role-playing game –
• Massively multiplayer online role-playing game –
• Roleplay simulation –
• Sexual roleplay –

History of role-playing games

• Precursors of role-playing games
  • Historical reenactment
  • Improvisational theatre
  • Parlour games
  • Fantasy wargames
• History of tabletop role-playing games
  • Timeline of tabletop role-playing games
• History of live action role-playing games
• History of role-playing video games
  • History of Eastern role-playing video games
  • History of Western role-playing video games

Role-playing games

By name

• List of role-playing games by name

By country

• Polish role-playing games
• Japanese role-playing games
  • Tabletop role-playing games in Japan
• Chinese Jubensha

General role-playing games concepts

Roles

• Gamemaster –
• Player character –
• Non-player character (NPC –

Terms

• Role-playing game terms

Role-playing games organizations

• D&D Adventurers League

Persons influential in role-playing games

• List of role-playing game artists
• List of designers of role-playing games
  • Designers of D&D
    • Dave Arneson
    • Monte Cook
    • Ed Greenwood
    • Jeff Grubb
    • Gary Gygax
    • Luke Gygax
    • Laura Hickman
    • Tracy Hickman
    • Harold Johnson (game designer)
    • Robert J. Kuntz
    • Len Lakofka
    • Kim Mohan
    • Roger E. Moore
    • Douglas Niles
    • Carl Sargent
    • Lawrence Schick
    • James M. Ward

• List of female role-playing game professionals

See also

• List of role-playing game publishers
• List of role-playing game software