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Profile of a Player: LadyRolePlay

Profile by Jay Watamaniuk Nov 20, 2002

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What started as an innocent interview with the top player at NWConnections turned into a fine two part Q&A on the world of role-playing through a computer medium. Martha Mc Dermott, A.K.A LadyRolePlay, has provided not just her thoughts on being a female RPGer but the broader world of role-playing.

This Week: We introduce the fascinating LadyRolePlay, her background, how she got into RPG games, and the state of the union on RPG's from a female perspective. Next Week: LadyRolePlay expounds on multiplayer games, gives us anecdotes and tips on how to become a multiplayer gamer and how to get into a great game.

Part 1: Anatomy of a Gamer

Q: Can you tell us your claim to fame over at Neverwinter Connections? What sort of system for ranking players Does NW Connections use?

Claim to fame at NWN Connections -- well errr, hmmm, I have for the month of October, and thus far for November, lead a category over there called "best in game" vote. This is the number of people who have voted a player, that they have played with, the best player of the game. The ranking system itself is two-fold; after the end of each game each player and the DM, gets a review sheet on each player, plus the DM himself. Then there is a scale or system based 0 to 10, with 0 being the worst, 10 the best, on several broad ranging categories. At the bottom of this is a place where one can, if they like, place a DM to their top 5 list, or vote another player best in game. Another interesting feature is in the profile sheet itself where a player can rate themselves, same scale, as role-play oriented or more an action oriented (actual words, hack and slash, but I hate the negative connotations of the phrase). DM's are rated on game design, organized play, objectivity, NPC interactions, Fun, Treasure, Challenge, Stability, Plot, Overall rating, and finally, though not counted in the ratings, how they rank along the hack and slash to role play continuum. To finish up, you also detail if the DM used excessive profanity, was late to start the game, or if this is a DM you would list among the top five. Player categories are roleplay skill, conduct, looting, problem-solving skills, teamwork, would you play with them again. A player can be checked off for being late, profanity, and of course can be voted best in game.

As with all ranking systems this one has its pros and cons. For example, many would have an overall higher percentage score because they play say, with friends, while another, who would in fact be a better player, would have a lower overall percentage score, because say they play lots of different games, and by that token leave themselves open to unhappy co-players, and that. I, myself, leave those reviews up because LOL they do stick out amongst all the good ones.

A beauty of the ratings system is that the rater is allowed to leave feedback, and the one rated, is allowed a reply response. As for the front-page rankings, which are best in-game votes, that is different. One can play a lot of games and not do very well at them and never appear on that list, and by the same token, one can play few games, be an outstanding player, and be on that top five list on a consistent basis. I know all, or almost all, of those other players on the front page because I play with them and can tell you now they ARE outstanding players and that statement is holding true for this month as well. Those rankings are based on the month to month score now, not the overall score, so I think, gives a much more true, and accurate reflection of the best role players in any given month. This is the most positive feature about Rizzen's system. It gives DM's a chance to look over a player that has applied for a game and gives a player the chance to do the same.

Say I want to schedule a game by so and so, an apply-only game. I click so and so 's name, click the blue link that brings up his review sheet and reading that document, comments and the DM rebuttal, if any, gives me a great idea if this is someone I want to play for. By the same token, I send in an application to play, the DM can go to my player stats, click the blue link and get a similar document, which is a pretty good gauge as to whether I am a suitable candidate for his game. If one were to get consistently low marks in certain areas, rather than being offended the thing to do is to take a look at what the player needs to change. Though painful initially (no one wants low marks), I have found the ratings system itself to be a wonderful tool in helping me to become a better player, to use that feedback system to refine and perfect myself as a player, and also as a way to grow into playing different types of characters.

To check out Neverwinter Connections: http://www.neverwinterconnections.com/ and LadyRolePlay's profile on Neverwinter Connections.

Q: How did you get started in role-playing games? Are you a Dungeon and Dragons fan?

Hmmm… role playing games, well those do indeed go back to my college days as an undergrad and grad student. Like so many others, Tolkien grabbed hold of my imagination and so I was primed for the arrival of Dungeons and Dragons. A group of us would get together of a Friday evening, and play through 'til Monday morning. We all slept off and on on the living room floor and *shakes head* we were just holed up all weekend long, don't think any of us bothered going outside that house the entire weekend for anything, as far as I can recall..... It was a blast, but that came to a halt with the end of my college days. *Shrugs* real life took hold and that was that.

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