Playing to learn who you are
Stories are universal. Every human culture has them.
It’s the same with games.
That should tell you something.
You can come up with clever explanations for that. “Stories instil values and morals”. “Games build skills and teamwork”.
Those explanations are probably correct and definitely incomplete.
They are so much more than that.
Immersing yourself in a story - and what could be more immersive than a tabletop RPG? - takes you out of your head for a while.
It doesn’t just let you imagine what it’s like to be powerful, a hero and with a clear purpose. Your character is you, but a different you from the usual one.
Some folks say we all wear masks, all the time, even when alone. If that’s true, then playing as a character for an hour or three means swapping out your tired, well-worn mask for a fresh one.
If you don’t see the value in that, there’s a lot about people you’ve yet to learn.
Roleplaying lets you try on a different persona and see what you like. You can be more assertive, or calmer, or more impulsive, or more diligent, or more violent, or more compassionate, all without social or material costs to you.
That’s a clever explanation, both correct and incomplete.
The more games like this you play, the better you’ll understand yourself. That’s just the way it works.
So play more.
Explore more.
Try character concepts you wouldn’t normally. If you hate it, that tells you something about yourself. If you enjoy it, same thing.
Play more and play better.
And I’ll be right here with you, rolling at your side.
If you want to craft a character that’s better than the usual - more fun for you, the other players and the GM - then you’ll want to check out Unboring Backstories. It covers the common mistakes to avoid, while also giving you some fun, new ways to think about your new character.
And you can get it for free, if you want it, simply by signing up to my email list: