The Hawkes-Robinson RPG Model: RPG Formats
About the Hawkes-Robinson RPG Model
This model is by RPG Research's founder, W.A. Hawkes-Robinson aka "Hawke Robinson".
What Is A Role-Playing Game?
The Hawkes-Robinson Role-Playing Game Model: The 4 RPG Formats
This portion of the RPG Model is meant to help gain, at a practical level, better understanding about which activities are role-playing games, and which are not role-playing games.
These are fuzzy boundaries really, but there are some extremes that we can establish consensus about what is and is not an RPG at the far ends of the spectra.
We start with the extremes of what everyone can agree is an RPG (quintessential RPG is the original Dungeons & Dragons, now retronymed "OD&D"), and on the other end of the spectra, what is not an RPG (Tetris, Candyland boardgames, Poker cardgames, etc.).
This process has lead to the development of 4 top-tier assignations of the 4 RPG Formats.
Video lectures explaining further
The more recent links are near the top, and the older, earlier versions, further down the list.
Introduction to the RPG Formats
Additional video, audio, and text links on this topic pending. You can find on our Youtube channel until then.
Accessibility & Inclusiveness Considerations for Role-Playing Gamers
Level 1 Volunteer Trainee Focus on TRPG Format
- RPG Training Tiers 1-2 - Mon. Dec 29, 2019 TRPG & BFRPG training. TRPG Format (Dec. 30, 2019) (Danielle Whitworth): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvcMKh-s63Q
- RPG Training Tiers 1-2 - Sun. Dec 29, 2019 TRPG & BFRPG training. TRPG Format (Dec 29, 2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsGIQPEKIT8
Additional video, audio, and text links on this topic pending. You can find on our Youtube channel until then.
Level 1 Volunteer Trainee Focus on LRPG Format
Additional video, audio, and text links on this topic pending. You can find on our Youtube channel until then.
Level 1 Volunteer Trainee Focus on ERPG Format
Additional video, audio, and text links on this topic pending. You can find on our Youtube channel until then.
Level 1 Volunteer Trainee Format on HRPG Format
Additional video, audio, and text links on this topic pending. You can find on our Youtube channel until then.
Level 1 Volunteer Trainee: Discussion on Different RPG Formats
RPG Research Pros & Cons of all 4 Role-playing Game Formats: CRPG, LARP, SABM, TRPG (Aug 4, 2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCkRTDe7MIA
Notes on RPG Formats Discussion
Looking at the RPG Formats "Amoeba" Venn-ish diagram, discuss first the examples of what are “Not RPGs” and verify consensus for agreement from the participants.
Then discuss and find consensus that OD&D is the quintessential RPG.
Then everything else in between is fuzzy fuzzy boundaries between these ends of the spectra: "Not RPG" and "RPG".
Then start covering the 4 Major formats (TRPG, LRPG, ERPG, & HRPG), and some of their subtypes.
Very briefly showing examples for outliers like IF, and how they relate to "inliers" like SABMs, etc.
Each format it then delved into more deeply in the 4 separate format sessions later.
RPG Format Discussion: TRPG
RPG Format Discussion: LRPG
RPG Format Discussion: ERPG
RPG Format Discussion: HRPG
RPG Sub-format Discussions
RPG Sub-format Discussion: HRPG: SABM
RPG Sub-format Discussion: HRPG: SABM: SAB
RPG Sub-format Discussion: HRPG: SABM: SAM
RPG Sub-format Discussion: HRPG: Diceless
RPG Sub-format Discussion: ERPG: ARPG
RPG Sub-format Discussion: ERPG: CRPG
RPG Sub-format Discussion: LRPG: Larp
Non-RPG Format Discussions
Non-RPG Format Discussion: IF (analog and electronic interactive fiction / branching narrative non-game)
Non-RPG Format Discussion: IF: CYOA (trademark specific sub-format)
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Reinactment Groups
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Reinactment Groups: SCA
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Wargames (board, miniature, military live-action, others)
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Audio Books
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Game Books
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Board Games
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Card Games
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Dice Games
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Gambling
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Literature / Story-telling
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Theater/Drama/Improv Role-play
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Dinner Theater (audience limited participation a la Medieval Times, etc.)
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Participatory Mystery Dinner/Theater (audience participation)
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Therapeutic Role-Play (non-gaming)
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Board Games
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Sports
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Challenge Courses
Non-RPG Format Discussion: Video Games
Non-RPG Format Discussion: <pending>
Pros & Cons of each RPG Format
- RPG Format Pros & Cons: TRPG
- RPG Format Pros & Cons: LRPG
- RPG Format Pros & Cons: ERPG
- RPG Format Pros & Cons: HRPG
Caveats for specific role-playing game systems/settings (advisory game tier rankings):
TRPG Game Tiers
LRPG Game Tiers (coming soon, see TRPG page for now)
ERPG Game Tiers (coming soon, see TRPG page for now)
HRPG Game Tiers (coming soon, see TRPG page for now)
Disclaimer
ADVISORY NOTE: AS WITH EVERYTHING AT RPG RESEARCH, ALL INFORMATION IS PROPOSED BASED ON THE LATEST RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-IN-PRACTICE INFORMATION. WE WELCOME DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS, PERSPECTIVES FROM MANY DISCIPLINES, ALTERNATE THEORIES, AND ESPECIALLY _CONSTRUCTIVE_ CRITICISM AND FEEDBACK. AS WITH EVERYTHING AT RPG RESEARCH IT IS AN ITERATIVE BEST EFFORT APPROACH THAT GROWS THROUGH THE INVOLVEMENT OF MORE AND DIVERSE CONTRIBUTORS.
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