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".

Reference Link




What Is A Role-Playing Game?

Reference Link



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, a 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, Chess: boardgames; Poker, Hearts, Cribbage; 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

Reference Link



Tabletop TRPG Format



Additional video, audio, and text links on this topic pending. You can find on our Youtube channel until then.



Live-action LRPG Format



Additional video, audio, and text links on this topic pending. You can find on our Youtube channel until then.




Electronic ERPG Format


Additional video, audio, and text links on this topic pending. You can find on our Youtube channel until then.



Hybrid HRPG Format


Additional video, audio, and text links on this topic pending. You can find on our Youtube channel until then.






Solo Adventure Books & Modules SABM Sub-format of the HRPG Format






History of Interactive Fiction (IF), Solo Adventures (SA), and Solo Role-Playing Game Books & Modules (SAB / SAM)






Focus on SAB





Focus on SAM





Legal Ramifications between SAB and SAM













Volunteer Trainee: Discussion on Different RPG Formats













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)


The following video is somewhat out of date from the latest terminology, but other than the specific initialisms, the concepts mostly hold up still

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




Disclaimers

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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