Agency

Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion

For this insightful episode I am joined by Scott, a.k.a @optionalrule, and we talk about the incredibly important topic of agency. It's a term that gets bandied around a lot, carrying with it an awful lot of weight. In this hour, Scott and I begin to unpack some of that weight and how it can drastically and dramatically impact the gameplay experience. Starting by clarifying some common misconceptions and misinterpretations, we define what "agency" really is within the TTRPG experience. When you have so many options on the table, where do you draw the line? Indeed, the GM is player too with their own pool of agency, and it's that trading of agency which leads to interesting and dynamic games. We finish on the importance of trust, something not always directly associated with agency, but the two are often intrinsically linked. The more you trust each other, the more you're willing to part with to increase the enjoyment of everyone at the table, and I can't think of a more poetic explanation than that!

• 02:30 - Nobody puts agency in the the corner - the common misconceptions
• 13:33 - What constitutes "meaningful" actions
• 24:16 - Taking player agency away through in-game mechanics
• 42:04 - An ethical tug of war - sacrificing agency for others
• 52:43 - Railroading versus sandbox - the analysis paralysis of too much agency

Follow Scott (@optionalrule) on:

• Website: https://optionalrule.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/optionalrule
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optionalrule/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7AoQ6KbaZQqhdO7heKPqw

Follow me on:

• Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Danilo_DnD
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinking_critically_dnd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingCriticallyDnD

References:

• Dungeons, Dice & Dudes

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod