Definitions

I'm a sucker for definitions. I love the way they lay everything out in a logical, succinct way.

At the end of each of his essays dedicated to a specific style of play (Simulationism, Gamism, and Narrativism), Edwards provides a glossary of terms at issue. These are the definitions that concern Character Components from "Gamism: Step on Up":

"Character Components: the features of a role-playing character. All are present for all characters, even if one or more is not explicitly part of the textual rules. See Effectiveness, Metagame, and Resource."

"Effectiveness [as a Character Component]: any quantities used to determine success or extent of an action."

"Metagame [as a Character Component]: all positioning and behavioral statements about the character, as well as player rights to override the existing Effectiveness rules."

"Resource [as a Character Component]: any available usable pool upon which Effectiveness or Metagame mechanics may draw, or which are reduced to reflect harm to the character."

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To which Ron Edwards responded:

​With the proviso, I hope, that these glossaries were works in progress the whole time, for use by a very limited number of people who were talking rapidly with one another and playing games a mile a minute. Nothing in them should be regarded as finished; they are best seen as handholds during a frenetic rock-climb, not as its pinnacle.