thread: 2006-03-08 : Between-session Activity
On 2006-03-09, Chris wrote:
In the Marginalia, Ben said:
"But what about the relationship between that play and the "big play?""
As long as we're engaging LP in some fashion- we've got play. Granted, you and me might do a character scene between sessions- we have a mini-SIS happening. Whether it is allowed to affect main game or not is irrelevant- we have all the features you'd get with play, therefore it is play.
As far as the other stuff- it isn't play but can support play. For instance, if I make a dungeon and we never use it, was that play? Not really, there was no SIS, no LP, no System in action. When we start using it, the prep then assists play as its happening.
What we can analyze in terms of Big Model is how well does a type of prep help play (in design or in play itself)? Design is definitely concerned with this, so of course we're going to look at it in that sense.
As far as between session discussions, writing fiction, drawing characters, etc.- we can consider it ranging from mental/social fiddling (about as much as fidgeting with the dice is "playing the game") ranging to prepping to produce color for play itself.
What is probably the greyest area here, though, is the role of in play kibbitzing to between session kibbitzing- since it's clear the former assists in communication in play, so I'd also assume the latter would as well...
