Diegetic Communication

The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Examples

Tabletop Roleplaying Games such as Dungeons & Dragons and the Storytelling System encourages players to roleplay by speaking as their characters but this is difficult to do consistency since players and game masters need to discuss rules sometimes. Massive Multiplayer versions such as Eve Online and World of Warcraft automate rules and most game masters tasks but players may still need to talk to each other about rules and thereby cannot always use Diegetic Communication.

Using the pattern

The design goal of Diegetic Communication is often not to make it the only form of communication in a game but to encourage it to the best possible level and ensure that different types of communication do not interfere with each other. Per its definition, Diegetic Communication is not compatible with Non-Diegetic Communication and designing for each is largely a case of minimizing the other of compartmentalizing them.

Communication Channels can both provide a medium for players to engage in Diegetic Communication, and by providing several players can more easily police themselves to keep specific ones reserved for Diegetic Communication. Dialogues is a special case of this where the game systems can ensure that all communication is diegetic.

Having Diegetic Communication is often seen as something that improves Roleplaying. Live Action Roleplaying typically requires talking between players, and having this as Diegetic Communication is in contrast seen as one of the main features of the gaming style. For this type of gaming Meta-Techniques such as Meta-Postures, Prompting Techniques, Substitute Actions exist which provide extra Communication Channels to players and can thereby keep normal conversation as Diegetic Communication.

Diegetic Aspects

Diegetic Communication is a Diegetic Pattern and designing for it is strongly related to designing for Diegetic Consistency.

Consequences

Diegetic Communication can put a twist on Social Interaction but also limit it if players find doing the Diegetic Communication difficult or uncomfortable.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Diegetic Consistency, Live Action Roleplaying

Can Modulate

Roleplaying, Social Interaction

Can Be Instantiated By

Communication Channels, Dialogues

Can Be Modulated By

Communication Channels

Meta-Techniques in games with Live Action Roleplaying

Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

Non-Diegetic Communication, Social Interaction

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

Acknowledgements

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