Where to start with my very recent (as of this morning) revelation?
Ok, so apparently there are two distinct types of immersion...
The old-school immersion uses the player-character as an alter-ego to experience the game world as yourself, but with a sword, blaster, spells, etc. Let's call this "me with an axe" immersion.
The new-school or modern immersion uses the player-character as a role, totally separate from oneself, that one can inhabit like an actor. Let's call it "me as someone else".
That's why, when I'm talking about immersion and how old-school systems and play-styles facilitate immersion better than modern D&D (3rd and 4th editions specifically), lots of gamers get bent out of shape. To them, immersion means something completely different.
For modern D&D gamers, immersion is fostered by giving you a character in which to lose yourself - heavy background, lots of lore, character options, and death is (and should be) rare. According to them, old-school D&D is not ideal because it creates the other kind of immersion.
Both immersions are a type of escapism, self-discovery, and fun... but they go about it in entirely different ways.
If you want to watch my video about all this immersion stuff it's right over here - please like, comment, share, and subscribe!
Thanks,
VS
p.s. This is how you order your very own luxury hardcover Cha'alt and Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise books. That link takes you to VENGER CON, my old-school RPG convention next July in Madison, WI.
