What say ye? Is this a useful dimension on which to categorize RPGs?I would argue the most important division is whether they fall into one of two categories: acquisitive games or inquisitive games.
An acquisitive game is one that is primarily focused on gathering objects and gaining more personal power: finding a legendary magic sword like Excalibur, or learning so many magic spells you can rip apart an army with a few waves of your staff.
Your character’s journey can be defined by many things, but ultimately, the growth and development of the character is heavily based on acquisition, whether it’s the intangible personal might that has been quantified as experience points, or gathering huge amounts of treasure and magic artifacts.
An inquisitive game, on the other hand, is about discovery and inner growth. The player will, of course, become stronger over time, but that takes a back seat to the gathering of knowledge. This includes internal knowledge about who you are as a moral being, and external knowledge about the world you inhabit: its people and its history.
You are a traveler, an explorer, a pilgrim, an archaeologist. Just like the Fool card in the tarot deck, it’s your job to go on a quest—not for glory, but for discovery.
The Fool, as you’ll notice, wanders out almost naked, carrying nothing but a club, staring upward at the sky, not seeing that he’s about to fall into a pit.
One of the games that best exemplifies the inquisitive type of role-playing game is *Ultima Underworld*.
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