role-playing
Pretending to be
Role-playing is acting out a character or scenario, either for entertainment, training, or exploration.
In games like Dungeons & Dragons, players assume fictional personas and make decisions as those characters.
Therapists use role-playing to help patients practice difficult conversations: Let's role-play the job interview.
In sexual contexts, role-playing involves adopting personas or scenarios for arousal.
Unscripted comedic performance
- actingTemporarily holding position
- sceneDramatic unit or locale
- performanceCarrying out a task
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
monologue · rehearsal · ensemble · blocking · stage · costume · audition · troupe
Therapy through enacted scenes
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- gestaltIntegrated perceptual whole
- enactmentPassing into law
- processingSystematic operation on data
catharsis · re-experiencing · guided · trauma-informed · inner-child
Digital user representation
- MMORPGMultiplayer internet adventure game
- RPGExplosive launcher or fantasy genre
- levelingMaking flat or equal
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
skills · inventory · customization · stats · class · build · grinding · loadout
Nature, symbol, or role
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- questSeeking journey for something
- sessionScheduled time for activity
- diceMarked cubes for chance
adventure · backstory · party · NPC · module · homebrew · encounter · lore
Imaginative mental wandering
- scenarioPostulated event sequence
- costumeClothing for portrayal
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- partnerOne who shares activity
seduction · playful · bedroom · flirtation · sensual · adventurous · communication · boundaries
Supernatural or illusory power
- wizardPractitioner of sorcery
- elfSmall magical creature
- dwarfDiminutive folkloric being
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
sorcery · enchantment · mythology · quest · paladin · ranger · rogue · spellcasting
Imitation of real processes
- scenarioPostulated event sequence
- drillHole-boring device
- exerciseActivity for fitness
- mockScornful imitation or fake
reenactment · workshop · demonstration · debriefing · facilitator · participant · feedback · hands-on
improv
Unscripted comedic performance
- actingTemporarily holding position
- sceneDramatic unit or locale
- performanceCarrying out a task
dialogue · monologue · rehearsal · ensemble · blocking · stage · costume · audition · troupe · sketch
psychodrama
Therapy through enacted scenes
processing · catharsis · re-experiencing · guided · trauma-informed · inner-child
avatar
Digital user representation
- MMORPGMultiplayer internet adventure game
- RPGExplosive launcher or fantasy genre
- levelingMaking flat or equal
experience · skills · inventory · customization · stats · class · build · grinding · loadout · respawn
character
Nature, symbol, or role
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- questSeeking journey for something
- sessionScheduled time for activity
dice · adventure · backstory · party · NPC · module · homebrew · encounter · lore · worldbuilding
fantasy
Imaginative mental wandering
partner · seduction · playful · bedroom · flirtation · sensual · adventurous · communication · boundaries · trust
magic
Supernatural or illusory power
dragon · sorcery · enchantment · mythology · quest · paladin · ranger · rogue · spellcasting · necromancer
simulation
Imitation of real processes
mock · reenactment · workshop · demonstration · debriefing · facilitator · participant · feedback · hands-on
- acting techniquesmethod acting, emotional expression, vocal projection, voice modulation, voice control
- gamingvideo games, buff, games, PlayStation 4, gameplay
- kids activitiesdrawing, board games, puzzles, dolls, craft kits
- kids playplaytime, board games, blocks, card games, make-believe
- pastimeshobbies, amusement, puzzles, cards, crafting
- storytellingstorytelling, story, tale, narrative, narrator
role-playingauthenticity
Quality of being genuine
sincerity · self-expression · unmasking · transparency · honesty
role-playingreality
What actually exists
spectating · real life · observing · watching · audience participation