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but I don't want to have goals or fun, I want to have truths otherwise undiscoverable

sounds like that's a goal you have then!

it should not be my goal, it should be the game's goal for me

FUN! Also, this made me do a shitpost meme which I have decided is TOO MUCH for bluesky.

Thinking out loud, to me rather than a distinct stance, the idea of "pawn stance" is more foundational gaming pragmatism TTRPGs can be art, can make you feel, can hold huge narrative and intent... But they are always games first and if games aren't centered in enjoyment, it's a lost cause

does this then lead to potentially conclude that the (in-game) pursuit of exploits and power (aka 'being a munchkin') should be called 'promotion stance'...? 🤔

I'm not entirely convinced. It's a good goal to have fun with your friends, and overcoming obstacles that get in the way of that is good, but completely disregarding in-world rationales for your character's behavior kind of makes said gameworld meaningless.

So rather than having your cowardly character go on adventures just because, have them go on adventures because of reasons. Personally I don't make characters that hate adventure and teamwork to begin with, but if I did, the fun is finding a reason for them to go on adventures with a party anyway.

The examples seem like problems further upstream. If the fun is going on adventures why did you make a character too scared to do that? If you have an unbeatable strat the GM should patch the rules (or adapt tactically) rather than rely on players tying a hand behind their back

As someone who was there, I see no flaw in your history. Unfortunately, you are incorrect otherwise, for only Deep Character stance (another RGFA throwback), where you "become" the character even to yourself, ought to be pursued as the One True Way.

*smash cut to a basement room* me: "not even gonna ask where you got all this CIA brainwashing equipment, i'm'a skip straight to 'why would you give _yoruself_ the personality of a 3-hp goblin...?!' " Levi: "Skrib doon; Biddy Blas!!"

This is the path of Real Good Immersion, to which end you may simply give your sheet to the GM and cease to concern yourself with it. Become Your Little Weirdo. Let them flow through you.

This is why my secret true subconscious mental framework is that I am larping as myself, and thus am constantly in Deep Character Stance.