26 thoughts on “Hey Gauntleteers!”

  3. If you just mean in general (and not related to Werewolf games), I don’t have a problem with alpha male characters, because they’re just another character type. But alpha male players… that’s a different story.

  4. If you just mean in general (and not related to Werewolf games), I don’t have a problem with alpha male characters, because they’re just another character type. But alpha male players… that’s a different story.

  5. Chris Shorb “the most dominant, powerful, or assertive man in a particular group” The Alpha Male stereotype is the man’s man. He’s all that manliness in one very man-like package. He’s assertive, dominant, owns the stage, and knows what he’s doing.

  6. Chris Shorb “the most dominant, powerful, or assertive man in a particular group” The Alpha Male stereotype is the man’s man. He’s all that manliness in one very man-like package. He’s assertive, dominant, owns the stage, and knows what he’s doing.

  7. Most alpha character I played recently was a Chopper in Apocalypse World. He was one of the worst people I played in a while too. I made him agressive in every scene and never made him back down. Which made him stressful to interact with. He just punished every show of emotion or compassion as a weakness.

    In the end I was one of the reasons rebuilding civilisation and having ideal did not work out. Because me and my gang rather would take things with violence. We more or less destroyed the two hardholds the game was centered around and drove off with our motorcycles to go on plundering. Our Angel turned into a Gunlogger by the Chopper’s influence. The Maestro’D who tried to give something nice to the world died.

    It was not singlehandedly but that character turned that game into a way less optimistic vision of people after the Apocalypse.

    I do not always play “alpha male” characters as evil and toxic but he was a pretty pure version of the archetype.

  8. Most alpha character I played recently was a Chopper in Apocalypse World. He was one of the worst people I played in a while too. I made him agressive in every scene and never made him back down. Which made him stressful to interact with. He just punished every show of emotion or compassion as a weakness.

    In the end I was one of the reasons rebuilding civilisation and having ideal did not work out. Because me and my gang rather would take things with violence. We more or less destroyed the two hardholds the game was centered around and drove off with our motorcycles to go on plundering. Our Angel turned into a Gunlogger by the Chopper’s influence. The Maestro’D who tried to give something nice to the world died.

    It was not singlehandedly but that character turned that game into a way less optimistic vision of people after the Apocalypse.

    I do not always play “alpha male” characters as evil and toxic but he was a pretty pure version of the archetype.

  9. I played the Ghoul in Monsterhearts, somewhere at the conjunction of Luke-from-The-OC, Jordan Catalano and Patrick Bateman. He was oblivious and used to getting his own way rather than a charismatic leader. The experience was compelling but, at times, troubling.

    I also learnt that it is harder in PBP than face-to-face to play a character with little or no self-reflection, which was kind of his schtick.

  10. I played the Ghoul in Monsterhearts, somewhere at the conjunction of Luke-from-The-OC, Jordan Catalano and Patrick Bateman. He was oblivious and used to getting his own way rather than a charismatic leader. The experience was compelling but, at times, troubling.

    I also learnt that it is harder in PBP than face-to-face to play a character with little or no self-reflection, which was kind of his schtick.

  13. I’m personally really not an Alpha male in life. I do however like to play one occasionally in games (with an agreement from my fellow players that he will probably be pushing button and generally be a dick) because the fun of playing a character who’s so sure of himself is to show them the error of their ways through play. It’s also fun to explore what made them become so self assured and to crack the carapace to reveal that really they are often the most insecure of being.

  14. I’m personally really not an Alpha male in life. I do however like to play one occasionally in games (with an agreement from my fellow players that he will probably be pushing button and generally be a dick) because the fun of playing a character who’s so sure of himself is to show them the error of their ways through play. It’s also fun to explore what made them become so self assured and to crack the carapace to reveal that really they are often the most insecure of being.

  15. I’ve played the jock in a few games like Final girl and wandering monster High. Mostly I just try to identify the weakest character (in my jock opinion) and pick on them. I have to admit that it can be fun to be mean and deconstruct the stereotype. It can also be great to try to redeem that character when the situation gets serious or personal.

  16. I’ve played the jock in a few games like Final girl and wandering monster High. Mostly I just try to identify the weakest character (in my jock opinion) and pick on them. I have to admit that it can be fun to be mean and deconstruct the stereotype. It can also be great to try to redeem that character when the situation gets serious or personal.

  17. i did play a lot of more likeable “alphas” as well. More nuanced characters who were doing good with their alpha mindset. They deeply cared about certain communities and principles. Partly because they saw themselves in charge and as the only ones capable to defend those people or fight for and live by those ideals.

    Their behaviour still came from a toxic system and perpetuated it. They often weren’t very nice or likeable characters. But they were compelling and they were on the “good” side.

    As a player I saw their stoic alpha behaviour as a character flaw but the characters themselves saw it as their honor, religion or strength. I also liked showing cracks in the alpha shell and to push them towards struggles with it.

    I would not have called it “alpha” but it is a type of character I actually enjoy playing or a theme I return to. They characters I do it most with usually are male too, one was non-binary but still struggling with that kind of “strength” being coded male.

  18. i did play a lot of more likeable “alphas” as well. More nuanced characters who were doing good with their alpha mindset. They deeply cared about certain communities and principles. Partly because they saw themselves in charge and as the only ones capable to defend those people or fight for and live by those ideals.

    Their behaviour still came from a toxic system and perpetuated it. They often weren’t very nice or likeable characters. But they were compelling and they were on the “good” side.

    As a player I saw their stoic alpha behaviour as a character flaw but the characters themselves saw it as their honor, religion or strength. I also liked showing cracks in the alpha shell and to push them towards struggles with it.

    I would not have called it “alpha” but it is a type of character I actually enjoy playing or a theme I return to. They characters I do it most with usually are male too, one was non-binary but still struggling with that kind of “strength” being coded male.

  19. I played … more than my fair share. They’re addicting, and they alienate the other players.

    Back in my college crew’s White Wolf days, we’d talk about certain Flaws as party flaws, not just character flaws. Unless you are very careful, your alpha (however interesting to you) will become a party flaw.

  20. I played … more than my fair share. They’re addicting, and they alienate the other players.

    Back in my college crew’s White Wolf days, we’d talk about certain Flaws as party flaws, not just character flaws. Unless you are very careful, your alpha (however interesting to you) will become a party flaw.

  21. I played a racist, sexist, very dumb alpha male in a one-shot of Feng Shui 2. I asked the other players beforehand if they were okay with me playing this sort of character, explaining that I saw him as the butt of the joke. He cracked one-liners that made no sense and made him look ridiculous, but he didn’t understand that. He told all these jokes about Japan, not understanding that he was in Hong Kong. He was the terrible American traveler. He came up with terrible, bumbling plans that assumed that he could handle anything that came his way and did nothing but land him in trouble. But, the dice loved him, so it actually did work out.

    The other players seem amused and I did make sure that as a player I didn’t hog all of the RP time. I let the other players have their time. But, when my character was ON, he was doing out front, dumb, zany, fun stuff and assuming he was in control and in charge of everything.

  22. I played a racist, sexist, very dumb alpha male in a one-shot of Feng Shui 2. I asked the other players beforehand if they were okay with me playing this sort of character, explaining that I saw him as the butt of the joke. He cracked one-liners that made no sense and made him look ridiculous, but he didn’t understand that. He told all these jokes about Japan, not understanding that he was in Hong Kong. He was the terrible American traveler. He came up with terrible, bumbling plans that assumed that he could handle anything that came his way and did nothing but land him in trouble. But, the dice loved him, so it actually did work out.

    The other players seem amused and I did make sure that as a player I didn’t hog all of the RP time. I let the other players have their time. But, when my character was ON, he was doing out front, dumb, zany, fun stuff and assuming he was in control and in charge of everything.

  23. I run games more than I play them, but I’ve found alpha male types to be useful for comic relief and means to encourage action. My players have fond memories of a GM character in Numenera who was basically (well actually) an 80’s style cartoon MAN. Oblivious but self-assured is always a troublesome combination, but in my experience that only works when the alpha male cannot eclipse the agency of the players.

  24. I run games more than I play them, but I’ve found alpha male types to be useful for comic relief and means to encourage action. My players have fond memories of a GM character in Numenera who was basically (well actually) an 80’s style cartoon MAN. Oblivious but self-assured is always a troublesome combination, but in my experience that only works when the alpha male cannot eclipse the agency of the players.

  25. I am a big guy with a deep voice, so it is a role that comes kind of easily. In my out of game interactions, it has been suggested that one reason I am so friendly and teddy-bear like has a direct correlation to this fact.

    As a character they can be interesting and useful, because they spur action and interaction. The aggression they offer has less real-world ramifications for me, which allows me to explore some “what-if” scenarios I would normally avoid.

    Playing these characters often reminds me of traits I want to see in myself, but also of how I am scared others may see me. They are sharp, passionate, impulsive, and have a certain juggernaut-like quality to them. They don’t think too far beyond themselves and their immediate circle, and want to be the “winners”, whatever that may mean. They do not care what most people think of them, and will always back up their words, even when it is a terrible idea.

  26. I am a big guy with a deep voice, so it is a role that comes kind of easily. In my out of game interactions, it has been suggested that one reason I am so friendly and teddy-bear like has a direct correlation to this fact.

    As a character they can be interesting and useful, because they spur action and interaction. The aggression they offer has less real-world ramifications for me, which allows me to explore some “what-if” scenarios I would normally avoid.

    Playing these characters often reminds me of traits I want to see in myself, but also of how I am scared others may see me. They are sharp, passionate, impulsive, and have a certain juggernaut-like quality to them. They don’t think too far beyond themselves and their immediate circle, and want to be the “winners”, whatever that may mean. They do not care what most people think of them, and will always back up their words, even when it is a terrible idea.

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