AURA is a member of AUSA
A roleplaying game (also known as an RPG) is a type of game in which the players assume the roles of characters, like in a stageplay or a movie, and collaboratively create stories. Players determine the actions of their characters based on their characterisation, and the action succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines. Within the rules, players (and their characters) may improvise freely; their choices shaping the direction and outcomes of their games. Unlike other games, a roleplaying games rarely has winners or losers. This is one of the major differences between roleplaying and other types of games.
Roleplaying games are generally played in groups of four to eight players, each of which have themselves a character, generally represented by sheets of paper with attributes and skills on it. Players are free to create their own characters: they do not have to choose from prewritten characters. With these characters, players work through a general storyline that has been written or planned by an additional player known as a Gamemaster (or GM). Different games have different titles for this player, including Dungeon Master (DM) or Storyteller. The Gamemaster has an outline of a plot for the characters to follow, and the success or demise of a plot is largely in the hands of the players. Plots can go from needing to delve into a dungeon to slay a powerful dragon, to ensuring a crown prince is not assassinated before his ascension to the throne. Roleplaying games can occur in any genre, ranging from the stereotypical fantasy and science fiction genres, to modern day politics and historical recreations of events.
Generally roleplayers (those who roleplay) gather at someone's house, or in AURA's case in one of the University's classrooms, and play around a table. New players need no equipment with them, though paper and a pencil is generally handy. Experienced players often own the rulebooks to any particular game, have their own set of dice, and have printed character sheets to formalise the presentation of a character on paper. One particular plot can run for a number of hours (and sometimes days or weeks). The plots are broken down into gaming sessions (or simply sessions) each one generally lasting four hours (though both shorter and longer sessions are possible). In one session, there may be the appearance of one antagonist, who is defeated (or otherwise bested) by the end of the session. Some sessions only lead up to the revelation of an antagonist, whilst other sessions can run through an entire plot that has the rise and fall of some type of opposition.