The Legion of SilverSheen
- Munchkins
Real Men, Real Roleplayers, Loonies and Munchkins
By Jeff Okamoto, Sandy Petersen, and lots of others
The whole thing started around 1983 or so at a party at Pacificon at the
Dunfey Hotel in San Mateo in which the idea came up of classifying the
different styles of roleplaying. They came up with four different types,
which are explained below. Special credit goes to Perry Caro, Chris Guthrie,
Rick Heli, Robert Allen, and Ken Kaufman, to name a few.
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The Real Man
The tough macho type who walks up to the attacking dragon and tells him
to leave before he gets hurt.
The Real Roleplayer
The intelligent cunning guy who tricks the constable into letting you
all out of prison.
The Loonie
The guy who will do anything for a cheap laugh, including casting a
fireball at ground zero.
The Munchkin
Need we say more?
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PLAYER RELATIONSHIPS
REAL MEN:
* Real Men think they're brothers in arms.
* Real Roleplayers hide behind them.
* Loonies harass them with stupid suggestions.
* Munchkins say "I'm a Real Man, too!"
REAL ROLEPLAYERS:
* Real Men protect them, on the off chance they may come up with
something useful.
* Real Roleplayers sigh with relief to know they're not alone, and then
get their characters involved in love affairs and death feuds.
* Loonies harass them with stupid suggestions.
* Munchkins say "I'm a Real Roleplayer, too!"
LOONIES:
* Real Men ignore them.
* Real Roleplayers sometimes harass them back by taking a stupid
suggestion and making it work.
* Loonies declare a pie fight at 20 paces ... and cheat.
* Munchkins try to imitate the jokes, and fall flat.
MUNCHKINS:
* Real Men attack them on sight.
* Real Roleplayers trick them into being cannon fodder.
* Loonies make reasonable-sounding suggestions that will get the Munchkin
killed in an amusing way.
* Munchkins query, "What's a Munchkin?"
GENERIC
Favorite FRPG:
* Real Men play AD&D
* Real Roleplayers play RuneQuest III
* Loonies play Toon
* Munchkins play anything by TSR
Favorite SFRPG:
* Real Men play Star Trek: The Roleplaying Game
* Real Roleplayers play Space Opera
* Loonies play a variant Spawn of Fashan
* Munchkins play anything by TSR
Favorite 1920's RPG:
* Real Men play Gangbusters
* Real Roleplayers play Call of Cthulhu
* Loonies play a very variant Spawn of Fashan
* Munchkins play anything by TSR
Favorite SHRPG:
* Real Men play Champions
* Real Roleplayers play Superworld
* Loonies play an extremely variant Spawn of Fashan
* Munchkins play anything by TSR
Favorite modern day/spy RPG:
* Real Men play James Bond, 007
* Real Roleplayers play Justice, Inc.
* Loonies play an unrecognizable variant Spawn of Fashan
* Munchkins play anything by TSR
Favorite Post-Holocaust RPG:
* Real Men play Twilight 2000
* Real Roleplayers play The Morrow Project
* Loonies play an extremely unrecognizable variant of Spawn of Fashan
* Munchkins play anything by TSR
Favorite King Arthurian RPG:
* Real Men play Chivalry and Sorcery
* Real Roleplayers play Pendragon
* Loonies play a variant of Spawn of Fashan so variant it shouldn't be
called Spawn of Fashan anymore
* Munchkins play anything by TSR
Favorite World/Setting:
* Real Men play in Greyhawk/Sanctuary
* Real Roleplayers play in Glorantha
* Loonies play in Southern California
* Munchkins play wherever has the most magic items
Favorite Gaming Magazine:
* Real Men read The General
* Real Roleplayers read White Dwarf
* Loonies read the last few pages of Dragon/comic books
* Munchkins read anything by TSR
FANTASY
Favorite Dungeon Activity:
* Real Men fight Red Dragons
* Real Roleplayers bluff the Ogres
* Loonies tell dirty jokes to Green Slime
* Munchkins do whatever gives the most experience/rip each other off
Favorite Melee Weapon:
* Real Men use Broadswords/Bastard Swords/Pole Axes
* Real Roleplayers use Rapiers and Main-Gauches
* Loonies use Stage Knives
* Munchkins use whatever gives the most plusses
Favorite Thrown Weapon:
* Real Men throw Spears/Javelins
* Real Roleplayers throw Bolas
* Loonies throw their friends' magic items
* Munchkins throw whatever gives the most plusses
Favorite Missile Weapon:
* Real Men shoot Long Bows/Composite Bows
* Real Roleplayers shoot Crossbows
* Loonies shoot Catapults loaded with offal
* Munchkins shoot whatever gives the most plusses
Favorite Improvised Weapon in Barroom Brawl:
* Real Men use bare hands/tables
* Real Roleplayers use chairs, chair legs or pokers
* Loonies use plastic Pepsi bottles or toothpaste
* Munchkins use, you guessed it, whatever gives the most plusses
Favorite Improvised Thrown Weapons:
* Real Men throw Munchkins (can you blame them?)
* Real Roleplayers throw beer mugs, pool balls and rocks
* Loonies throw Nerf frisbees
* Munchkins are too busy running from the Real Men/Whatever gives the
most plusses
Favorite AD&D Spell:
* Real Men cast Fireballs
* Real Roleplayers cast Find the Path
* Loonies cast Otto's Irresistible Nose-Picking
* Munchkins cast Smite Ruler and Transfer Loyalty of Populace
Favorite RQ3 Spirit Spell:
* Real Men cast Bladesharp 10 on their swords
* Real Roleplayers cast Demoralize on their foes
* Loonies cast Befuddle on their friends
* Munchkins cast Fireball
Favorite RQ3 Sorcery Spell:
* Real Men cast Dominate Human on others
* Real Roleplayers cast Damage Resistance on their familiars/themselves
* Loonies cast Dominate Human on themselves
* Munchkins cast Meteor Swarm
Favorite RQ3 Divine Spell:
* Real Men cast Berserker on themselves
* Real Roleplayers cast Heal Body
* Loonies cast Face Chaos on the Crimson Bat
* Munchkins cast Timestop
Favorite GURPS Magic Spell:
* Real Men don't use magic, but they'll let the mage cast Hawk Flight on
them so they can pursue the foe
* Real Roleplayers cast Lend Language on the strangers they meet
* Loonies cast Mystic Mist in the town square
* Munchkins cast Enslave on the city guard
Favorite AD&D Psionic Ability:
* Real Men use Body Weaponry
* Real Roleplayers use Shape Alteration
* Loonies use Sea Anemone Hypnosis
* Munchkins use Assume Godhood
Favorite Alignment:
* Real Men are Lawful Good
* Real Roleplayers don't use alignment
* Loonies are Amoral Silly
* Munchkins are whatever gives the most plusses
Favorite Religious-type Character:
* Real Men play Paladins
* Real Roleplayers play Clerics
* Loonies play street preachers
* Munchkins play Demigods
Favorite Non-Human PC:
* Real Men play Dwarfs
* Real Roleplayers play Morokanths
* Loonies play a Dwarf-Elf halfbreed
* Munchkins play whatever gives the most plusses/Demi-gods
Favorite Undead to Summon:
* Real Men summon Ghosts
* Real Roleplayers summon Wraiths
* Loonies send in an AD&D troll wearing a sheet
* Munchkins summon Cerberus
Favorite Way of Extracting Information from the Goblins:
* Real Men torture them
* Real Roleplayers cast Legend Lore/Telepathy/Mind Read
* Loonies tell puns to them
* Munchkins peek behind the GM's shield
Favorite Demon/Devil:
* Real Men like Asmodeus
* Real Roleplayers like Cacodemon
* Loonies like Spiro Agnew
* Munchkins like Satan's grandfather
Favorite God:
* Real Men worship Humakt/Orlanth
* Real Roleplayers worship Issaries/Lhankor Mhy
* Loonies worship Hare Krishna
* Munchkins worship whoever gives the most plusses
Favorite Miscellaneous Magic Item:
* Real Men love Adamantine Claws
* Real Roleplayers love Repulsor Rays
* Loonies love Radioactive Teeth/+3 Kleenex
* Munchkins love Uru's Hammer
Favorite Potion:
* Real Men drink potions of Superheroism
* Real Roleplayers drink potions of Animal/Plant Control
* Loonies drink potions of Jell-O
* Munchkins drink potions of Deity Control
Favorite Ring:
* Real Men wear rings of Elemental Control
* Real Roleplayers wear rings of Free Action
* Loonies wear rings of Smurf Control
* Munchkins wear rings of Infinite Wishes/the One Ring
Favorite Stick (Rod/Staff/Wand):
* Real Men wield staves of Striking
* Real Roleplayers wield wands of Healing
* Loonies wield rods of styrofoam
* Munchkins wield staves of Deity Power
Favorite Armor:
* Real Men wear Plate Mail
* Real Roleplayers wear Elven Chainmail
* Loonies wear Horse Barding
* Munchkins wear powered armor a la Starship Troopers
Favorite Helm:
* Real Men wear a Helm of Brilliance
* Real Roleplayers wear a Helm of Telepathy
* Loonies wear a Helm of Blindness (``Works great against medusas'')
* Munchkins wear a Helm of 360-Degree Vision with Force Field
Favorite Shield:
* Real Men don't use shields (can't wield a two-handed weapon)
* Real Roleplayers use a Kite Shield
* Loonies use a panty shield
* Munchkins don't get the previous joke/use a Shield of Automatic Parry
Favorite Glove/Gauntlet:
* Real Men fight bare-handed
* Real Roleplayers wear Gloves of Dexterity
* Loonies wear the Glove of Michael Jackson Charisma
* Munchkins wear Gauntlets of Infinite Ring-Wearing
Favorite Footwear:
* Real Men wear Seven League Boots
* Real Roleplayers wear Boots of Stealth
* Loonies wear house slippers
* Munchkins wear Boots of Infinite Speed
Favorite Mount:
* Real Men ride heavy war horses
* Real Roleplayers ride palfreys
* Loonies ride sheep
* Munchkins ride heavy war tyrannosauri
Favorite NPC:
* Real Men like Tarl Cabot
* Real Roleplayers like Medea
* Loonies like Doctor Who
* Munchkins like Darth Vader/Teela Brown
Favorite Animal to use as a Familiar:
* Real Men have Black Cats
* Real Roleplayers have Owls
* Loonies have Slugs
* Munchkins have whatever gives the most plusses/Ancient Red Dragons
Favorite Kind of Elf:
* Real Men like the Pinis' elves
* Real Roleplayers like Tolkien's elves
* Loonies like Santa's elves
* Munchkins like Storm Giants with pointed ears
Favorite Kind of Dwarf:
* Real Men like Tolkien's Dwarfs
* Real Roleplayers like Glorantha's Dwarfs
* Loonies like the Seven Dwarfs
* Munchkins like Earth Elementals with beards
Favorite Food to take on Expeditions:
* Real Men bring along burgers, fries, milkshakes, and pizza
* Real Roleplayers bring along iron rations
* Loonies bring along Froot Loops/aluminum rations
* Munchkins bring along whatever gives the most plusses
Favorite Fantasy Author:
* Real Men read J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings
* Real Roleplayers read Robert Asprin's Thieves' World series
* Loonies read Robert Asprin's Myth series
* Munchkins read E. Gary Gygax
When they encounter a sleeping dragon:
* Real Men wake it up and THEN attack it.
* Real Roleplayers sneak away quietly.
* Loonies tie its shoelaces together.
* Munchkins have their 34th-level thief backstab it with their +17 Sword
of Slay Anything, and then put all its treasure in one backpack and run
away.
Favorite Town Activity:
* Real Men drink ale in the tavern and start bar fights.
* Real Roleplayers drink wine in the tavern and talk to everyone.
* Loonies order watermelon daquiris and start food fights.
* Munchkins say ``What's a town?''
SCIENCE FICTION
Favorite Science Fiction Weapon:
* Real Men use Laser Pistols/Blasters/Light Sabers
* Real Roleplayers use Stun Guns/Tanglers
* Loonies use Thermonuclear Hand Grenades/Tripod Flamers
* Munchkins use whatever gives the most plusses
Favorite Method of Handling Alien Monster:
* Real Men drive off the Bug-Eyed Monsters invading the Earth
* Real Roleplayers negotiate with the refugees from the evil Empire
* Loonies hitch a ride with Vogons
* Munchkins invade the BEMs' home planet and enslave them all
Favorite Science Fiction Movie:
* Real Men watch the Star Wars films
* Real Roleplayers watch 2001: A Space Odyssey / 2010: Odyssey Two
* Loonies watch The Three Stooges Go To Mars
* Munchkins watch the Star Trek films
Favorite Method of Space Travel:
* Real Men use Hyperspace/Warp Drive
* Real Roleplayers use suspended animation
* Loonies use the Infinite Improbability Drive
* Munchkins push the button and it goes
Favorite Star to Put a Colony Around:
* Real Men colonize Beta Lyrae
* Real Roleplayers colonize Alpha Centauri
* Loonies colonize Cygnus X-1
* Munchkins colonize wherever gives the most plusses
Favorite Science Fiction Author:
* Real Men read Isaac Asimov
* Real Roleplayers read Arthur C. Clarke
* Loonies read Bored of the Rings/Doon/Hitchhiker
* Munchkins read E. Gary Gygax
Favorite Monster:
* Real Men like the Alien
* Real Roleplayers like the Moties
* Loonies like the beach ball from Dark Star
* Munchkins like E.T.
Favorite Variant Human:
* Real Men play Heavy Worlders
* Real Roleplayers play Light Worlders/Spacers
* Loonies play Sex Androids
* Munchkins play Enhanced Humans with all the advantages
MISCELLANEOUS
Favorite Bar to Hang Out In:
* Real Men hang out at the Vulgar Unicorn
* Real Roleplayers hang out at the White Hart
* Loonies hang out at the Big Bang Burger Bar/Restaurant at the End of
the Universe
* Munchkins hang out wherever they don't get carded
Favorite Superhero:
* Real Men like Batman (The Dark Knight)
* Real Roleplayers like Jericho
* Loonies like Bat-Mite/Flaming Carrot/Cutey Bunny
* Munchkins like Galactus
Favorite Modern weapon:
* Real Men use .44 Magnums
* Real Roleplayers use Walther PPKs
* Loonies use water pistols
* Munchkins use Infinite-Repeating Uzis
Favorite Actor:
* Real Men like John Wayne
* Real Roleplayers like Claus Kinski
* Loonies like Curly
* Munchkins watch Saturday-morning cartoons
Favorite Actress:
* Real Men like Raquel Welch
* Real Roleplayers like Adrienne Barbeau
* Loonies like Phyllis Diller
* Munchkins are far too young to know about Sex
Favorite Actor to play James Bond:
* Real Men like Sean Connery
* Real Roleplayers like George Lazenby
* Loonies like David Niven
* Munchkins like Roger Moore
Favorite Card Game:
* Real Men play Gin
* Real Roleplayers play Bridge
* Loonies play Fizzbin/Fungus and Fruitbats
* Munchkins cheat at Poker
Favorite Music:
* Real Men listen to Bruce Springsteen
* Real Roleplayers listen to 14th-century madrigals
* Loonies listen to Weird Al Yankovic
* Munchkins watch MTV
Favorite Magazine:
* Real Men read Soldier of Fortune and argue about whether the ads are
real.
* Real Roleplayers read the Journal of Abnormal Psychology and argue
about the point value of disadvantages.
* Loonies read National Lampoon and bitch about how it's gone downhill.
* Munchkins read comic books and argue about whether Spider-Man should
have married MJ.
Favorite Convention Activity:
* Real Men "Do the Dealer's Room" or hang out in the con suite
* Real Roleplayers go to seminars/hide in their rooms and play games
* Loonies play video games/do hoax zines
* Munchkins run and shout and cut in lines
Favorite Gaming Awards:
* Real Men vote for the (new) Charles Roberts awards from 3W
* Real Roleplayers vote for the Origins Awards
* Loonies come in at the end of the Origins ceremony to vote on the
Silver Hatchets
* Munchkins vote for the Strategists Club awards
Favorite Type of Dice:
* Real Men like 20-siders
* Real Roleplayers use three 6-siders
* Loonies use 30-sided for everything
* Munchkins have them all, and like to roll as many as possible
CALL OF CTHULHU
Favorite Spell:
* Real Men don't believe in magic
* Real Roleplayers cast Elder Sign
* Loonies cast Summon Smurf
* Munchkins cast Control Cthulhu
Favorite Monster:
* Real Men like Deep Ones
* Real Roleplayers don't like any of them
* Loonies like Masters of the Universe Slime
* Munchkins like Azathoth
Favorite Type of Character to Play:
* Real Men play Private Investigators
* Real Roleplayers play Professors of Ancient Egyptian Archaeology
* Loonies play Red Indian Sex Maniacs
* Munchkins play Magic-Users
PARANOIA
Capsule Opinion:
* Real Men think the weapons are OK, but hate the background.
* Real Roleplayers think the campaigns are too short.
* Loonies think the game isn't funny enough.
* Munchkins don't think the game is supposed to be funny.
Favorite Service Group:
* Real Men like Armed Forces.
* Real Roleplayers like Tech Services and CPU.
* Loonies like R&D.
* Munchkins like IntSec.
Favorite Secret Society:
* Real Men like Anti-Mutant, Frankenstein Destroyers, and PURGE.
* Real Roleplayers like Free Enterprise and Sierra Club.
* Loonies like Corpore Metal, Death Leopard, and Mystics.
* Munchkins like Psion.
Favorite Mutant Power:
* Real Men like Adrenalin Control.
* Real Roleplayers like Hypersenses.
* Loonies like Project Total Chaos.
* Munchkins like characters with the works.
Favorite Weapon:
* Real Men like cone rifles.
* Real Roleplayers like laser pistols.
* Loonies like chainsaws and anything from R&D.
* Munchkins like Plasma Generators.
Favorite Target:
* Real Men shoot Commie Mutant Traitors.
* Real Roleplayers shoot the Munchkins' characters.
* Loonies shoot anything fragile-looking.
* Munchkins shoot anything in sight, starting with the other PCs.
Favorite Mission:
* Real Men like to hunt down Commie Mutant Traitors.
* Real Roleplayers like to try to survive the briefing.
* Loonies like to place themselves under surveillance and report hourly.
* Munchkins like to attack a rival Alpha Complex.
TFOS
Capsule Opinion:
* Real Men can't understand the game at all.
* Real Roleplayers think the game is silly.
* Loonies think the game is about them.
* Munchkins want to play their 700-point Champions character.
Favorite Character Type:
* Real Men play Near Humans.
* Real Roleplayers play Humans.
* Loonies play green fuzzy blobs that drip slime.
* Munchkins play Deities.
Favorite Powers:
* Real Men have Superspeed, Monster Out, and Superstrength
* Real Roleplayers have Teleport, Deep Freeze, and Talk to Aliens.
* Loonies have Bounce, Summon Pizza, and Telephone.
* Munchkins have all of them.
Favorite Knacks:
* Real Men like Shoot Big Raygun and Flying Saucer Piloting.
* Real Roleplayers like Figure Things Out and Look Cool in Shades.
* Loonies like Weird Science and Eat Anything.
* Munchkins like Do Anything I Want.
Favorite Weapon:
* Real Men like Zap Guns.
* Real Roleplayers like Duplicator Guns.
* Loonies like Goop Guns and Boy/Girl Guns.
* Munchkins like AT-AT Walkers.
Favorite Transportation:
* Real Men use flying saucers.
* Real Roleplayers use the Number 42 Crosstown Expedience Route.
* Loonies use Rocket Sneakers.
* Munchkins use Battlestars.
CHAMPIONS
Capsule Opinion:
* Real Men think this is how the world should be.
* Real Roleplayers think there's too much combat.
* Loonies think it's a great system for simulating reality.
* Munchkins think starting characters don't have enough points.
Favorite Character Type:
* Real Men like Bricks.
* Real Roleplayers like Mentalists.
* Loonies like Cream-Puff Projectors.
* Munchkins like visiting Gods.
Favorite Power:
* Real Men like Damage Resistance.
* Real Roleplayers like Telepathy.
* Loonies like Instant Change with the advantage Usable on Others.
* Munchkins like Autofire Find Weakness.
Favorite Attribute:
* Real Men like Strength.
* Real Roleplayers like Ego.
* Loonies like Comeliness.
* Munchkins like Speed.
Favorite Disadvantage:
* Real Men like Berserk.
* Real Roleplayers like Psychological Limitations.
* Loonies like Dependency on Spinach Egg Noodles.
* Munchkins like Unusual Looks.
Favorite Power Limitation:
* Real Men like Always On.
* Real Roleplayers like Limited Uses.
* Loonies like Activation on 8-.
* Munchkins like Focus and Multipower.
Tactics in Hostage Situations:
* Real Men demonstrate what'll happen to villians who injure hostages.
* Real Roleplayers create an illusion of the hostages getting away.
* Loonies taunt the villians.
* Munchkins waste the villians with their 10d6 Autofire Armor-Piercing
Ranged Killing Attack, and use Regeneration Usable on Others to heal
the injured bystanders.
FANTASY HERO
Capsule Opinion:
* Real Men like how expensive magic is.
* Real Roleplayers don't like how expensive magic is.
* Loonies like the bizzare disadvantages you can create.
* Munchkins like the crossover from Champions.
Character Type:
* Real Men play Dwarven Knights.
* Real Roleplayers play Elven Mages.
* Loonies play Halfling Knights.
* Munchkins play their Champions characters.
Favorite Spell Limitations:
* Real Men wish there weren't any, so magic would be even more expensive.
* Real Roleplayers like Gestures, Incantation, and Concentrate.
* Loonies like Side Effects.
* Munchkins use the Champions rules.
Favorite Spells:
* Real Men like any kind of magic greatsword.
* Real Roleplayers like Percieve and Illusions.
* Loonies like Dominate usable on Self Only.
* Munchkins like Blast, Variable Advantage, Reduced END to zero.
GURPS
Capsule Opinion:
* Real Men think there aren't enough combats.
* Real Roleplayers think there aren't enough supplements.
* Loonies think there aren't enough disadvantages.
* Munchkins think there aren't enough hit points.
Favorite Advantages:
* Real Men like Combat Reflexes, Strong Will, High Pain Threshold and
Toughness.
* Real Roleplayers like Charisma, Danger Sense, Empathy, Literacy and
Voice.
* Loonies like Luck, Absolute Timing and Unusual Background.
* Munchkins like Magery 3, Patron (Superman), and PK (80).
Favorite Disadvantages:
* Real Men like Gigantism and Berserk
* Real Roleplayers like Sense of Duty and Poverty
* Loonies like Severe Delusions, Severe Phobias, Split Personality, Total
Pacifism and Berserk - all at the same time.
* Munchkins like Enemies and Dependents (for the points).
Favorite Skills:
* Real Men like Brawling, Two-Handed Sword, Broadsword and Shield.
* Real Roleplayers like Acting, Bard, Detect Lies, Diplomacy, Fast-Talk,
Merchant, Savoir-Faire and Streetwise.
* Loonies like to use ALL skills at a default level of 5.
* Munchkins like Fast-Talk GM and Whine.
Favorite Combat Spell:
* Real Men don't use magic.
* Real Roleplayers cast Blur and Flash.
* Loonies cast Create Object (cream pies) and throw them.
* Munchkins cast Armor, Shield, Invisibility and Deathtouch.
Favorite Non-Combat Spell:
* Real Men still don't use magic.
* Real Roleplayers cast Major Healing.
* Loonies cast Drunkenness on the other PCs.
* Munchkins cast Linking spells on everything they own.
Favorite Supplement:
* Real Men like Horseclans and Ice Age.
* Real Roleplayers like Space, Horror and Japan.
* Loonies like Toon.
* Munchkins like Fantasy, Horror and Autoduel - in the same game.
Supplement Most Wanted:
* Real Men want Wild West and World War II.
* Real Roleplayers want Illuminati.
* Loonies want Pet Rocks/Creeks & Crawdads.
* Munchkins want Supers and Mecha, to add to their
Fantasy/Horror/Autoduel game.
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Last Update: January 22nd 1996