Metagaming is a term used to describe the act of using out-of-game information to make in-game decisions, something that’s prevalent in big TTRPG games like DnD.. This can be anything from using knowledge of the game mechanics to make strategic choices to using real-world information to roleplay a character more effectively. In some cases, metagaming can even be used to give players an unfair advantage over others.
Since the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons in 1974, players have been finding ways to game the system. Metagaming, meaning here, is a term used to describe any action taken by a player that goes beyond the boundaries of their character’s knowledge or abilities. However, it can often be considered cheating, as you would use the information your character would not reasonably know.
Why do people metagame?
There are a few reasons why people might metagame. Maybe they want to give their characters an edge over others, or perhaps they simply don’t know that what they’re doing is considered metagaming.
For instance, players may choose to metagame to build overpowered characters. Who wouldn’t want an overpowered character, after all? However, by doing that, they may ruin the story and the overall campaign, as their character wouldn’t fit the gameplay the DM has for their players. So, whatever the reason for metagaming may be, it’s essential to be aware of the consequences of metagaming so that you can avoid doing it yourself.
How to spot metagaming in action and what to do about it
When you’re roleplaying, it’s crucial to stay in character as much as possible. So, if you ever see that a character acts in a way it shouldn’t, according to the rules, at least, that is metagaming. Some of the things you can do about metagaming include:
Offer incentives
Make the campaign reward the players for having their characters act like the characters usually would.
Talk it out
Communicate within the group why they should metagame, and point out how it affects the gameplay and the experience for everyone involved.
Make it stop altogether
Have the DM govern everyone, as the DM is the one who tells players what they can and cannot do.
Restrict the books
Have the players act according to the rules that are fair for everyone, not just them. Which effectively prevents metagaming.
The dangers of metagaming and how to avoid them
If you’re not careful, metagaming can easily lead to your downfall. Here are some dangers of metagaming and how to avoid them:
- Metagaming can make you too reliant on outside information
If you’re constantly relying on outside sources of information (like wikis or other players), you’ll never really learn the game for yourself. This can lead to you making poor decisions or being caught off-guard when that information isn’t available.
- Metagaming can make you ignore important in-game clues
Sometimes, the information you get from metagaming can be inaccurate or misleading. This can cause you to ignore important clues you would otherwise have noticed.
- Metagaming can make you play the game differently than you would otherwise
If you’re constantly trying to second-guess what other players are doing, you might end up playing the game differently than you would if you were just focused on your strategy. This can lead to you making sub-optimal choices or even losing the game.
- Metagaming can make you feel like you’re cheating
If you’re using metagaming to get an unfair advantage, you might feel like you’re cheating. This can ruin the fun of the game for you and others.
- Metagaming can lead to conflict with other players
If you’re constantly trying to one-up other players or ruin their strategies, you might end up causing a lot of conflicts. This can make the game less fun for everyone involved.
What are some ways people have metagamed in Dungeons & Dragons?
From my playing experience, some players I played with used to instantly find a trap when searching a hallway, having played that module before and knowing where the trap was. Even though their characters were not supposed to be aware of the trap, that way, good storytelling is effectively ruined. Whereas a player who did not know about the trap blindly entered the room, survived, and the storytelling could go on without any fallbacks.
Still, other players might try to game the system by creating characters that are much more powerful than others, as I already said. This can be done by min-maxing, which is the process of creating a character with the minimum amount of negative traits and the maximum amount of positive ones.
Different types of metagaming
There are different types of DnD metagaming. Here are some examples:
1. Min-maxing: A player prioritizes optimizing their character’s stats and abilities by making optimal choices when building their characters.
2. Powergaming: A player describes their character’s optimization and acts to minimize their risk and maximize the reward, often at the expense of roleplaying or telling a good story.
3. Rule lawyering: A player tries to find loopholes in the rules to gain an advantage over other players or NPCs.
4. Monty hauling: A Dungeon Master showers players with too much treasure and rewards, often making the game too easy and not challenging.
5. Railroading: A Dungeon Master forces the players to follow a particular path or storyline rather than letting them make their own choices.
6. Godmoding: A player makes their character too powerful or invincible, often making the game unfair for other players by taking control of their characters.
7. Powerleveling: A player goes out of their way to level up their character as quickly as possible, often at the expense of roleplaying or telling a good story.
8. Twinking: A player gives their character powerful items or equipment, often making the game unfair to other players.
9. Cheese: A player uses a cheap or easy trick to gain an advantage over other players or NPCs. For example, a player might use a low-level spell to control a mighty dragon or make their character’s armor too strong so that enemies can’t damage them.
Conclusion
Whatever the reason for metagaming, it is sure to be a part of Dungeons & Dragons for as long as the game is popular. And when used correctly, metagaming can be a powerful tool. However, it is more likely to be frowned upon, as it can help you get an edge over your opponents and unfairly make better decisions, according to the other players. So pick your spots when it comes to metagaming in DnD.
