defining player types

[poppocabba]

here is the start of another article
I was thinking that the traditional descriptions of rpg players are not unified enough, and given the contrasts in my current ground I have found method that I feel works farily well, and has degrees. I define players by the level of effect they are likely to have on an adventure, and the preparations I gm needs to make to satisfy them. I group them into 3 primary types.
Earthquake
Tidal wave
Surfer
Earthquake players are people who will require character development, and plot lines that effect your adventure at the core level. The will cause you to alter the very core of your adventures. These folks are high maintenance, but will often end up writing half an adventure for you.
Tidal wave players will not require complex plotlines, but will demand justifaction on a mechanical level, or rules lawyering. They also tend to be interested in a logical game cosmology. These players have involved themselves in the games setting,but not the heart of the story.
Surfers can be the hardest to run, because they demand that "something happens" in every adventure while providing very little in the way of justification for plot advancement in terms of character background, often they provide only limited sketches of background, and lean heavily on preconceived archtypes. Many of these type of players are very reserved, and just require coaxing to become more involved and committed to a campaign, or need education in the genre/setting.
While it is obvious the a good game will appeal to players on all levels, the ulimate goal of the gm should be to "sink" the players, and bring them all down to the role-playing oceans floor at earthquake level. Ongoing campaigns tend to sink most players

[Ron Edwards]

Interesting parallels can be seen here with some G/N/S notions ... I think the terminology is a bit bizarre, but clearly your Earthquake corresponds to high Author and Director stance (found in Narrativism and Gamism), your Tidal Wave to certain types of Simulationist and Gamist play, and Surfer definitely to the historically-prevalent Simulationism.

Best,
Ron