The chances are, if you are here, then you probably already know the answer to this question.  However, if not, here is what we hope will be a clear answer for you.
 

First of all, our games are what is referred to as a “Table Top” or  “Pen and Paper” RPGs. This is as opposed to a computer RPGs or CRPGs. Don’t let the term 'table top' fool you, you don’t need to sit at a table to play if you would be more comfortable on a sofa, but you will need pencils and paper. An eraser and several 10 sided dice will also be needed, as will a few friends to play the games with.

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In a Role Playing Game (or RPG) each of the players create a character which they will then play, much in the way an actor plays a character in film and theatre. The primary difference is that as a player in an RPG you will have more freedom to improvise and will not be given lines to say or for that matter be told what to do. There is no scriptwriter as such, the closest thing you will find to one is the Games Master, (or GM).

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The Games Master is a player who will be your window on the world. In effect (s)he does the job a computer would do if you were playing a computer RPG - up to a point at least. The GM interprets the rules, much like a referee, and will also play all the people, animals and monsters that your characters meet but which are not being played by other players. It is his or her job to help the players create the story and (s)he will present the challenges you will face and tell you what happens as a result of your characters actions. For your part, you will tell him what your characters do or say. In this way a narrative is created as the story unfolds.

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Often you will have your character try to do some thing that the character may or may not be successful at, and that is where the rules come in. The rules will help you to create your character, defining it’s strengths and weaknesses, the skills the character knows and how good he or she is at them. When an event occurs in the story that requires you to discover if your character succeeded or failed at what they were trying to do, the rules are used to help find out. Failure is not always a bad thing in an RPG. The goal is not to “win” nor is it to “succeed”. The goal is simply to enjoy yourselves and the story you, the other players, the games master and the rules help to create.

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In an RPG all of the players are usually (although not always) on the “same side”.
 

They co-operate and the characters are often friends or colleges, much as the cast of characters in a film or play may be. They usually work together to help overcome the obstacles and difficulties the GM will present them with.
 

The GM is not your opponent either, although many of the characters (s)he will play are and some of them will try to stop you from reaching your objectives. However the GM will also be playing a whole host of other characters, some of whom will be trying to help you achieve your goals. The GM is mostly neutral, although ultimately his or her goal is to help you have fun.

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Now, as we mentioned earlier, these are “Table Top” RPGs, this mean you do not have to dress up as your character and you do not have to walk around and mime the things your character does. You simply need to tell the GM and the other players, that’s all.

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You don’t even have to deliver lines as an actor would. You can simply say “My character will draw his shotgun and threaten the thugs with it” and so on.