Paul Beakley over mechanized is a good way of describing my (limited) experience of PbTA. Events kick off more events because the mechanics push them and the story is generated along with it and sucks characters into it. Mechanics pull the story and based on what I’ve played and read of Play sessions its like a snowball rolling down hill. This is the opposite to what I think of in the traditional RPG model.

In the traditional RPG model the story calls for action/reaction and these are all hard stops. The GM describes an event, the players react to it and then resolve the event. You may have a series of back to back events but each one is basically isolated from the other. Even in combat one round of combat really has no forced impact on the next. The GM/Players naturally progress the story in a logical progression of events to make the fiction work. But really there is no mechanic that compels the next action. You are, for most purposes, in control of your character at all times and basically only your character. The mechanics don’t tell you what to do the mechanics are there to resolve what you do.

There are games that bridge this gap like Fate, Cortex and Feng Shui. In those games you can pull story elements in and shape them around your character but still the mechanics resolve your actions and don’t dictate them. I don’t know where BW fits in this spectrum I suspect it’s in the middle as well and currently that’s my preferred spot to play and run games in. As a player I like to be in control of my actions. As a GM I’d rather present the story and then adapt and react to the players input and not pushed in one direction buy the mechanics. I guess I’m a bit of a control freak in my gaming.

I’m of course speaking for myself more and only guessing on what your friend means by Roleplaying.

On a side note this thread is full of win. Your topics often bring about great discussions.