I'm not an RPG person - but when I've done it, every player is in fact both acting their character's role AND acting as player in the game. The elven mage char

I'm not an RPG person - but when I've done it, every player is in fact both acting their character's role AND acting as player in the game. The elven mage character does not know that a DM exists, or that dice are being rolled; but the player does, and complains when the DM applies a rule inconsistently.