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Message: <blockquote data-quote="doctorhook" data-source="post: 4605587" data-attributes="member: 58401">I'm a DM. I've been running a D&D game for about a year and a half now; 3.5E until this past June, and 4E since then. I had four players for 3.5E, and have six players now for 4E (three from the old group, and three new players). All of them had limited to no experience with PnP roleplaying games prior to joining my group. Most of them are video gamers.Combat is fun, and it's important to me, my group, and my game. However, I'd like to believe D&D has some other things to offer, too. However, I almost always get a negative reaction from at least some of my players whenever we have a game session which involves any kind of extended interaction with an NPC. (And by "extended", I mean, "Let's try to understand where we are, what we're supposed to be doing, and why!" in brief terms.) I've had some success using Stalker0's Obsidian skill challenge system to encourage my players to think of how they interact with the world, beyond "Eldritch Blast" and "I [proverbially] rape his face with Twin Strike! Pwn'd!"I'd really like it if I could get my players to engage their characters a little bit more; I worry that they see their characters more as avatars of themselves than as a people. I've been patiently hoping that roleplaying skills would develop with time, but lately it seems my players have been relapsing (and showing me just how little they've developed).Any suggestions?If it will help, here's a roster of my group, how long they've been in the group, and a description:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">John: 5 months. Shy, artsy guy; likes reading, drawing, and being unimposing. Very quiet at the table overall. Plays a Half-(Eladrin) Warlord.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sherm: 5 months. Flamboyant, ridiculous sort of person in RL; really enjoys background story and lore, but is not very adept at applying it in-game. Has trouble keeping his own qualities out of his character. Plays a (low-Int) Dwarf Paladin of Bahamut.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Trev: 18 months. Quiet but very friendly guy; enjoys destroying monsters in combat, but is fairly patient about it between fights. Plays a Drow Archery-Ranger.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mat: 12 months. Boisterous, weird-sorta dude; likes making cutesy puns about monsters. Never especially serious whenever he's in character. Plays an Eladrin Wizard.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Jeff: 6 months. Nice-but-slightly-arrogant guy; talks loudly or interrupts for my attention during other player's turns. Often makes plans for the same night as D&D, so he "needs to hurry" while he's here. Wants to make a new character whenever a new race appears. (I've already indulged him twice.) Regularly encourages other players to use metagaming tactics. Wants to read D&D monster books.(?) Often upset that the DM gets to use his judgement about interpreting the rules. Usually does much of the talking during roleplaying encounters. Currently plays a Gnoll Rogue.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Kyle: 18 months. Quiet guy, but with a bad temper. Often claims he only plays D&D for the combat. Roleplaying is "gay". Gets angry during roleplaying encounters, saying, "Can we please play the game now?" Enjoys Obsidian skill challenges, as long as it doesn't preclude combat encounters. Tiefling (Fey) Warlock.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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