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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CharlesRyan" data-source="post: 4493492" data-attributes="member: 5265">On the one hand, I agree with most of the folks here--you might just have to accept that your wife isn't into the same aspects of the game that you love. But reading this thread, you'd think that you have no choice but to give up. With the caveat that you must ultimately respect what she wants out of the game, I posit that you can encourage her to become involved in the non-combat scenes of your campaign.I'd start with the "make it personal" approach. Umbran's example is a good one. It's even better if scenes like that, or the subplots they spin off, lead into a little combat (when reasonable), since that's a reward your wife will likely respond to. You might find that if she defends the young apprentice from the cruel master, she'll develop a concern for the NPC that drives a little roleplaying.As buzz said, adding a mechanical dimension to social scenes may also engage her more. Make the "inquesting" into a skill challenge or two--especially a challenge that offers a chance for her martial or physical skills to come to the fore.Third, look for hooks that can connect your game world and/or campaign story directly to your wife's character. If the Count was a personal enemy of her father's, or the next village is the one where she was born and raised, or a piece of the next treasure hoard includes a long-lost family heirloom (or whatever!), she and the game world will have reason to interact in ways beyond the bare necessities of the game. The NPC will have a reason to talk to her specifically, and she'll have a reason to answer with more than "yes" or "no." Maybe she'll run with it, maybe she won't, but at least she'll have the impetus that she might not be feeling now.Last but not least, don't be afraid of the odd bribe. 4E's quest system can offer XP for "personalizing" your motives for entering an adventure, but even in other editions or games you can offer a game reward for roleplaying. Use this carefully in conjunction with the other tips, though, or you risk it simply being a way for other, more roleplaying-focused players to scoop up more XP while she's still hanging out by the fire.Again, not every style of play is for everyone, and the advice to avoid frustrating both her and yourself is definitely to be heeded. But that doesn't mean engagement is impossible, or that with the right cues a nonroleplayer can't be encouraged to try--and enjoy--a broader range of the game experience.</blockquote>

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