D&D 4E How Will 4e Encourage Role Playing?

[JoeGKushner]

No, serously, the Player's Handbook is a terrible book when it comes to showcasing role playing and encouraging it. The Hero Builder's Handbook, D&D Dummies book, and Player's Handbook II are all far better.

I'm not saying the book needs relationship charts or needs players to come up with complex backstories that tie into the root of the campaign or anything, but I'd like to see something that provides reasons for role playing and rewards for doing it well.

Let the flames commence!

 

[Hairfoot]

Oh, my. That won't get much flame, but this will:

Roleplaying is dying out in D&D because with each edition it becomes more like an anime-themed computer MMORPG which elevates numerical bonuses and pretty art above game involvement.

And it will get even more flame because I mean it.

 

[Piratecat]

Oh, my. That won't get much flame, but this will:

Roleplaying is dying out in D&D because with each edition it becomes more like an anime-themed computer MMORPG which elevates numerical bonuses and pretty art above game involvement.

And it will get even more flame because I mean it.

I'm on a hair's breadth of suspending everyone who cries "troll" or "this is how to improve your rant" every time a new thread starts. DON'T DO IT. If the topic doesn't interest you, DON'T POST.

If this is somehow unclear, email me.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Honestly, I think 4E's choice of clearly showcasing roles will... er.. clearly showcase role playing.

Seriously. Anyone who looks at "Paladin. This character fills the role of defender, with abilities derived from a divine source" is pretty much educated on what role he or she is expected to play.

Compare to 3E, where that exact same info is hidden within several paragraphs of fluff.

 

[stonegod]

The PHBII did this via the archetypes and RP sections in the middle. While this could be done in the PH4E, the issue is space of course. They have said class descriptions are longer, and w/ the re-importance of race, there is an opportunity for them to flesh out the RP possibilities of the mechanics.

What about SWSE? Did it have similar RP tips that may foreshadow the PH4E?

 

[Umbran]

Role playing can be encouraged (and maybe this is even the best way to encourage it) simply by having a superior system - one that is quick and easy to learn, runs smoothly and efficiently with few interruptions for looking stuff up, and that is fun to work with.

 

[Stalker0]

Hopefully 4e will streamline the diplomacy system a bit more. Also, hopefully charisma will become more a generally usable stat, which will encourage more characters to have good charismas.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Role playing can be encouraged (and maybe this is even the best way to encourage it) simply by having a superior system - one that is quick and easy to learn, runs smoothly and efficiently with few interruptions for looking stuff up, and that is fun to work with.

How so?

How is a person new to role playing going to pick up a smoothly run system and know how to role play?

Honest curiousity here. I've played many games and don't see it happening in 'em so I don't see how it'd happen for 4e, especially as time goes on and most people's 'experience' with 'role playing games' comes from electronic versions.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Personally:

I think that both the PHB and the DMG need more of this sort of info; that said, previous editions of the game have largely ignored the in-depth character- or game-building aspects within their core materials. I certainly don't need such information, but I can see it being a good idea to include in the PHB and DMG, just as I can see some advice on running or RP-ing monsters being a nice addition to the MM. Just including a cleaned-up version of the material in PHB2 and DMG2 would do the job nicely.

IMHO, it *is* a good idea to include this sort of thing, and I'd actually rather see advice on how to run an effective character (and especially how to keep a game running smoothly for DMs!) in the core books than, say, sample "generic" deities, planes of existence, or the like. Merely having a well-designed system does not, as the OP said, give novice players and DMs the full tools they need to run a game like D&D "out of the box."

 

[(contact)]

How so?

How is a person new to role playing going to pick up a smoothly run system and know how to role play?

Honest curiousity here. I've played many games and don't see it happening in 'em so I don't see how it'd happen for 4e, especially as time goes on and most people's 'experience' with 'role playing games' comes from electronic versions.

Because new players only have so much attention/processing available, and if they're spending it trying to learn a rule-set, they're not going to spend it figuring out why Tinklewillie Gleependorp left his cozy burrow to chase after the assassin's chalice in the first place.

I tend to think role-play is picked up at the table and is more a function of game-group culture than it is rules or rule-book driven. That said, a chapter wouldn't hurt. RP is half the fun.


Okay, two-thirds of the fun.