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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ariosto" data-source="post: 4839175" data-attributes="member: 80487">Although I think I get what's intended, I would not consider a high-combat game to lack "roleplaying". Roleplaying, to my mind, is simply playing one's role. If that happens to be the role of a soldier on a battle front, then high-lethality combat and (with luck) a lot of it is likely. Even if the character's career is brief, one can play the role to the hilt.Longer play, though, allows for more role complexity and player attachment to develop.Old D&D has high lethality if characters start at low level (especially 1st). Raise Dead requires a cleric of at least 9th level. The game also tends to involve some combat even with good strategies to avoid pointless fights.So, there is usually high turnover among characters as yet but little played. Gaining levels means (on average) more hit points, and also (more gradually) better saving throws.The strategies learned in low-level play are even more effective as the role of chance is thereby reduced. That's one reason tournament scenarios tend to involve characters of at least 5th level, if not 10th or higher. There can be a clear distinction between good and bad choices, rather than outcomes often hinging on luck.Combat in Traveller is less often lethal than in low-level old D&D, but can easily produce serious wounds that take a character out of action. The original rules set does not go into detail on how long, offering only that casualties are unconscious for three hours and that recuperation requires a medical facility and doctor. (Outcomes obviously are likely to vary with the tremendous variations in medical technology travellers may encounter among the far-flung stars.)There can be a similar aspect to mid-level play in old D&D, as characters without the aid of magic take a long time to regain full strength (and are more vulnerable when short of hit points). However, an AD&D cleric able to cast Raise Dead can also cast at least 4 Cure Light Wounds, 2 Cure Serious Wounds and 1 Cure Critical Wounds per day (4.25 hours preparation time in 1st edition). One of only 5th level can cast as many Cure Light, and that alone can greatly speed the recovery of a whole team.The ratio of risk to reward is a big factor in shaping strategies. If fights are the main source of experience points, then one might reasonably expect a lot of fights. If they are also low risk, then that merely reinforces the emphasis.As Traveller has no XP or "leveling up" at all, choice of activity in which to engage depends on choice of objective to pursue. Wealth is a common goal, as it can be a means to many ends -- and getting into shootouts tends to fall in the expense column of a ledger. Even commanders of mercenary companies must consider the return on investment.</blockquote>

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