D&D General Poll: Combat or Roleplay?

[Baldurs_Underdark]

Hey all,

It is well-known that the main goal of all players is to mess with the DM and for the DM to kill the players. But outside that, I am curious to see what you all focus your attention on: combat or roleplay? Given the content of most threads, I have a suspicion, but that may be all wrong.

Choose your favorite campaign if you end up wanting to click both options.

Personally I love the roleplay when I DM and I encourage players to interact as much as they like (I even give XP for roleplay). In the game where I am a player, the DM sends us from one dungeon to the next so logically my character is getting optimized for combat. I vote roleplay though.

 

[Scott Christian]

Both? But if we have to choose one, I would say roleplay depends on the DM and other players. Roleplay with some is okay, but not great. Combat with some is okay, but not great. But if you need to choose one, I would say the focus of most tables that I have seen is combat.

 

[Morrus]

I prefer it not to focus on either, and have a healthy mix of both.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

We are definitely an action orientated group, but even within hack and slash there is roleplay. RP is not just having long sessions of PC talking in character with NPC. How you approach the action sequences is filled with RP.

 

[Oofta]

Most games are slightly tilted towards RP, but it's not an either or. It depends a lot on the session and what the group enjoys since there is no one right answer.

 

[TwoSix]

My fundamental focus of play is on conflict, although it doesn't have to be specifically combat. I like the focus to be on drama over planning and exploration.

 

[DEFCON 1]

If I had a D&D that was all roleplay and no combat, I'd happily play D&D.

If I had a D&D that was all combat and no roleplay... I'd never play D&D. There are dozens of better board games out there that I'd much rather play first.

There's a reason why the D&D miniatures and board games all had very short shelf lives. Because on their own without the character and narrative connected to them, the D&D combat rules as a whole just aren't that compelling.

 

[Morrus]

It depends a lot on the session

Also this. Some days I lean towards wanting more of one than the other, other days vice versa. But I don't think I ever want a game to focus on one over the other.

 

[BookTenTiger]

I enjoy both, but my favorite is roleplay through combat.

I feel like combat and dungeon-crawling is actually the most democratic part of a D&D game. It gives everyone a turn, and usually all the characters have abilities that can be used well. Even a roleplay-heavy bard has a Vicious Mockery they can pull out.

I also think combat allows characters to show off who they are. And if you design it right, it can force characters to make difficult decisions in the moment (Grab the precious gem or help the dying NPC???) that create great roleplaying opportunities!

 

[Horwath]

Both!?