D&D 5E Roleplaying in D&D 5E: It’s How You Play the Game
Scars Unseen
Hero
I've had sessions that really stretch what could be called "playing Dungeons and Dragons" to the breaking point. One time we had a major encounter (this was back in the 90s, 2E) that was essentially a demigod level threat just coming into existence. We got told by the DM to start rolling our d20s as fast as we could and record every time we got a nat 20 roll under a 1 minute timer and see if we tallied up enough to kill it before it was fully formed.
Nefermandias
Hero
But did you had the option to choose not to attack the demigod? Did your approach to the situation change anything in the outcome? Was there any way to improve your chances to stop the demigod?
If you don't get to make choices and chose your own actions, it's really hard to justify calling that session RPG.
clearstream
(He, Him)
I like that you have honed in on roleplay implying the preservation of choice. One way I have put that is this.
- Player choice | > character motivation > character actions
*The pipe symbol divides real-world from game-world
Nefermandias
Hero
Yes, remove players agency and you cannot call it roleplay anymore, no matter how you twist it.
I found these three (not only these three, but they're illustrative) in the Basic PDF:
p 37 (Acolyte Background): As an acolyte, you command the respect of those who share your faith, and you can perform the religious ceremonies of your deity. You and your adventuring companions can expect to receive free healing and care at a temple, shrine, or other established presence of your faith, though you must provide any material components needed for spells. Those who share your religion will support you (but only you) at a modest lifestyle.
p 64 (Stealth): While traveling at a slow pace, the characters can move stealthily. As long as they’re not in the open, they can try to surprise or sneak by other creatures they encounter. See the rules for hiding in chapter 7.
pp 72 (Making an Attack), 74 (Damage Rolls), 75 (Dropping to 0 Hit Points): Whether you’re striking with a melee weapon, firing a weapon at range, or making an attack roll as part of a spell, an attack has a simple structure.
1. Choose a target. Pick a target within your attack’s range: a creature, an object, or a location.
2. Determine modifiers. The DM determines whether the target has cover and whether you have advantage or disadvantage against the target. In addition, spells, special abilities, and other effects can apply penalties or bonuses to your attack roll.
3. Resolve the attack. You make the attack roll. On a hit, you roll damage, unless the particular attack has rules that specify otherwise. . . .
Each weapon, spell, and harmful monster ability specifies the damage it deals. You roll the damage die or dice, add any modifiers, and apply the damage to your target. . . .
When you drop to 0 hit points, you either die outright or fall unconscious, as explained in the following sections.
p 64 (Stealth): While traveling at a slow pace, the characters can move stealthily. As long as they’re not in the open, they can try to surprise or sneak by other creatures they encounter. See the rules for hiding in chapter 7.
pp 72 (Making an Attack), 74 (Damage Rolls), 75 (Dropping to 0 Hit Points): Whether you’re striking with a melee weapon, firing a weapon at range, or making an attack roll as part of a spell, an attack has a simple structure.
1. Choose a target. Pick a target within your attack’s range: a creature, an object, or a location.
2. Determine modifiers. The DM determines whether the target has cover and whether you have advantage or disadvantage against the target. In addition, spells, special abilities, and other effects can apply penalties or bonuses to your attack roll.
3. Resolve the attack. You make the attack roll. On a hit, you roll damage, unless the particular attack has rules that specify otherwise. . . .
Each weapon, spell, and harmful monster ability specifies the damage it deals. You roll the damage die or dice, add any modifiers, and apply the damage to your target. . . .
When you drop to 0 hit points, you either die outright or fall unconscious, as explained in the following sections.
These at least look to me like mechanical processes which are triggered, or invoked, or enlivened, in virtue of a player declaring that their PC does some particular thing - is an Acolyte who seeks succour from those of their faith; is in a group of PCs who move slowly and sneakily; makes an attack. And each process seems to establish constraints around what happens next in the fiction as an outcome of working through the process.
I thought that was a picture of the social skill threads...People don't agree with my way of playing?!?
my players contribute ALOT more then that, and when I play so do IThe one issue I have with the original post is when they say this: "they determine how their characters think, act, and talk and then describe to the rest of the group what they have thus determined. This is the players’ sole contribution to the game."
Uh, I'm sorry... but are we forgetting SNACKS? That's the players' SECOND contribution to the game, thank you very much! You determine how your character thinks and acts, * AND * you put a bag of cheese doodles on the table for me to eat.
Yeah, some of you may say this is "One True Wavy Lays-ism"... but screw you people! I didn't spend all this time prepping this adventure for you to not to pick up some pretzel rods for me. I mean sheesh!
funny how "nah just the rules" crowd skips that.
hey look at that... two people read the same words, and came away with different interpretations... what a shock.
