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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mark CMG" data-source="post: 5803610" data-attributes="member: 10479">Hmmm.  This is seeming like one of the basic misconceptions about roleplaying, and I think Howandwhy99 sometimes falls prey to this when he looks back on the genesis of the term and how it has evolved.  Roleplaying is about first person narrative OR dialogue but need not require dialogue or directly speaking in character.  Someone could be in the same situation as you describe and explain merely that, "I make sure to warn the rest of the players that the sword is dangerous to touch and will kill them."In a similar situation as described earlier in this thread (or another) where someone was asked to roleplay during a Diplomacy or Charisma check at a royal court, they don't have to speak in character and give the exact words their character uses, they just have to explain what the character is saying and, if in doing so, they happen to key on a few possible triggers like making sure to mention, for instance, "And I be sure to ask about the King's daughter's health, to show concern, before asking for additional patronage funds for my next voyage" it is as good as having said in character, "And, Sire, I hope your daughter has recovered from her illness?  Yes?  Good.  Now that the important matters are handled, allow me to ask for some additional funds for my next voyage in your illustrious name to your greater glory!"  If the daughter's health concern were a trigger toward gaining a bonus on the check for more funds, doing it either way is the same.  It's just sometimes more fun for one type of player to do it in character and for another, who might be skittish about tripping over exact wording, to roleplay as first person narrative.Those are two roleplaying playstyles that are both commonly used, one every bit as good as the other.  What isn't a roleplaying style of play is to say, "We're at court?  I make a Diplomacy Check.  (rolls) Fifteen.  Do I get any more funding or anything?"  That's not roleplaying.  Nor is it roleplaying to say, "I go to town and Gather Information.  (rolls) Eighteen.  What to I find out?"  That's avoiding roleplaying, substituting die rolling for roleplaying.  While that is a playstyle, it is not a roleplaying playstyle.Is this one of the stumbling blocks you and I have been having in our conversation?  Because I feel like we might be talking past one another over this fundamental issue while discussing best roleplaying design practices and priorities.</blockquote>

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