D&D General What do you want out of your D&D/RPG games?

[Gorg]

I've been trying to get new players for my 5.5 meat space game and it's like pulling teeth. I've discussed this in other threads so not to rehash that but as a segway to another topic:

What do you want out of your D&D/RPG games?

Since starting at the tail end of 2E the games Ive played in and ran as a DM (most of them) has been more of a Roleplay is encouraged but not required.

Most people only talk in character when the DM directly talks to them in character. Most to the time the DM explains things and moves on.

"Jared the Wizard tells you about the Demon King. He asks you to venture to the next town of Townburgville and seek out more info." There isn't a long in character chat unless initiated by the players. As in the DM will RP when the player wishes to RP. Rarely do the players RP with each other unless something initiates it. Like "I want to rob the magic shop."

It's never really been an issue until just recently when I had a new player express that they were unhappy that there wasn't far more RP in the sessions. Which as the DM I can accommodate but I cant make other players RP. I wouldn't want to as that reeks of forcing people to move out of a bubble they might not be comfortable in.

By the by I found that young players are more apt to just RP and RP and RP it's the adults who just want to play out a story/adventure with minimal actual RP.

I wonder if this may be influence from online games like Critical Role. I know this has been discussed before but I've never actually experienced it.

So, what are you expecting out of a D&D game as a player? Me, I'm just happy to get to play. I'll happily RP or just roll dice or anything between. It seems odd to me to have a certain make or break expectation. IE if there isn't at least a session of all shopping and roleplay then why even be in the group?

Thoughts?

This sounds like exactly how we used to play! THAT'S what I want out of my "D&D" games. (the first half of the post)

I've played with people who could turn a simple errand to the mercantile for a coupla flasks of oil, into an agonizing multi-session rp extravaganza... uh, no. Or those you almost need to physically drag by the nose to the plot, otherwise they'd never leave town.

I also played with a group who took ROLE playing so literally, that they required you to actually pantomime casting a spell- complete with shouting gibberish. etc. so, yeah, I know what you mean.

I haven't played with any younger people in years, so I can't say much about your theory- but I HAVE noticed that the parts of the game getting the most emphasis wherever rpgs are discussed, have changed a LOT. (as have the assumptions behind them) Back stories, storytelling, and heavy rp- vs various types of powergaming. Little or Nothing in between these extremes. And videos about gameplay feature mostly rp, as opposed to being adventure focused. I'm inclined to lean towards this being "the internet effect"

 

[Emerikol]

I probably balance it out though maybe in my groups there is a tiny bit more roleplay. If it is a new NPC, then we tend to roleplay it. If it is a long time npc "friend" of the group, it's okay to say "I'm going to ask Jim about that old keep that suddenly appeared a month ago out of nowhere."

 

[DragonLancer]

I'm a traditional D&Der. Roleplay is fine when it happens (no amateur dramatics though, thank you) but I like a story to tell, dungeons and locations to explore, treasure to find and monsters to slay. Exactly what D&D does straight out of the box.