What ever happened to Role Playing?
- Thread starter MrGone
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Creamsteak
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Role playing isn't something I discuss, I just do it. I could, theoretically, start a thread about 'how to role-play the use of spell components in game', but I'm doing fine with that concept myself.
Visit the gaming forums, plenty of story hours and games going on if you want to find out more information. And, also, why not just make some topics for discussion in this forum about the role-playing, rather than about discussing the discussion of role-playing.
Visit the gaming forums, plenty of story hours and games going on if you want to find out more information. And, also, why not just make some topics for discussion in this forum about the role-playing, rather than about discussing the discussion of role-playing.
Wombat
First Post
Roleplaying has nothing to do with systems.
It has to do with GM-player interactions.
You can turn any game you want into a roleplaying game -- I have done so with Clue, with numerous Avalon Hill boardgames, with old miniatures battles, and even with rpg systems that I otherwise loathed.
OTOH, I have been in games with systems that I love where people became more enamored with the rules than with "getting into character", thus killing the roleplaying aspect.
In the end it is not a matter of system, of age, of locale, or of any other single factor. It is interaction between a GM and a group of players who are "in synch" with each other, who trust each other, and who feel like letting it all hang out.
So if roleplaying has died anywhere, I would suggest shaking up the group rather than blaming a set of rules.
Personal opinions only, of course.
It has to do with GM-player interactions.
You can turn any game you want into a roleplaying game -- I have done so with Clue, with numerous Avalon Hill boardgames, with old miniatures battles, and even with rpg systems that I otherwise loathed.
OTOH, I have been in games with systems that I love where people became more enamored with the rules than with "getting into character", thus killing the roleplaying aspect.
In the end it is not a matter of system, of age, of locale, or of any other single factor. It is interaction between a GM and a group of players who are "in synch" with each other, who trust each other, and who feel like letting it all hang out.
So if roleplaying has died anywhere, I would suggest shaking up the group rather than blaming a set of rules.
Personal opinions only, of course.
BSF
Explorer
When you are discussing RP, how do you do so objectively?
If someone were to post asking for a critique of the RP possibilities of a character concept, how do you answer?
What might be a wonderful RP possibility for one person may stink for another. It is entirely subjective.
I could go into great detail on my current character. I can give you backgrounds on the motivations of my NPCs. I can even tell you why the demon my players will fight tonight has been banished to the Prime Material plane. I can tell you what his past was before he goofed up and gladly agreed to exile rather than complete annihilation.
Oh, I can also tell you about all the crunchy stats and feats all of these characters has. If I were going to bring any of this up on a posting, I am unlikely to have any questions on how I can portray the character "better". After all, that is subjective. I might have questions on how to use the character in combat more effectively. I might look for ideas on how emphasize a particular aspect of the character's personality. These are mechanics questions and issues. I don't think that reflects on a lack of character.
Perhaps I misunderstand your point? Are you looking for fully fleshed characters? Are you wanting to compare notes? Are you even just looking for interesting NPCs? Are you looking for subjective feedback on a character concept that you might play? Are you looking to offer your judgement on the viability of a concept that others may have? Are you just looking for good stories about how characters played out?
Perhaps it would help if you could post an example of what you would like to see.
If someone were to post asking for a critique of the RP possibilities of a character concept, how do you answer?
What might be a wonderful RP possibility for one person may stink for another. It is entirely subjective.
I could go into great detail on my current character. I can give you backgrounds on the motivations of my NPCs. I can even tell you why the demon my players will fight tonight has been banished to the Prime Material plane. I can tell you what his past was before he goofed up and gladly agreed to exile rather than complete annihilation.
Oh, I can also tell you about all the crunchy stats and feats all of these characters has. If I were going to bring any of this up on a posting, I am unlikely to have any questions on how I can portray the character "better". After all, that is subjective. I might have questions on how to use the character in combat more effectively. I might look for ideas on how emphasize a particular aspect of the character's personality. These are mechanics questions and issues. I don't think that reflects on a lack of character.
Perhaps I misunderstand your point? Are you looking for fully fleshed characters? Are you wanting to compare notes? Are you even just looking for interesting NPCs? Are you looking for subjective feedback on a character concept that you might play? Are you looking to offer your judgement on the viability of a concept that others may have? Are you just looking for good stories about how characters played out?
Perhaps it would help if you could post an example of what you would like to see.
I was trying to let that one slide. I'm glad I did. You responded better than I would have.Ranger REG
Explorer
From what I have observed, many casual or newbie gamers don't know how to roleplay, so you gotta teach them. Unfortunately, when the DM is not a veteran gamer and just as newbie as the players (their first crack at D&D or any RPG), they need written instruction on how to roleplay.MrGone said:
For those so-called expert roleplayers (but not as experienced as veterans), they criticize that the rulebook doesn't teach them or offer any guideline. That's a bunch of baloney! Roleplaying comes from within the gamers themselves. Go back to the time you played "Make-Believe" or "Let's Pretend" (or the variations of "Cops & Robbers") and you'll know. You decide the personality of the PC or NPC.
So stop looking at the rules or lack thereof to "hold your hands and guide you." You need help? Join the Drama or Theater club.
rant off
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If we end up comparing D&D to other rpgs, not all but a few, some other rpgs do emphasize backgrounds and character concepts and personalities that D&D does not, and all that is within the rules of the game itself.
D&D, from the PHB, doesn't empasize anything but number crunching, combat, and spells. It has everything to make a kickbutt combat machine, but it doesn't really address how to make a well rounded character with a background, or guidelines on how to roleplay. Sure the Description chapter is there, but its the shortest chapter in the book and all the stuff it does talk about, the most important aspects need more details (especially for newbie players that don't have any idea on what they are doing).
Sure experienced players can read between the lines and get more out of what is written, but the game itself is just a game of combat, as the rules are written.
Players do have to get beyond the rules and also figure things out for themselves, and that does take practice. The more a person plays, the more they should learn (supposedly, but I have seen players who have been playing for years not grasp the concept of a simple character concept and just how useful a single page of a background can be to flesh out a character).
By saying the above I an not going to dispute what Ranger REG said because he's absolutely correct. A DM should be able to teach a new person what roleplaying is all about, and if the DM is new then that will be a pretty hard task to accomplish. And it is up to players to get beyond the rules and understand that the rules don't dictate how the game should be played.
D&D, from the PHB, doesn't empasize anything but number crunching, combat, and spells. It has everything to make a kickbutt combat machine, but it doesn't really address how to make a well rounded character with a background, or guidelines on how to roleplay. Sure the Description chapter is there, but its the shortest chapter in the book and all the stuff it does talk about, the most important aspects need more details (especially for newbie players that don't have any idea on what they are doing).
Sure experienced players can read between the lines and get more out of what is written, but the game itself is just a game of combat, as the rules are written.
Players do have to get beyond the rules and also figure things out for themselves, and that does take practice. The more a person plays, the more they should learn (supposedly, but I have seen players who have been playing for years not grasp the concept of a simple character concept and just how useful a single page of a background can be to flesh out a character).
By saying the above I an not going to dispute what Ranger REG said because he's absolutely correct. A DM should be able to teach a new person what roleplaying is all about, and if the DM is new then that will be a pretty hard task to accomplish. And it is up to players to get beyond the rules and understand that the rules don't dictate how the game should be played.
Kichwas
Half-breed
Saying this overlooks a large portion of the skills and feats sections, many of the spells, the sections in the DMG on NPCs, NPC interactions, towns, Urban adventures, Campaign building, and so on.ES2 said:
Roleplaying hasn't gone anywhere. From where I sit there's more emphasis on it now in the DnD world than there ever was before.
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