Why I don't play D&D anymore

[Mark CMG]

There is no challenge overcame, no ressources used, what outcome has to do with it ?

Well, for instance, if the innkeeper has some information that, perhaps, he isn't aware is information that is needed, and that he has no reason to keep hidden, but it requires the right line of inquiry to expose. No rolling needed, just some discussion. It would, IMO, qualify as a challenge overcome, and it might or might not require some resources, buying drinks and/or a meal, and it certainly can be pivotal to an entire game/campaign.

 

[bento]

Sounds like you're a "rollplayer" not a "roleplayer"!

Encounters can certainly happen without the roll of a dice. It's up to you how you want to parlay with the players. If they're trying to get something out of one of your NPCs and gives a performance worthly of an academy award, why make them roll dice?

 

[marune]

Well, for instance, if the innkeeper has some information that, perhaps, he isn't aware is information that is needed, and that he has no reason to keep hidden, but it requires the right line of inquiry to expose. No rolling needed, just some discussion. It would, IMO, qualify as a challenge overcome, and it might or might not require some resources, buying drinks and/or a meal, and it certainly can be pivotal to an entire game/campaign.

If some abilities need to be used to find this line of inquiry or what "price" will buy him, you have an encounter here. If it's only the DM that is forcing the players to do some acting before giving them clues that he wants to give them anyway, there is no encounter.

 

[Mark CMG]

If some abilities need to be used to find this line of inquiry or what "price" will buy him, you have an encounter here.

True.

If it's only the DM that is forcing the players to do some acting before giving them clues that he wants to give them anyway, there is no encounter.

The players and DM can certainly have a game where the players can avoid any sort of in-character talking whatsoever through the use of dice rolling and DCs if that is their preference but . . .

You're inserting the word "forcing" and that doesn't bode well to our discussion because we'll quickly find we have different ideas about the role of the DM within the game. Where a DM sprinkles clues, even if he decides to do it on the spur of a moment, and what triggers he places on how those clues will be uncovered are in no way against the spirit of the game nor are they railroading nor forcing one particular style of play over another. They are, IMO, the very essence of why tabletop roleplay gaming is far superior to any kind of computer facsimile.

Have we, however, uncovered the actual problem? Is you gaming group of a mindset that only situations that involve dice rolling (or taking 10 or 20) as encounters worthy of experience and, thus, advancement of characters? When you run your games are the times between those encounters swiftly glossed over and treated as only so much expository information needed to link the dice rolling encounters into a coherent story or campaign? If this is the case I can see why you would find D&D unsatisfactory. I would not play either under such circumstances.

 

[diaglo]

Naw, not possible I guess.

quoted for truth. not possible at all.

 

[diaglo]

isn't the obvious solution to go back to the 2E game? Yeah, it's not supported anymore, but it wouldn't be that hard to convert 3e stuff to 2E.....

yup, this is what you need to do. i have been converting stuff since 1edADnD back to OD&D(1974).

i'm still doing it.

 

[marune]

Sounds like you're a "rollplayer" not a "roleplayer"!

I have nothing agaisn't acting and I do think it's a part of a Roleplaying game.

 

[marune]

Have we, however, uncovered the actual problem? Is you gaming group of a mindset that only situations that involve dice rolling (or taking 10 or 20) as encounters worthy of experience and, thus, advancement of characters? When you run your games are the times between those encounters swiftly glossed over and treated as only so much expository information needed to link the dice rolling encounters into a coherent story or campaign? If this is the case I can see why you would find D&D unsatisfactory. I would not play either under such circumstances.

I very much like to add color to my games, that's not the point here. We are talking about the frequency of Encounter. You can do "color encounter" 100 times a day, you'll not find balance issues in them of course!

Edit :

Is you gaming group of a mindset that only situations that involve dice rolling (or taking 10 or 20) as encounters worthy of experience and, thus, advancement of characters?

It's not a mindset, it's how the D&D game works !

 

[Mark CMG]

I very much like to add color to my games, that's not the point here. We are talking about the frequency of Encounter. You can do "color encounter" 100 times a day, you'll not find balance issues in them of course!

I find the two inseparable and do not limit the term encounter to describe only situations where dice rolling occurs.

 

[Lanefan]

The 4-encounter-per-day thing came more from their "research", if memory serves, and is referenced in the 3.0 DMG as a guideline. Ignore it, and replace with the following (probably works for all systems, come to think of it):

When the party's deep in an adventure, chuck stuff at 'em until they can't take any more. Then, chuck one more thing at 'em and see how they do...you'll probably be surprised when all of them survive, but if some don't, so be it. Once you've done this a few times, you'll have a good idea what the party can handle, and can plan accordingly. Repeat process every few levels to gauge how their power is increasing. Sit back and enjoy game.

Lanefan