Will the 5 minute rest encourage roleplaying?

[Campbell]

Are we talking about the talky portion of the game or the portraying fictional characters in an imaginary world part?

 

[Bishmon]

I'm thinking that the people who are going to roleplay in those five-minute downtimes are probably the same people who didn't really need any help from the rules finding times to roleplay. I guess I just don't see it changing anything.

 

[Wormwood]

I roleplay during combat and I roleplay outside of combat.

4e changes nothing.

 

[dmccoy1693]

I don't see it as encouraging or discouraging role playing. It seems rather disconnected. 'We rest for 5 minutes... and we're done. Moving on'.

That's exactly how I see the munchkins I play with handling it. I also expect them to fully expect the monsters that are in the next room to stay in the next room and not investigate the sounds of their buddies dying. Then they'll whine to the DM about how they didn't get a chance to rest up yet and how they can't use their encounter powers and how they're nurfed on power all because the DM is being a big meanie. I don't really see how 4E is going to make stop my whiney fellow players stop whining.

(Fortunately, I have another group that is just wonderful.)

 

[smathis]

Here's how I see the 5 min rest thing playing out...

DM: "Okay, you've fought back the goblin horde. Now what do you want to do?"
Human Cleric: "I suggest we take a 5 minute rest."
Dwarf Fighter: "I agree. I'm using up some Healing Surges."
Dramatist Wizard: (in character, of course) "We cannot tarry. The princess is held captive! If I must press on, I shall!"
His Buddy the Ranger: "No, Shalalzamor! You cannot go alone. These caverns are too dangerous!"
DM: "And what are you doing Steve?"
Shifty Rogue: "Oh man, I'm totally looting these bodies. Who's in?"
Cleric: "Oh, I'm going for the Shaman!"
Fighter: "Me too? What do I roll?"
Dramatist Wizard: "But my love... Princess Penelope!"
Shifty Rogue: "Dude! I just picked up a scroll!"

The more things change...

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Nope. Downtime between encounters has always existed.

But the length of time necessary to continue the foray hasn't always made sense. I look forward to being able to run proper dungeon crawls again without having to have the PC's make 12 trips back to town to rest and recuperate. YMMV

 

[broghammerj]

Players now need a 5 minute break to get their encounter abilities between fights. Since the characters may have to sit in a dungeon room for a few minutes every so often, do you think this will actually encourage more roleplaying between them?

I am not sure if you mean actual roleplaying or simply avoiding metagaming. The question is do your players a #1 or #2?

#1. "We rest for five minutes to recharge our abilities"

vs.

#2. "I take a seat on a nearby rock, wipe the blood of my sword, bind my bleeding wounds, and take a sip off my water skin," which essentially accomplishes #1 and avoids metagaming . Now if this is my standard m.o. then at some point I would just begin to tell the DM my character is taking 5.

I would consider roleplaying more along the lines something like:

Fighter: "How do you suppose these goblins became so well armed?"
Rogue: "They are caring a large amount of coin. Perhaps they are in someone employ."
Wizard: "Indeed they must be. I sense an aura of protection magic around them....too powerful for goblins."

Thats more roleplaying and IMO unlikely to be affected by a simple rule...as it should be.

 

[Lanefan]

As this is entirely dependent on the DM style and the players' initiative, there will be no difference regardless of rules or edition.

It is the DM's responsibility to give the players the opportunity to roleplay or talk in character by resisting the temptation to handwave the 5-minute rests. After that, they're on their own. (though the DM having an NPC in the party can also help here, to get the conversation started)

Lanefan

 

[Jack99]

Players now need a 5 minute break to get their encounter abilities between fights. Since the characters may have to sit in a dungeon room for a few minutes every so often, do you think this will actually encourage more roleplaying between them?

It worked in Everquest - always lots of chat and roleplaying during med breaks, while WoW was onwards onwards onwards all the time. So yeah, it might facilitate that. At least it is one of my hopes for 4e.

Cheers