Your Game: Roleplay Heavy, or Combat Heavy

[Belen]

I'd say that we have 50-50, although I would prefer more role play. It would be nice to have more character interaction in game. There was a time when I really enjoyed combat, but I am looking for more from a game these days.

 

[S'mon]

In terms of time spent, my current game seems about 30% character interaction to 70% combat. As GM I do aim to play NPCs 'in character', especially the more important ones - eg modelling the mighty warlord Archduke Ulfius Bloodhammer on Lord Melchett of Blackadder fame was I reckon an inspired bit of roleplaying...

 

[S'mon]

In terms of time spent, my current game seems about 30% character interaction to 70% combat. As GM I do aim to play NPCs 'in character', especially the more important ones - eg modelling the mighty warlord Archduke Ulfius Bloodhammer on Lord Melchett of Blackadder fame was I reckon an inspired bit of roleplaying...

A typical 5 hour session would have 1-2 combats taking up at least 2/3 of the playing time. Rarely will there be a session without combat, and then for a good reason.

 

[Desdichado]

We're a pretty good mix. Lately, now that one particular person moved away, I think our roleplaying part of the game will increase. This one person used to get really bored during roleplaying and start attacking things. Kinda ticked the rest of us off, frankly.

Then again, I like a lot of action. I don't consider Star Wars to be a straight up action movie, for example, but watching through it again, I'm struck by how much action really is going on.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

HIGHLY dependant upon our moods and what game we're playing.

For example, the Exalted series I was running that just wrapped up had very little combat, but ended with a session that was almost all combat (and wiped out 3 of the 5 PCs).

Our previous D&D games tended to run more towards combat/action, but since I'm using an alternative XP system this time, it may well run more towards roleplaying.

But, personally, I prefer about a 50/50 mix.

 

[RabidBob]

Personally I like both. A good dust up and heroic battle is great, but I like there to be some sense behind it, and I love building personalities.

So, 70% role play and 70% combat does it for me.

 

[Teflon Billy]

....I enjoy acting out my characters personality but I can't see haggling over a peice of cheese (or something else that doesn't apply to the plot...unless it was like, some sort of magic cheese that gave you a +1 to your constitution or something ).

Preach it sister

I love roleplaying out politcal machinations, or tense haggling (like for the life of an associate or something), or anything like that...but I am driven to near-distraction by haggling over the price of boots or fare on a ship or stuff along those lines.

I don't have specific voices for my characters

I don't like "special voices" from Players (it has, in my experience, nearly always seemed to be a replacement for characterization rather than aid in it...if I hear one more brusque scottish accent.... ) but I do occasionally try a vocal styling as a DM. Generally I suck at it.

 

[Gregor]

I like about 60% combat to 40% roleplaying.

Im curious, for those who have games that go by without a single combat encounter, do you have a certain methodology you employ when determining XP? The reason I ask, is that I will be running a new campaign and I want to effectively give out RP XP during those non-combat sessions

Cheers

note - sorry for the minor hijack

 

[d4]

when GMing D&D/d20: combat 70% / roleplaying 30%

when GMing anything else (75% of my games use GURPS, the rest uses UA2e, BESM, or D&D3.5): combat 35% / roleplaying 65%

i'm with the Cardinal, here. with d20, it seems i'm all about the combat. in other groups, with other systems (GURPS, for example), the situation is quite reversed.

i've never had a character haggle over the price of cheese, but i remember one session where my character haggled for at least 15 minutes over the price of a suit. he ended up buying a powder blue leisure suit because it was the cheapest thing on the rack. he was so happy with the purchase that he'd walk around in it saying, "Do you know how much money i saved on this??"

 

[Umbran]

Im curious, for those who have games that go by without a single combat encounter, do you have a certain methodology you employ when determining XP?

The 3e DMG gives you a methodology - say you've got a challenge, and the party overcomes it through combat, they'd get some XP. Give them the exact same XP if they get around the challenge by other means.

Under this methodology, the PCs don't get a whole lot for sitting around talking to each other and getting nowhere. Only role play that gets them through somethng difficult actually merits XP.