Your role? Nothing matters but combat.

[marune]

I think you have a very limited definition of role-playing, skeptic.

In fact, I think I have a broden definition of it than you.

 

[Irda Ranger]

Seriously, folks, don't feed the troll. This sock-puppet has been around longer than this incarnation of the board.

Do you mean this particular one, or you mean more of in the "Platonic Troll" sense? As in, "This Troll has been seen before, many times through the ages of men, taking many forms, but always the same."

I'm getting a sense .. the beginning of a cool monster. You know what? Don't answer the question. I think I prefer thinking that this Troll is merely the latest incarnation of the Role Troll.

 

[Fifth Element]

All what is done during a Role Playing Game session is roleplay. Like "boardplay" is what is done with a "boardgame".

That includes using resolution mechanics (rolling dices), doing narration, acting and so on.

Well, yes. My point was that in combat, there is a lot that is controlled by powers and the results of die rolls. Outside of combat, it's much more wide-open.

 

[tsadkiel]

Do you mean this particular one, or you mean more of in the "Platonic Troll" sense?

Bugaboo has a long history on the boards.

 

[marune]

Yes, but there shouldn't be "roles" to dictate how you should roleplay your character.

D&D 4E combat roles tell to the players at which position they play in combat (like a forward vs a goaler in hockey).

It is a very good thing to have in a gamist (i.e. tactics vs challenges) RPG like D&D.

However, D&D has a long history of (IMHO, boring) "acting" guidelines, like alignments, Paladin's code of ethics, etc. 4E seems to have get rid of many of them, focusing on the tactical parts.

 

[marune]

Well, yes. My point was that in combat, there is a lot that is controlled by powers and the results of die rolls. Outside of combat, it's much more wide-open.

Not really, in D&D, outside of combat you are still trying to overcome challenges. Using social skills, rituals, skill challenges and so on is in a way, the same thing than combat.

In many groups, there is a lot of narration/acting done to make the transition between the "scenes" where challenges occur.

IMHO, I prefer to see more roleplaying during challenges (instead of just rolling dices and stating AC/DC, dmg, etc.) and less boring narration/acting about what the characters are doing at the local inn after the fight.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

EDIT - This wasn't a worthwhile post by me.

 

[Fifth Element]

Not really, in D&D, outside of combat you are still trying to overcome challenges. Using social skills, rituals, skill challenges and so on is in a way, the same thing than combat.

It is similar in a way, as you say, but when I say its more wide open, I'm talking about things like the lack of a combat grid and squares, the lack of initiative order, etc, etc. There are far fewer rules for non-combat situations, as it should be.

 

[marune]

It is similar in a way, as you say, but when I say its more wide open, I'm talking about things like the lack of a combat grid and squares, the lack of initiative order, etc, etc. There are far fewer rules for non-combat situations, as it should be.

The rules in a game tell to the players what the game is about. D&D is mainly about combat occuring in dungeons, so it's not surprising that you find a lot of rules about it.

It would be fine to create a D&D supplement that would add rules to emcompass other kinds of situations where interesting challenges for fantasy characters can occur.

 

[NebtheNever]

In fact, I think I have a broden definition of it than you.

With 10 posts on this board and very little said about role-playing, I'd be curious as to how you could make that claim.