RPG Table Top

Roll Play Vs Role Play for New Players

So this comes from a discord that I’m on again. I’m not sure that the person had questions between the two, but for me, that is where some of the questions were leading. And I think it’s a good new player topic to touch on. What I say here also works for Dungeon Masters because as one, I get to role play and roll play all the NPC’s and monsters.

What’s the Difference?

So the concept that I’m going here for Dungeons and Dragons or any role playing game is one between dice and how you play a character at a table. If I’m focused on roll play, I’m focused on the mechanics of the game and how combat works. If I am focused on role play, that means I am putting more focus onto the character, character traits, and how you play your character in social interactions with NPC’s and other characters.

Which is Better?

You need a balance of both in your gaming. But I do think for a lot of new players the roll play is what they focus on. Learning the mechanics of the game seems daunting. There, however, needs to be a balance between the two. You need to know how your character works but also how you’ll play them. If you focus too much one role play, you can slow down combat. On the flip side, too much on roll play, you’ll not enjoy a large chunk of the game.

The Pitfalls of Both

Firstly, let’s start with role playing. If you focus too much on that, what is the issue that can occur? The big one is during combat. You don’t know what to do and your turns take a long time. This slows down combat and the game as a whole. Knowing your characters mechanics means that you are ready for those situations where you do roll the dice. You don’t need to look up spells as much, and you know what you’ll do when it’s your turn in combat.

Secondly, we have roll playing. This one is the more common of the two that new players really focus on. Why, because most games are about winning or losing. The role play aspect is abstracted from the mechanics of a game a lot. But playing in combat, it feels like something a player should be able to win. The downfalls of this, are different though. You might just enjoy the game less. If it’s not focused on combat and rolling the dice, you don’t have an interesting character to fall back onto. You will also step on other players toes when you do get to dice rolling.

Let me explain that other one a bit more. I know I’ve brought it up before, but every character and player at the table should have something they are best at. If that means you are the best at fighting, that’s great. But for new players you often want to be the best at everything. If you are the wizard, you shouldn’t be the best at acrobatics. That is something that the rogue should be doing.

Image Source: D&D Beyond

How Would I Balance It?

  • Pick a concept
  • Learn your character sheet and default attack
  • Develop a personality
Pick A Character Concept

I’d start by coming up with a character concept. A character concept that isn’t being Batman, Batman is good at everything and an evil character. I don’t let evil aligned characters into parties that often, but ignoring that joke, Batman breaks the rule. He is good at everything so he steps on everyone’s toes.

Instead, pick a concept for a character and what you want to be good at. If you want to be the drunken tank, that’s a great concept. Why because it gives you two things to work with. It gives you a role playing piece, how do you play being a drunkard and why are they that way? Plus you now know the character is a tank, that gives you direction when picking classes. You’ll likely go with a fighter, barbarian, or paladin in that case.

Learn the Basics Of Your Class

Next, learn your character class, kind of. This is where players can go too far. They try and optimize what they are going to do with their character before they start playing. You have a general ideal, not the final plan, and at level 1, your tank isn’t going to be that much of a tank. But the point is that you’ll build towards that. What you are trying to learn are the basics of the your class and what your default is going to be. By default, I mean default in combat, what attack will you do if you don’t have a special plan? Have that ready so you are ready to go on your turn.

Develop Your Characters Personality

Then spend time with the personality traits, flaws, bonds, and ideals. Make them make sense and give yourself a real flaw. These can help inform your role playing. What you want to do is create a character who has a reason to be part of the group. And you want those four things to be role playing defaults. This is slightly different than combat. These aren’t ones to be wielded as justification for how your character is. These are meant when you, as the player, can’t decide what your character would do, a way to give an answer.

That’s really it, come up with that character concept. Something that gives you an interesting backstory and a direction towards what you’re good at. Then it’s about learning your character, on the paper and how they act from there. And just play around with that as you go. You will find that it develops and grows over time both on the paper with roll play and personality wise with role play.

Why Does This Matter So Much?

Now, I’m clearly harping on this topic a lot. I’ve written about mistakes new players make. I’ve written about homebrewing a campaign or starting up a new character. Why do I talk about it as much as I do?

Well, because Dungeons and Dragons and other role playing games are cooperative games. It is a game where you want everyone at the table to be having fun. I know I keep on going back to this, The RPG Academy says it well, if you’re having fun you’re doing it right. And that is for the whole group at the table, not just you. Play to have fun as a group. If you build a character who is pointless in combat so you are always running away from a fight, that’s not going to be fun for everyone. On the flip side, only good in combat, when there isn’t combat you’ll not be having fun.

I think another way to describe it would be that new players often want to have the most fun. Doing so reduces the overall fun at the table if not done well. And being that Batman character who is good at everything, in my opinion, isn’t how most players will have the most fun. Memorable moments and fun moments come from doing well but also from role playing your 7 charisma barbarian.

So, I don’t want to take away your fun, but also consider how you can have fun without it always needing to be Batman. And make those weaknesses fun for you as you play. I’ll plan on writing about weaknesses in Dungeons and Dragons an other role playing games and how those make things more interesting and fun.

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