Does anyone actually roleplay?

[Zack]

I do to some extent. I will only take the equipment if the npc leaves on avery bad note. Then hell yeah, . I do the same thing with a ranger. And I also roleplay the dialouges to match my alignment, not what one will give me the most loot.

[MegaToerist]

Same with me...

[Xyx]

I don't. I treat computer games as being inherently different from PnP. I do what I feel like, and since that usually involves killing bad guys and saving the world, I think a Good alignment suits me fine.

However, I will occasionally steal or kill just to gain phat lewt. This may be rationalized in the following ways:
[*]Alignment is not a straight-jacket; it's a guideline. "Good" alignment does not mean you have to be good all the time.
[*]I'm performing the ultimate act of goodness: saving the world. I need every advantage I can get. The risk of failure is unacceptable. Killing or robbing a few innocents is nothing compared to what Sarevok or Irenicus would do if they got their way. Can't bake an omelet...

Also, I don't make statements such as "My character only uses swords as a personal preference.". I believe no adventurer of Intelligence or Wisdom over 5 would be so stupid as to pass up a superior item that does not match his taste. No sane person will run the risk of losing their next battle over a matter of preference. I guess survival is my taste.

[Yshania]

I try to role play!

But when I let an NPC go - I take all the good stuff and leave them with leather armour and a sword or whatever.

Re animals - whatever my class I have always tried not to kill them if possible, ie don't get too close - but sometimes there are the rabid ones and I don't (often! ) steal from innocents - I have a look though hehe!

[Bishibosh]

I try to roleplay, but i can't roleplay evil characters in BG. The only way to ever really gain any exp is to do the good things. The way i look at evil characters is that they are only looking out for themselves and trying to make themselves better. Helping dryads is a good deed, but since i gain exp that makes my character better, it could be a selfish act
any comments?

[Astafas]

I try to do my best. On the other hand, I believe role playing still give you much options if you stretch the limits a bit. For example, I see no reason whatsoever why a good aligned PC couldn't travel with an evil NPC, say Korgan. It's better that I use him for my good causes than having him running around by himself. And is it really my fault if Korgan once or twice attacks someone more or less innocent? Maybe he got insulted when I didn't hear it? Perfectly logical, no? And who could possibly control Jan Jansen in a thieving mood? He might be able to steal from the merchant in Trademeet while I look away for only a sec. And if I find out half a day later, on my way to kill a dragon or two, am I really expected to return these things immediately? C'mon! I could at least wait til I'm passing through...

What I won't do, though, is using ridiculous weapon combos like Crom Fayer in left hand while Celestial Fury in the right. That's *really* too unrealistic.

[tyco]

When I first played the game I was very carefull and would answer what I thought was the 'right' answer for the dialogues as I was afraid that if I answered 'wrong' or pissed off some NPC that I might not be able to finish the game or miss something critical to the story. Also, I would collect as much loot as possible and then brood over whether I should be using the +3 warhammer or the +2 warhammer with +1 electrical damage.

Now playing through again I don't sweat the details as things just seem to work out, what I may miss in the advantages in the best equipment I make up with better strategy. Now I roleplay better, I am playing a LE Mage and I choose what I think is the best response for my character. I really like the 'circular' formation as it puts my Mage in the center and he can cast all his damaging spells while the other NPC characters actually do the dirty work of hand to hand combat. Also, I used to be always scared when someone died but now I don't worry, there are plenty of spells, scrolls and rods. But I guess because of experience I don't usually go stumbling into combat unprepared.

As for weapons, well in PnP AD&D I never played with weapon proficencies as I thought they constrained things too much. I thought it was more fun and exciting to vary your weapons and so if you were wandering a dungeon with your regular longsword and found a bright and shiny battle axe you'd pick it up and go with that.
But in the BG2 if I find a weapon that a character is not proficient in, I usually don't use it, but sell it. I guess I try to maximize the number of attacks per round for the fighters.

[Tharan]

I try to role play. Sure whenever someone leaves the party they can take all their stuff. I mean the only thing they have on them is only good for them. everything else I carry in the bag of holding. Plus I am a fighter why would I want anything from a druid who is leaving my party.
Now about killing thing, since I am a "Good" aligment fighter, I kill anything that decides to attack me first. Also about killing good NPC's to get their good stuff... why do that if in about 20 min or so you'll fight some evil NPC's who'll give you better things.

[gecko]

When I leave my NPC's, I let them leave with the stuff they came with (ex. jan's armor) and give them some arrows and potions. I kinda like to think of it as them going, but leaving some of the found equiptment for the benefit of the team. It seems kinda selfish, but it a way it's not. It's a team effort and the good NPC's understand that. When good that is.

Also, having Viconia in a good team is my way of protecting her from being burnt at the stick again. Hey, every team has to have someone they argue with. It's more fun that way. If everyone got along, it would be a boring team.

Also, as for stealing when I'm good. I may be good, but my entire team is not. That means that a chaotic neutral Jan is capable of stealing and pickpocketing for the benefit of the team. I like to think of it as he never tells the team where he got the items.

It's the way you roleplay that makes the story interesting. I guess that's what I like about BGII.

[fable]

I don't generally roleplay in CRPGs, no. There's just not enough to play against. Shopkeepers are no more than a few words and a menu of purchase options; conversation between party NPCs are just multiple choice. I prefer to think of the conversation in BG2 as first rate atmosphere, which I really enjoy, but there's nothing in detail to react against, and the program's own responses are necessarily stiff.

For real RPGs, I think you need people, whether live or online. I've had *intense* RPG experiences in online games (like GemStone, for example), and those have been great, exhaustive fun.

[Jyrran]

I hadn't given it much thought until I read the post...makes sense though. When playing AD&D with friends (face-to-face), the role-playing was quite intense and almost too much fun! Sessions would go on for days because we couldn't just walk away!

Here in BGII, I've only recently begun the adventure. I haven't had an NPC leave the group, but I'll keep in mind what I've seen posted here (makes sense they should leave with at least what they came with, perhaps a few parting gifts if they were quite beneficial to our success).

In conversation, I try to be true to character regardless of what the "right" answer may be (I figure ALL answers in BGII are right at one point or another). There are times, however, when an NPC's chatter gets on my nerves and, especially in tense situations, I'll snap back at them. It hurts their feelings, but they get the idea that the time isn't right for non-productive chatter. Being a fighter, I try to get as much information out of an encounter before it turns ugly. I know I could probably muscle my way through everthing, but I'm sure I'd be missing out on crucial information.

[Mort]

I usually don't roleplay when I play, but I think it's kind of hard to care about the people in the game. My theory is that the save function is the problem. If you're going to pickpocket someone you do a quicksave, just in case. In *real* roleplay you wouldn't be able to load if the shopkeeper attacks you and you have to kill him, but now you just quickload and try again. Even a harcore roleplaying thief wouldn't want to loose ribald barterman, would he? The solution would be a system where the game is continusly saved in the same save file, and the only time the game is loaded is when you start it and when you die (the game would load just out of sight from the encounter that killed you). This way you HAVE to care about what you say or do, cause you WILL face the quonseconsequences, and cou can't try again to pickpocket or whatever you're doing.
This system would force you to roleplay, but it wouldn't be much fun would it? Even if all your NPC are killed( beyond resurrection) in the Underdark, but your protagonist survive, you cannot load a previous game and try again.

At least I play beacouse I think it's fun, and don't care that much if i roleplay correctly.

[Evandarian]

Originally posted by Xyx:
<STRONG>
Also, I don't make statements such as "My character only uses swords as a personal preference.". I believe no adventurer of Intelligence or Wisdom over 5 would be so stupid as to pass up a superior item that does not match his taste. No sane person will run the risk of losing their next battle over a matter of preference. I guess survival is my taste.</STRONG>

No offense or anything, but from an RPer's point of view, I don't think so. An archer, per se, would not trade his bow for a Crom Faeyr if he barely even knows what a hammer is, would he? Again, this is RP POV, not a power gamer's, so... I agree with you to some extent, a fighter who "can" use a sword wouldn't use an old cracked club instead of a Daystar or something.

As for the original question, I RP! I hate powergaming personally and I like to RP my characters all the way. As for the Jan stealing stuff thing, I agree! Haer Dalis' left the group one fine day to enter a mansion and steal a nice gem or two...

As for rangers, that's what I do. I always have Minsc or Jaheira charm away the bear or leopard etc and make them run off away.
I usually take some of the items from the NPCs, like some really good items (being a bit out of rping here, but oh well!) but usually leave them with some of the stuff they have. For example, I always leave fighters with armour, some sort of weapons, etc etc. It's only fair!

[Rail]

I feel like this thread is asking us to toot our own horn, here, but mine's tuned so I'll play.

I think both powergaming and roleplaying has it's strong points, though I usually subscribe to the roleplaying point of view. There is some fun to be had, though, in playing a half-orc kensai wielding the +3 Impaler spear just to see the damage done.

Even though this isn't a PnP game, I enjoy trying to roleplay regardless of the level of feedback a computer gives. I like to figure out the personality of my current character and answer accordingly (i.e. sarcastic, goodly, selfish, demanding, etc.). Sometimes it may not be the "right" answer or the way to maximize the quest's experience, but so what! The object isn't to become the most powerful. There's a story, here. The object is to finish the story.

Also, I doubt that every fighter in the world would hear of the fabled Crom Faer and decide at an early age to learn to dual-wield and fight with hammers, just in the insanely remote chance he/she comes across the artifact while adventuring. Wouldn't it make more sense that you'd choose something practical like longswords. Can you see the face of the drill instructor when his bright-eyed new pupil tells him, "I'd like to learn to dual wield a katana and a hammer"?

Why does everybody dual-wield? Very few people did it in real life medieval Europe. I have a ranger who single-wields a bastard sword. Why should he use the new magically enhanced morning star he just found when he can use the trusty sword that's saved his life the past ten years that he's more comfortable fighting with anyway.

On that same note, my master assassin fought much of the game with the boneblade dagger, just cuz it's cool. I liked the history of the weapon. Besides, all the other PC thieves seem to be stabbing with Katanas, so you have to do something to set yourself apart. Right?

How 'bout a Cleric of Talos who refuses to heal anyone (except himself). Doesn't even memorize many healing spells. Why would the party keep him around? Cuz he's pretty darn good in a fight, and you've always got Jaheira or Aerie, or someone else to do the healing anyway.

There are many ways to roleplay that don't depend on reactions of NPCs or other players, and they can be rather interesting to implement. Should you play your alignment like a strait-jacket? No. Go with a personality. Should a ranger refrain from killing the bear that just attacked him? Not necessarily. Perhaps that bear had learned to see humans as food and the bear need to be put down. What if that bear you charmed and left alive next ran into a small child. You could have saved his life.

What am I saying here? I think I'm just rambling at this point. Go roleplay. Have fun. Play the game however you get the most enjoyment out of it.

[ 06-28-2001: Message edited by: Rail ]

[Tigerin]

I do all the things you stated above as well, but at some points I don't really think I role play... though I try to!

[Xyx]

"I'd like to learn to dual wield a katana and a hammer"

A very good point. In fact, in PnP I always go for the longswords, just cuz they're the most commonly found magical weapons (and they're cool, of course).

However, SoA doesn't have much to offer in the longsword department. The developers give hints about magical katanas being rare, but I'd take the Celestial Fury over the longswords any day...

Why should he use the new magically enhanced morning star he just found when he can use the trusty sword that's saved his life the past ten years that he's more comfortable fighting with anyway.

Hmm... because that could save his life over the next ten years? Then again, with the 1001 possible weapon specializations, chances are you'll just stick to what you're good at.

All this aside, I used to play goody-goody characters that always helped others and such. However, the idea of roleplaying a selfish and morally unconcerned bastard seems more and more appealing. More fun that way. Must be the Bhaal essence surfacing... I feel an Alignment shift coming up

[Lemark]

i roleplay a good character and have been doing that since day one. if the reputation didn't cap off at 20, i would be at 35 or so by now. i think most people roleplay by your standards because...well, it fits into the story.