Well, maybe it’s time to define role-playing. Here is a test, which one of these is role-playing?
I would be satisfied with either of those examples. Instead I get case 3:
GM: The king and all of his guards attack you. Roll Initiative.
Player: …
GM: Nevermind, they win initiative.
Or Case 4:
GM: The king sends you on a quest to explore [Dungeon A] filled with [Monster B], [Monster C] and [Monster D] where you will retrieve [Item Z].
Player: I ask the king why he needs [Item Z].
GM: …
Other Players: …
Which gaming store hosts games? Maybe I'll drop in when I'm in Austin and you're GMing!
It is called The NinjaPirate. I doubt I will be back anytime soon, though.
The only thing you can hope for is a fast Diplomacy check to prevent the fight, but not many GMs would allow it and waste the nice combat scene (in fact, most of your fellow PCs would miss it too, especially the looting part).
Srsly? Uncommon, eh?
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I've encountered one of two scenarios frequently:
1. The case of the overdone setting:
DM - "You enter a 10x10 room with... (rambles for ten minutes about the room's various accoutrements)..." A pause. "Oh, yeah, there's a bugbear in there. He looks really angry."
This particular scenario causes the pacing of the game to be choppy at best, and slow often, leading to distraction on the part of the players.
2. The case of the poorly planned encounter:
DM - "You enter the lord's palace, seeking audience. Suddenly, a tribe of orcs appears! Roll initiative!"
Players (in unison) - "Wha?"
This KILLS any flavor the DM had set up, and makes the players think he's a loony. Which, in retrospect, he probably is.
I've encountered one of two scenarios frequently:
1. The case of the overdone setting:
DM - "You enter a 10x10 room with... (rambles for ten minutes about the room's various accoutrements)..." A pause. "Oh, yeah, there's a bugbear in there. He looks really angry."This particular scenario causes the pacing of the game to be choppy at best, and slow often, leading to distraction on the part of the players.
2. The case of the poorly planned encounter:
DM - "You enter the lord's palace, seeking audience. Suddenly, a tribe of orcs appears! Roll initiative!"
Players (in unison) - "Wha?"This KILLS any flavor the DM had set up, and makes the players think he's a loony. Which, in retrospect, he probably is.
Wait a minute! Wait a minute! I had planned on putting you into a 10 x 10 room with a surly orc. You mean that you don't want to do that? ~grumbles~ Gosh darn it! I guess I had better start reading up on The Age of Worms (or was it Savage Tide?) then, since you don't want to do my amazing 10 x 10 room adventure!
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The GM stated my character had been captured and the rest of the party was unaware of his fate. It seemed the perfect explanation for my absence and sudden reappearance.
I am not sure about all of my fellow gamers out there, but I find this is the least creative way to bring a character into a game. I have never experienced a GM who didn't use this tired old excuse. I just see it as the GM not bothering to invent some more creative way to bring a character in or they just can't be a*rsed to come up with something else.
I did not mind that explanation until another player, who was late to the game, suddenly poofed in without any explanation at all. I think that is simply inconsistent. Still, I would have been willing to overlook that had my character been involved in the game before four hours of real time had elapsed.