What would folks say their ideal ratio is? How much of the game should be combat and how much should be RP or other non-combat play? Myself, I like about 60-70% combat and 40-30% non-combat. I do like to have the chance to use my combat feats fairly frequently, after all.
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My games, when I'm the GM, run the other way around, I think. Unless you count planning for combat as 'combat', in which case it's pretty near 50/50. I like it when my players actually devise a plan for combat and know what they're getting into before they actually commit to anything. Most of the time. I mean, if the heroes are putting their lives on the line, they should be careful about it. If they're not putting their lives on the line... is it really combat?
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In terms of how much time is spent on RP/Combat it varies wildly depending on the week. We can usually go a good 4-5 play sessions filled with mass dredging and combat with very little RP to do besides the few special encounters sprinkled around the dungeon.
On the inverse we are currently in the middle of an RP dense week of in game "downtime" where the party is trying to "lie-low" for a while to let things cool off. We just finished our second week of play with 0 rounds of combat and everyone is having a blast developing their characters, relationships, and getting to know the area.
I personally prefer something like 2:3 ratio for combat:role-play.
What would folks say their ideal ratio is? How much of the game should be combat and how much should be RP or other non-combat play? Myself, I like about 60-70% combat and 40-30% non-combat. I do like to have the chance to use my combat feats fairly frequently, after all.
60/40 is a good number. I love combat, but I don't want it to significantly dominate the sessions, especially when I'vve put a LOT of work into background and characterization.
When I was younger, it was 75% combat 25% concombat.
Now, is about 50/50.
I prefer a 60/40 combat/RP ratio myself. But most of the players I GM for are more like 90/10.
I'd say my games are usually 60% Roleplay/40% Combat. Some sessions sway more one way or another. Sessions with no combat at all aren't uncommon.
I don't really think there is an 'ideal' for this since every group is going to be different anyway. As long as the session runs smoothly and everyone is having fun is a great time, I see no problem.
When I was younger, maybe 90% combat. But now I start getting bored if combat is more than ~30%. I like games that are extra-heavy on RP, investigation (especially), and exploring. Players who view RP as "filler" between fights generally quit my games before too long.
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It depends on the session and the situation for me. However, I DM a weekly game now where we only get about three hours of time. In this situation the best games are those where the first half is roleplay for story development, and the second half is some form of combat resulting from the roleplay.
So for us, it's about 50/50 (but only becasue combats can take some time to resolve)
I tend to prefer about 75% combat and 75% roleplaying.
Mark L. Chance | Spes Magna Games
I tend to prefer about 75% combat and 75% roleplaying.
Mark L. Chance | Spes Magna Games
You know that 72% of all percentages are made up on the spot. *nods*
It's interesting to see the variety in people's tastes on this. I for one would get very bored in a game with 90% RP (actually we've been playing in a PF game where it's been 4 games since we've had any combat at all and I'm starting to get tired of the RP in that game... I like RP, but too much is just as bad as too much combat imo)...
As a DM, it depends on the circumstances and the players.
Personally, as a player... it depends. There are times when a PC and an NPC just click and my DM and I can get into a really good in-character banter. An interrogation could go on the better part of an hour. That's great too, but it's unpredictable.
Final comment is this. Role-play for role-play's sake doesn't do much for me. Yes, the Sixfold Trial was kind of fun, but generally I play D&D to engage my tactical mind. So I want role-play that's not necessarily confrontational, but at least representing a conflict between the participants. Verbal sparring is still combat to me!