Any RPGs that focus on roleplaying instead of combat?

[MrHemlocks]

I have played many RPGs and notice that most revolve around combat. With roleplaying coming in a distant 2nd. Now I have players that love to roleplay and do so...often. I understand that it is up to the DM and players to create the roleplaying experience no matter what game but are there certain games that REALLY push for active roleplaying?

I heard there was a new Hobbit game, not sure if it is a RPG, that is all about roleplaying.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Fiasco, The Window, GUMSHOE, Everyone is John, Call of Cthulhu, Prime Time Adventures, and Dread off the top of my head focus less on combat or combat is not the preferred method of dealing with problems.

For example, in The Window a fight is resolved the same way as searching a room.

FATE has built in mechanics to "push" roleplaying your character, and it isn't necessarily combat focused, but my FATE games tend to have a lot of combat as well.

What's that RPG where you make up outlandish stories? For the life of me, I cannot remember its name! Driving me crazy...

 

[fifty]

Yep Call of Cthulu has to be top of the list of "don't go in shooting!"..

and thirdWizard do you mean The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen by any chance?

 

[ThirdWizard]

That's the one! I don't own it personally so I can never remember the name.

 

[fifty]

Yeah, I've played it a couple of times and remember it because it is silliness of epic (and good) proportions! Not sure I'd want to play it for a long time though!.

The Dying Earth RPG (Jack Vance books) is also a game that particularly encourages avoiding fights at (almost) any cost "Killing, how uncivilised" to quote the rulebook!

 

[Bagpuss]

What's that RPG where you make up outlandish stories? For the life of me, I cannot remember its name! Driving me crazy...

The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen although it is more a drinking game than an RPG. How do you forget a name like that?

I'd add "Don't Rest Your Head" to list on more roleplay than combat games.

 

[Bagpuss]

I have played many RPGs and notice that most revolve around combat.

I'd disagree with that statement, many of them have detailed combat rules, but that doesn't mean they revolve around combat. That usually has more to do with the group and what story players are trying to tell with those rules.

Most roleplaying games revolve around conflict of some form, and more often that means combat.

 

[fifty]

Still, many games offer a large amount of combat oriented characters, skills and powers and so in such games it is more likely that combat will be used as a means to overcoming obstacles.

I do take your point though Bagpus, I had a great time playing shadowrun where we were all tech-types running the net rather than shooting guns off all over the place

 

[Bagpuss]

On the flip side I've found many games that don't have a extensive set of combat rules can often fall apart when combat starts or at least require a lot of DM fiat to resolve. Dread for example has real problems I find if players turn on players.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Dread for example has real problems I find if players turn on players.

Eep! That boils down to a game of Russian Roulette. Take turns pulling until the tower falls or until somebody chickens out.