Quote from: flyingmiceIt depends greatly on the campaign. My current on-line StarCluster campaign frequently has no-combat sessions, particularly now that they are involved in a political campaign.

I know you do (or have done) quite a bit of IM gaming Clash, do you think that particular modality steers some people away from combat, or would things play out the same in a face-to-face game?

I've also ran a Traveller game where there was no combat.  Plus I've played in several games without any combat scenes.

No combat games are pretty common for my groups.  I've run Kult, Cyberpunk, Vampire:TM, Twilight 2000 and several others where there is plenty of stuff going on but nobody pulling triggers or throwing punches.  Got players who are really fond of diplomacy and cutting deals.  They also know it's sometimes to wise to back down against greater odds.

Quote from: GoOrangeI know you do (or have done) quite a bit of IM gaming Clash, do you think that particular modality steers some people away from combat, or would things play out the same in a face-to-face game?

Well, combat's a bit slower, but everything is a bit slower. For the amount of gaming done, it's probably about the same - at least using a moderate crunch, front-loaded system like SC. When I've used heavier systems, it is a bit less likely, I think. That's totally off-the-cuff. I've no data to back that up.

-clash

Honestly, IME it has depends largely upon two things:

1. The game being played.
2. The guy (or gal) running the game being played.

I have a great friend in Topeka who would run very involved mysteries or political thrillers in everything from Wraith: The Oblivion to games traditionally reserved for 'kick in the door' play, such as AD&D2e.

With few exceptions, combat in his games was very uncommon, the focus instead being placed on social interaction. Indeed, when he tried to run combat-intensive games, they almost always bombed.

I very much miss his Deadlands and Wraith campaigns (also fairly light on combat).

In our glorious 1E Lankhmar days, weeks would pass without combat. I wouldn't call combatless a playstyle in its own right in my case, but more something like a stylistic option.

Man, now I want to play a combat-free Talislanta campaign. Tal has so many great character templates that are good for absolutely nothing. Love them.

In college, we played a lot of ST games (primarily Vampire:tM & Mage:tA).  Combat tends to take a long time in those games.  So, I found myself and my players avoiding combat for that out of character reason.  Instead, we liked a "soap opera" (for lack of a better name) kind of playing on occasion.  Would the Akashic private detective get back with his estranged wife?  What if Kelton Hill, reluctant Tremere vampire, decided to outlast his opponents by avoiding them?  Tutoring a vampiric childe takes a long time, no?  What does one do with all the money that can be made with Matter magicks?

As a GM I love the No Fight sessons the most. Combat is boring when I'm the GM. After GMing games like HERO, RIFTS, AD&D, & so on I hated combat period. When a In-Game 1 minute brawl takes Hours or several sessons to complete That is enough period.

As a Player on the otherhand, Combats can be TONS of fun
But for me as a GM, Nah.

My current game group likes to run games with Themselves as characters in the game's setting. At first i was against the idea of trying it. Now I love it. One of them is a Huge coward (but likes to act like he isn't). He must know he has the advantage for him to get into a fight. Weird thing is, I've learned he is the same way in real life (he will deny it of course. He is a Bully too). What is cool about these games, is finding ways to get "US" to the setting, then how we react to the setting, then to how we settle into the setting after awhile. I'm finding this method so much more fun than just creating a character and acting however I wish to.

I'm still waiting for a free night to run my All Flesh Must Be Eaten one shot that starts with me sitting in the GM chair and the patio door behind me shattering as a zombie drags me out.

My Vampire game tends to go 2-3 sessions with no combat (or minor scuffles, but no one dying). With a major combat every 10 sessions or so.

I've GM'ed more zero combat sessions than I've played - probably because I'm frequently the guy strapped in the GM chair. I'm finding, as my playing group becomes a bunch of crumbly old geezers, that combat is less important. Maybe just the thought of all that frantic activity wears us out and is therefore unappealing. I dunno. I guess, I'll pack up my books and put away my dice when we start having sessions that solely revolve around purchasing high fibre health food and used mini-vans.

Quote from: JohnnyWannabeI've GM'ed more zero combat sessions than I've played - probably because I'm frequently the guy strapped in the GM chair. I'm finding, as my playing becomes crumbly old geezers, that combat is less important. Maybe just the thought of all that frantic activity wears us out and is therefore unappealing. I dunno. I guess, I'll pack up my books and put away my dice when we start having sessions that solely revolve around purchasing high fibre health food and used mini-vans.

Don't forget taking the mornig pills, all twenty five...

-clash

And be careful you don't take your ten o'clock pill at eight o'clock and vice versa.

Quote from: James McMurrayI'm still waiting for a free night to run my All Flesh Must Be Eaten one shot that starts with me sitting in the GM chair and the patio door behind me shattering as a zombie drags me out.

FANTASTIC!

stealing this!  

Quote from: flyingmiceDon't forget taking the morning pills, all twenty five...

-clash

but if you're playing traveller, they're all anagathics, so that's okay

Quote from: beeberbut if you're playing traveller, they're all anagathics, so that's okay

The guy who wrote StarCluster isn't going to be playing Trav anymore...

-clash