As straight-forward as the title.

It's fine.

Back when I used to play Street Fighter, players would end up in tournaments and have to face each other in the semi-finals, etc. all of the time. They'd throw down and it was cool as hell and super fun. Also I remember playing this 5e hack "The Long Stair" where players were modern agents than went down into these incursions that were D&D dungeons intruding on modern reality. Agents were monitored for evidence that the incursions were corrupting them (they might start to exhibit "murder hobo" behavior, lust to possess artifacts, exhibit signs of D&D Alignment and otherwise start acting like the crazy people D&D adventurers are rather than well adjusted people). We had a couple PvP stand-offs, like the one PC who worked for the IRS turned out to catch Lawful Evil and we had to stop him from killing a van full of unconscious people who'd been working at cross purposes to us, etc. It was a tense stand-off that led to some gunfire...  but surprisingly no death. Also, not quite the same, but sometimes I've played where the GM hands out NPCs to some players to act as opposition to other players, and they'll be more ruthless than the GM, and it amps up the tension and can be hilarious and fun as well.

Combat rolls are one thing, but what about Persuasion and other social rolls on each other?

Quote from: PrometheanVigil;1089656As straight-forward as the title.

Thats not very straightforward or clear.

What sort of player on player rolling?

VS? - Combat? Persuasion? Spells?
Co-op? -  Assisting skill checks? Assisting combat checks? etc?

Quote from: PrometheanVigil;1089656As straight-forward as the title.

Fine. As long as losing player still has agency.

Depends on what are we rolling to achieve.

I don't let PCs charm / seduce other PCs because too many players lose their shit and I don't have time for table drama.

I generally either encourage or discourage PvP with the setup of the campaign and the setting so that usually takes care of player expectations. AKA, if they know that PvP could break out, they're generally cooler when their PC gets popped by another player.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;1089665Combat rolls are one thing, but what about Persuasion and other social rolls on each other?

If the game has decent rules for social interaction that a GM is comfortable using against the PCs, then I think I'd be fine with players using them on each other. If they are social rules/rolls that normally only happen from PCs to NPCs, then no.

Obviously this is all predicated on the fact you are playing with friends who are decent people and care that the other people they are with are also having a good time. I gather from the internet that apparently such groups are surprisingly rare, but I guess I'm lucky in that regard.

What's the problem with player on player dice rolling, PrometheanVigil ? I don't get it. Care to elaborate?

Quote from: NeonAce;1089681If the game has decent rules for social interaction that a GM is comfortable using against the PCs, then I think I'd be fine with players using them on each other. If they are social rules/rolls that normally only happen from PCs to NPCs, then no.

Yep, this.

I'm fine with it.

Quote from: NeonAce;1089681If the game has decent rules for social interaction that a GM is comfortable using against the PCs, then I think I'd be fine with players using them on each other. If they are social rules/rolls that normally only happen from PCs to NPCs, then no.

Obviously this is all predicated on the fact you are playing with friends who are decent people and care that the other people they are with are also having a good time. I gather from the internet that apparently such groups are surprisingly rare, but I guess I'm lucky in that regard.

What about in D&D?

Does it make sense to use social rolls in that case or just RP it out?

Context dependent.

I'd say system dependent too. Some systems encourage it more than others. Some break when you try it.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;1089739What about in D&D?

Does it make sense to use social rolls in that case or just RP it out?

Nothing about D&D changes my answer. If the DM uses social rolls vs. players, then I'm OK with players using them on each other. If it doesn't make sense for the DM to use social rolls vs. players, then it doesn't make sense for them to use them on each other as well.

To be clear, if it didn't come across, I think there are quite a few games that have social rules that are intended to function in a "PCs use these vs. NPCs" sort of way (like Reaction Rolls when encountering folks, improved by a PC's Charisma, etc.), or they only get invoked upon NPCs (like morale rules in most RPGs). The DM/GM doesn't make Reaction Rolls to determine that the PCs are Friendly. Likewise, a PC wouldn't use those sorts of rolls vs. PCs.

Other games are a bit hazy about whether particular social rules are only to be deployed upon NPCs or also PCs. In those cases, if you think using them vs. PCs leads to more interesting play, then I'm fine letting both the GM and PCs use them vs. PCs. On the other side, if it is expected the PCs just RP things out, then likewise the GM should be expected to have his NPCs just RP things out with the PCs.

My personal opinion on whether I think any particular social rules are suitable to use vs. the players (whether initiated by the DM or another player) differs depending on what particular rules among the many, many editions of D&D we're talking about. In my own D&D play, I can't recall us using social rolls much in this way (outside of magical effects). Regardless, my personal opinion leans against using social rolls instead of RP, because I like to RP in my RPGs. If social rules are used, I'd rather the results inform the RP rather than replace it.

Some games are designed from the ground up with this sort of interaction in mind (Ie: Apocalypse World, Smallvile, Hillfolk) so they do it easier. But even games that don't do it by default could accommodate it with some tweaking, assuming that's what the group wants and feel comfortable with.

I prefer games with mechanics that treat PCs and NPCs the same or as close to it as possible. This includes the use of player-on-player attacks and skill use.