I think the writers of Mage the Ascension got it best when referring to DnD as a wargame with role-playing tacked on top.
So much of DnD the dnd rulebook and printed material is focused around combat and getting from one combat encounter to the next one.
Because DnD did start as a wargame, right? Before the red box came the 50 figure armies. I think there used to be a little history written by Gygax about how they started.
Anyway, I don’t mind the focus on combat. I like that roll-playing and role-playing are separated. My favorite groups had no issue with playing their dumb fighter as a dumb fighter, and the smooth talking noble as a smooth talker. I like the approach others have taken, like the social combat in exalted, or powered-by-the-apocalypse system, but it has led to a few players in my groups just wanting to roll the dice every time and not talk at all.
