[Picks-at-Flies]

I actually tried to run a 'realistic' game with v3, and found that, due to the amount of destruction available after even a few levels there was no way for D&D to be truly realistic unless there was somebody going around with a "create village" spell. This lack of realism does limit the roleplaying possibilities. (Or, as mentioned above, the potential for immersion in the world.)

That is not to say that character roleplaying is impossible. I remember a wonderful one-shot game of Ravenloft where I played a high charisma character and got some ripping lines off (I sadly can't remember that much about the other characters but I'm pretty certain they played in character too).

Anyway, these restrictions are there in every version. I presume 4th ed. still has the capability of mass destruction?