I think the reason you don't find SL Roleplay systems typically with this style of combat is that it's just that - combat.
Reminds me of runescape, the most non-RP, MMPOG around.
Most RP sims concentrate on the roleplay, the interactions between people etc. in fact most don't even have NPC's to fight ( NPC's are awkward at best in SL due to heavilly scripted sims often being lagfests ). The only sim I know of is the darklife you mentioned.
Some have an element of levelling but that tends to be a minor part of the sim little used.
What you want, i.e. a turn based vs NPC environment (I'm reluctant to call it roleplay because those types of environment tend to see little or no RP ), is definatly feasible in SL but would be a monumental project to do well and require a lot of money ( I imagine multiple sims to cater for the levelling side of things ), NPC interactions for quests ( assuming you have them) etc.
Reminds me of runescape, the most non-RP, MMPOG around.
Most RP sims concentrate on the roleplay, the interactions between people etc. in fact most don't even have NPC's to fight ( NPC's are awkward at best in SL due to heavilly scripted sims often being lagfests ). The only sim I know of is the darklife you mentioned.
Some have an element of levelling but that tends to be a minor part of the sim little used.
What you want, i.e. a turn based vs NPC environment (I'm reluctant to call it roleplay because those types of environment tend to see little or no RP ), is definatly feasible in SL but would be a monumental project to do well and require a lot of money ( I imagine multiple sims to cater for the levelling side of things ), NPC interactions for quests ( assuming you have them) etc.
Actually, I am not planning on using NPCs except in rare instances for the reasons you have mentioned.
As for whether or not its roleplaying, I guess that is a matter of opinion, and yours is no more valid or invalid than mine. All the pen and paper RPGs I have played had rules to provide a framework for the game. That is what I like, and that is what I will try to make, you don't have to agree or approve.
The roleplaying in any game is only as good as the players themselves. I have seen plenty of bad roleplaying in the free form sims you are championing, but I have seen plenty of good roleplaying too. It is exactly the same with D&D and other RPGs that are not free form, ultimately the quality of the players makes the difference.
You make a good point about MMoRPGs though, I do not play them anymore due to the endless grind of killing mobs and leveling. It is not condusive to roleplay at all.