Musing on Tabletop Qualities

[Troy_Costisick]

Heya,

I have some old buddies who are big time into World of Warcraft. They want me to play with them. Back in college I was king at EverQuest. I had a crazy pimped out bard that had some of the best gear available at the time. I knew my role and was fearless in battle. But I left college and gave the character away and haven't played an online RPG since.

They're inviting me back now and are willing to give me a level 60 beastlord or something like that (hunter maybe?). Anyway, I have no interest in it. I prefer the tabletop. But you know what, I can't say why. I love challenges and tactics. I love getting levels, new spells, and new gear. All that's awesome. But I just have no desire to do that with a computer.

There must be something that the tabletop offers that the Internet does not. For you guys, what is it about tabletop roleplaying that you like so much? Why is that better than using Skype mixed with World of Warcraft to roleplay? What to tabletop offer that you can't get in a MMORPG? or any CRPG for that matter?

Peace,

-Troy
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Game Design Website: http://www.divine-games.org/

RPG Blog: http://socratesrpg.blogspot.com/

[Levi]

That's actually a little bit trickier a question than it seems.

I mean, I can do narration over in these games, strategy here, this here, that there, and so on.

But the coming-together of those things in RPGs?

That's what makes them distinct, to me.

...I think.
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levi.kornelsen@gmail.com

[Troy_Costisick]

[Silverlion]

Not for me.

Unique Plot. I can create plots for the heroes in my games that is theirs alone--not the ten thousandth time its been done by some random assorted thrown together group, but the first and only group to take down the dragon Strife, or the Wraith Lord Mathias.

Personality: I can invoke personality in characters far better than any video game with its preprogrammed dialogue. I can react to the heroes, interact with them, be a helpful NPC, a foil NPC, of a foe NPC when needed.

Starting Point: You don't have to start as a peon in my RPG's. You can HAVE a powerful superhero, or an effective fantasy warrior. (I don't tend to use game that would prevent that)

Lack of linear directive: I can go anywhere in a fictional world for my players--they want to suddenly go sailing and exploring, I can do it, they decide to take up being peaceful villagers and dealing with problems on that scale, I can do it. They want to I don't know carve figurines of animals? They can do it. (Not something WOW allows at the moment.)

Have relationships with NPC's? Doable. And I don't mean vendors, or quest givers, I mean hooking up with an NPC wizardess whose heavily pregnant. (Which is the case in my current High Valor game--independent and strong, woman wizard who challenged our big bad warrior emotionally and intellectually and he fell for her HARD.)

Player characters can start as teens or even children if they want. There are CHILDREN to be had for example. (Children in WOW? Not any I recall.)

I can tailor challenges to be exciting without being overwhelming whether its a solo challenge or a group challenge, I can make sure it is hard, but not accidentally too hard (like getting killed by a random wondering fish thing)

I can give any encounter personality--you can react to encounters by means other than magic, or combat--you can trick them, feed them, lure them off somewhere else with food. Even befriend them, ANYONE--not just a given class.

You can play a personality without hearing "Duel plz?" or "Such a newb" or other jarring immersion breaking talk. (Oh sure immersion isn't perfect at the table, but its far easier controlled)


I see my friends face to face. I mean I actually visit them and talk and hang with them. We often share a meal, THEN game. They can plot and plan, ask for a pause while they do so, and not be beholden to some programs mechanical demands.

Outcomes: The outcome of a game event, changes the world for the PC's, and changes the world for the NPC's--not so much for WOW or Everquest or COH, the world only changes when new game content is added, players don't make a difference to 99% of what is going on. In my High Valor game, fighting Mathias cost them farm land (ruined by his Blood Rain magic he called down), now they're struggling to aid the local farmers and herders--one of them was given title of Duke, and now is "responsible" for the land and the people in it. Lots of ways to handle this, none without cost. The damage was however preventable--but they didn't manage to do so. Now they're dealing with that outcome, and have impacted the world--it changed (at least their part of it) due to their actions.




Oh sure WOW does the "get quest, wander and do it" well, but the personal interactions are limited--PC vs PC, and then often lacking compared to tabletop. Want a druid who can shape change into say a bat instead of a cat? or a wolf instead of a bear? or a lion? No such luck. You play the classes as written, as programmed. No GM to come in and allow even a cosmetic change "I want to be a tawny cat with spots.."

[JADettman]

[Anemone]

One of the things that got me interested in RPGs a long time ago is my love of theatre. I LOVE seeing other people's role-play, I love a good actor. :)
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Anemone

Running: Truth & Justice: "Top 10: Night Shift"

[Kyle Aaron]

[Anemone]