POLL: Online versus Pen & Paper

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I agree, the roleplaying aspect can be quite entertaioning, combine that with a fair amount of action and questing (often one and the same, but not always) and it is truly fun. Though I am not a fan of larp.

 

I don't like LARP as well, but it's not the same as P&P - they shouldn't be confused. Classic P&P is a lot of fun and if you get a chance be sure to try it. You'll need a good DM of course!

 

Gimme Paper

I much prefer to play around a table with friends, it's social.

Playing the Game is the main thing. Being with like minded people, sharing thoughts, ideas and overcoming difficulties and oft-time what seems like insurmountable odds. All in the pursuit of a few hours fun once a week.

Solo in something like NWN works for a fix but you are always at the behest of the programmer. The challenge in playing with a Game Master is that he can react to a developing situation in ways a program could not.

New to this forum, no idea yet how to cast a vote but I have voiced my opinion, for what it's worth.

 

I've not yet managed to con anyone into playing PnP, though I play online (IRC). Which is better? Obviously I have no informed opinion on the matter, but I imagine each has their own advantages and disadvantages.

I might make another stab at recruiting people soonish. If there's anyone from Brisbane here, I'd be more than happy to hear from you

 

I play in the same PnP group as Lord Domino. It's a very, very fun thing to do. Y'all get to sit around calling eachother morons for a few hours. As for online... I'm currently DMing a campaign, and it's pretty fun, but much more time consuming.

 

I have never, and will never, play PnP. Maybe it's just I've never got involved in that kind of group of people and would actually really enjoy it, I don't know. I just know I'd never play it. I don't even know HOW you play it or what you do. There's a certain level of geekiness I refuse to sink to

 

I'm the same as BA. Although I believe you meant to say "admit", not "sink".

This is an older thread from the old boards, and polls couldn't be carried over when Tal switched to the new Boards. The threads are still around (obviously), but you'd have to visit the old Boards to see the polls (although the old Boards are read-only, so I don't think you'd be able to vote, and if you hadn't already voted, I don't think you'd be able to see the results).

 

I'm a bit ashamed to admit it, but I've never played PnP, nor I have I ever played online with real people. Just games, like BG, IWD, PS:T, or NWN.

You can see why I don't have an opinion on the subject.

However, I wouldn't say no if someone invited me to play, whether online, or in a classic PnP. (An understatement: I would be thrilled. )

I don't know any of the rules, but I'm more than willing to learn them.

 

Loreseeker: If you're hanging around the chatroom at the right time, I'd be more than happy to press-gang you into a game
The only thing that stops me from playing is a lack of people to play with - or at least people with halfway similar timezones (GMT+10, for your information...).

(Incidently, I've been lurking around the chatroom recently and where did everyone go? I may have left because certain irritating people wouldn't shut up, but now the place is deathly silent...)

 

I've played in one short-lived PnP campaign so far, a couple of years ago. I'm currently in a few online games, mostly Play-by-posts.

 

Pen and Paper all the way.

 

I've played a couple of games of PnP a long time ago with some friends and did enjoy it.

Seem to recall I didn't bother after that though as my friends seemed to be a bit too power gamey - I distinctly recall them planning to exploit the rules to capture and kill my screen-namesake back when it was probably the most dangerous thing in existence, although the rewards were perhaps worth it.

Since then haven't been near it. Maybe some day when I actually have some free time...

 

Power gaming is always a problem in any system. Players seem to put power over just sitting around having fun. But you see that too in video games as well. Websites post strategies for making the most potent characters available. Doesn't that take some of the challenge out of the game? Sure you want a strong character, but if you make them too strong, where's the challenge?

 

haha, this reminds me of playing Ad&D when it first came out. one of my buddies next door who played asked if his cousin could come over to play one weekend. he said that his cousin played in the town were he lived. he should up with a 3rd level paladin with a pegauas steed & either 4 or 5 25stats!!! needless to say that character didnt see any use.

 

This character being level 3 makes it even worse.

Seriously that's the problem with PnP, you've got to be sure as a GM (or DM) that all the players are on the same page. There are as many ways to play as there are groups and Game Masters.

I remember mastering some games in which I had to actually stop and talk to some new players in the group (some of them only played one game with us) that the point of the game was that they couldn't just determine the outcome of their actions on their own (stuff like that "so I kill the archmage when he is not looking and I pick his pockets and find the scroll and take it without the others noticing...").

Still some people are just natural RPers and they can get a lot out of a minor quirk in a character.

As a player and as a GM I always hated railroad plots. Freedom of choice is the most important thing in the game and that's what is really lacking in CRPGs. Online games may be different from single player CPRGs but still there is no way a computer game can anticipate all the crazy stuff real living RPers can come up with during a game (I had a thief in ADnD2 whose trademark was to contrive the most elaborate plans for even the most mundane situation, it would always fail or work in an unexpected way).

 

Hell yeah, the freedom can never be archived in any CRPG.

 

One thing I tend to do is keep throwing hooks out there, and sooner or later my players will bite. And sometimes, they'll give me opportunities to push them into an adventure without their knowledge. You have to have multiple ideas in mind if you try to run a campaign...

Sure I hear people complain that too many adventures start in a bar, but I find that about half the players I've had for home campaigns would start somewhere else and ask why they weren't in a bar...

 

I started a pnp game in a cupboard Then again it wasn't D&D

I've started a game where the players are slaves in an arena, on roads between towns, libraries, their own homes, an explorers house, I don't think I've started one in a tavern I might do next time.

I think every pnp D&D game so far I've been a player I've started in a tavern though

On subject of Online Vs Tabletop (Both are pnp rules anyway ) I much prefer Tabletop, you get the atmosphere, the intereaction, the fast quips from players. You have to be on the ball to roleplay effectively and put your all into your characters actions, to play out their voices, quirks and persoanlity to the hilt.

Online is easier, you just have the actions to do that, but you run risk of lower respect games or delays as people around you distract you from the net, when you're around a table they avoid you like the plague

I haven't DMd a game in *ages* nobody is interested online will have to ask my group at uni if I can have a turn sometime before I leave.