pen and paper RPGs vs. computer RPGs

Katherine · 11-12-2001, 07:27 PM

I am playing my first computer RPG ever right now (Baldur's Gate) and I have very mixed feelings about it, I guess. When I first began playing, I was disappointed very early on at the limitations. One of the first things I did was try to do something unexpected and the programming just wasn't there for it. Anyway, I quit the game for about 5 months and only just came back to it a few weeks ago with a new understanding that the game will be very limited as to what my actions can be.
Anyway, I guess I am just wanting to sort of bitch about this topic. I've played pen and paper RPGs on and off since I was about 12 (I'm 32 now) and I was really hoping that the computer games would be more interesting than they seem to be. I wonder what the future games will be like? Certainly never as inventive as the pen/paper ones, but hopefully better than they are now.
That said, I am having fun, more or less, playing BG since I've understood the restrictions of the game parameters.
Does anyone else have thoughts on this topic? Maybe some of the old school types? ; )

Katherine

P.S. The kitty on the bottom of all the pages is so cute! Here's a link to an equally cute, but somewhat more evil-ish looking kitty:
http://www.konstruktiv.net/kitty_02.html

[ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: Katherine ]

Wah · 11-12-2001, 07:42 PM

EPILEPSY ALERT!!!

(Only Kidding)

The tabbies look wonderful - although our "chocolate" has his claw where you cannot see them. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Grand-Ranger · 11-12-2001, 07:51 PM

PnP all the way. Although CPRGS are good some time it just cant compaire to the PnP freedom.

Mitro Jellywadder · 11-12-2001, 10:08 PM

CRPG's will never be as good as a PnP. We can use our imagination and bend and flex depending on the situation. Computers are stuck within the boundaries of their code. (Maybe in the near future when memory and chips become gigantic we can have a gazillion different options. Until then, we can only play what they give us.)

PnP rules.

Btw,

Cool cats. My right eye is still twitching.

Nanobyte · 11-12-2001, 10:31 PM

Just keep your eye out for Neverwinter Nights. It seems promising, compared to current CRPG's. Ah, the young, pure life. Too bad one was taken recently. :'(

Cerek the Barbaric · 11-13-2001, 12:45 AM

I'm sorry to hear of your loss Nanobyte.

AFA the main topic, CRPG's will never be as innovative as PnP's. Doing the unexpected was my favorite part of PnP games. I've done everything from jumping on the back of a Retriever to shoving a vampire out of my way (while under the effects of a Fear spell from a Ghost).

Toss in the innovative ways to use spells, and PnP rules when it comes to character expression.

The best use of a spell I heard of in our group was casting Rock to Mud on the ceiling of a cave just above a super-monster with an Anti-Magic Shell surrounding it. The Mud falls onto the Shell, and turns back to Rock.....end of encounter!

Debaser · 11-13-2001, 02:05 AM

Kat~

yes, i completely agree with you and hear where you're coming from. in playing BG I and II, the limitations have struck me time and time again, but i've learned to kind of perceive these games as what they are in themselves. really, no crpg can EVER replicate pnp D&D....that's why pnp is so damn BADASS!

WOLFGIR · 11-13-2001, 08:30 AM

Have to agree, but on the other hand, CRPG´s are not that flexible cause you don´t need that many people to play. I loved BG since the most games I had seen before was well.. not that good. Baldurs gate gave a a "game" no CRPG for me, but a game that is very close to the feeling of RPG and the D&D universe. First time I got introduced to Forgotten Realms, Drizzt and Elminster and all thoose people..

So well, they can´t beat PnP and the online MMRPGS or whatever sure can be fun, but I don´t think they will be as good as a session with friends playing PnP in a awhile, though I would have been less likely to fall into that "just one hour more" if BG hadn´t made me stuck in front of the puter all thoose hours, so I have to admit I really liked it!

Legolas · 11-13-2001, 10:57 AM

I think the two can't really be compared. The sytem is basically the same, but other than that there are major differences.

The CRPGs have the advantage that they can be played on your own, there's no need to think of a story and the area's are much more concrete.

On the other hand, PnP games are indeed more flexible, both in the storyline and the actions you can take. The other players take actions of their own and drain your cookie supply, and you can have a good laugh too. Originality is often rewarded and creating the most powerful character possible is not what's the most important thing in the game.

Now these are only a few of the differences between the two, though I believe I would prefer PnP if there were a group of motivated, interested and regularly availiable players and a good DM or two where I live. Sadly, I have to make due with CRPGs, which, luckily, is not that bad an option either [img]smile.gif[/img]

Elif Godson · 11-13-2001, 04:48 PM

In the immortal phrase " It's all Good". Just have fun and dont take
it seriously after all it's a game..right ?

11-12-2001, 07:27 PM	#1
Katherine Zhentarim Guard Join Date: November 11, 2001 Location: perdition Posts: 340	I am playing my first computer RPG ever right now (Baldur's Gate) and I have very mixed feelings about it, I guess. When I first began playing, I was disappointed very early on at the limitations. One of the first things I did was try to do something unexpected and the programming just wasn't there for it. Anyway, I quit the game for about 5 months and only just came back to it a few weeks ago with a new understanding that the game will be very limited as to what my actions can be. Anyway, I guess I am just wanting to sort of bitch about this topic. I've played pen and paper RPGs on and off since I was about 12 (I'm 32 now) and I was really hoping that the computer games would be more interesting than they seem to be. I wonder what the future games will be like? Certainly never as inventive as the pen/paper ones, but hopefully better than they are now. That said, I am having fun, more or less, playing BG since I've understood the restrictions of the game parameters. Does anyone else have thoughts on this topic? Maybe some of the old school types? ; ) Katherine P.S. The kitty on the bottom of all the pages is so cute! Here's a link to an equally cute, but somewhat more evil-ish looking kitty: http://www.konstruktiv.net/kitty_02.html [ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: Katherine ] __________________ <i>The road to hell is paved with delicious intentions.</i><br /><br />Unholy Acorn Gatherer in the <b>Profane Order of the Hyper-Wrathful, All-Powerful Squirrel Goddess</b>

11-12-2001, 07:42 PM	#2
Wah Symbol of Cyric Join Date: March 17, 2001 Location: England Posts: 1,160	EPILEPSY ALERT!!! (Only Kidding) The tabbies look wonderful - although our "chocolate" has his claw where you cannot see them. [img]tongue.gif[/img] __________________ <IMG SRC=\"http://www.gis.net/~yos/lichwah.gif\"> <IMG SRC=\"http://www.btinternet.com/~GWah2/mygreetings01.gif\"> <IMG SRC=\"http://www.btinternet.com/~GWah2/myname001.gif\"> <IMG SRC=\"http://www.btinternet.com/~GWah2/finalarch.gif\">

11-12-2001, 07:51 PM	#3
Grand-Ranger Galvatron Join Date: March 29, 2001 Location: Everywhere I wanna go its already where I am,cause I am already there Posts: 2,130	PnP all the way. Although CPRGS are good some time it just cant compaire to the PnP freedom. __________________ <br /><br />So if in the shaddows look behind you, because thats where the ranger will be.

11-13-2001, 12:45 AM	#6
Cerek the Barbaric Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: North Carolina Age: 61 Posts: 3,257	I'm sorry to hear of your loss Nanobyte. AFA the main topic, CRPG's will never be as innovative as PnP's. Doing the unexpected was my favorite part of PnP games. I've done everything from jumping on the back of a Retriever to shoving a vampire out of my way (while under the effects of a Fear spell from a Ghost). Toss in the innovative ways to use spells, and PnP rules when it comes to character expression. The best use of a spell I heard of in our group was casting Rock to Mud on the ceiling of a cave just above a super-monster with an Anti-Magic Shell surrounding it. The Mud falls onto the Shell, and turns back to Rock.....end of encounter! __________________ [img]\"http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/cerek/cerektsrsig.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /><br />Cerek the Calmth

11-13-2001, 02:05 AM	#7
Debaser Avatar Join Date: June 15, 2001 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 43 Posts: 543	Kat~ yes, i completely agree with you and hear where you're coming from. in playing BG I and II, the limitations have struck me time and time again, but i've learned to kind of perceive these games as what they are in themselves. really, no crpg can EVER replicate pnp D&D....that's why pnp is so damn BADASS! __________________ wHiTe MoOn\'S HoT...tHe OtHeR SiDe\'S NoT

11-12-2001, 10:08 PM	#4
Mitro Jellywadder Quintesson Join Date: September 5, 2001 Location: Florida Age: 52 Posts: 1,016	CRPG's will never be as good as a PnP. We can use our imagination and bend and flex depending on the situation. Computers are stuck within the boundaries of their code. (Maybe in the near future when memory and chips become gigantic we can have a gazillion different options. Until then, we can only play what they give us.) PnP rules. Btw, Cool cats. My right eye is still twitching.

11-12-2001, 10:31 PM	#5
Nanobyte Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: NC Age: 38 Posts: 2,890	Just keep your eye out for Neverwinter Nights. It seems promising, compared to current CRPG's. Ah, the young, pure life. Too bad one was taken recently. :'(

11-13-2001, 08:30 AM	#8
WOLFGIR Bastet - Egyptian Cat Goddess Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Sweden Age: 50 Posts: 3,450	Have to agree, but on the other hand, CRPG´s are not that flexible cause you don´t need that many people to play. I loved BG since the most games I had seen before was well.. not that good. Baldurs gate gave a a "game" no CRPG for me, but a game that is very close to the feeling of RPG and the D&D universe. First time I got introduced to Forgotten Realms, Drizzt and Elminster and all thoose people.. So well, they can´t beat PnP and the online MMRPGS or whatever sure can be fun, but I don´t think they will be as good as a session with friends playing PnP in a awhile, though I would have been less likely to fall into that "just one hour more" if BG hadn´t made me stuck in front of the puter all thoose hours, so I have to admit I really liked it! __________________ Don´t eat the yellow snow

11-13-2001, 10:57 AM	#9
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 39 Posts: 5,459	I think the two can't really be compared. The sytem is basically the same, but other than that there are major differences. The CRPGs have the advantage that they can be played on your own, there's no need to think of a story and the area's are much more concrete. On the other hand, PnP games are indeed more flexible, both in the storyline and the actions you can take. The other players take actions of their own and drain your cookie supply, and you can have a good laugh too. Originality is often rewarded and creating the most powerful character possible is not what's the most important thing in the game. Now these are only a few of the differences between the two, though I believe I would prefer PnP if there were a group of motivated, interested and regularly availiable players and a good DM or two where I live. Sadly, I have to make due with CRPGs, which, luckily, is not that bad an option either [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ Say NO to the Trouser Tyranny!

11-13-2001, 04:48 PM	#10
Elif Godson Dracolich Join Date: August 28, 2001 Location: Hurricane Valley Age: 51 Posts: 3,089	In the immortal phrase " It's all Good". Just have fun and dont take it seriously after all it's a game..right ? __________________ Children get Arthritis too! http://awtampa.kintera.org/jaaware

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