Have PC RRGs replaced pen and paper?

[SpellAndShield]

I get the impression that most former pen and paper people have all gone over to the PC side of RPGing...am I mistaken here? or are there any old school people here still?

 

I think the reasons for conversion are obvious: you need much less imagination for the PC than for P&P but that is just my take...

[WastelandAssassin]

I get the impression that most former pen and paper people have all gone over to the PC side of RPGing...am I mistaken here? or are there any old school people here still?

 

I think the reasons for conversion are obvious: you need much less imagination for the PC than for P&P but that is just my take...

 

i most strongly and heartily disagree, since i can easily say that for me, and for some of my friends, PC games can never replace a good session of true role playing

 

i have been playing D&D since i was about 10 or so, and moved on to World Of Darkness at about the age of 13 or so, and have played such games in pretty much the same group for about 3 or 4 years

the problem is that such things are getting harder and harder to organize, since people evolve in opposite directions

so it's really hard to find a free couple of hours at the same time, every week, for a long time, especially when dealing with big groups (we were less than 10 in total, but it was still a pain to put together)

 

so, PC role playing games are a substitute to role playing for real, as it's just much easier to get a game, than to organize a group to play

however, role playing in games is even less than a shadow of true role playing, and it's by far less fun (at least when your DM is a good one)

 

so yes, PC games are easier to find and play, compared to real role playing

however, games can never truly replicate the freedom of choice and imagination, that true role playing gives

so hopefully, people will go back to the true art of role playing (and trust me when i say that this is an art, just like true acting, but in front of a much smaller crowd)

[SpellAndShield]

I get the impression that most former pen and paper people have all gone over to the PC side of RPGing...am I mistaken here? or are there any old school people here still?

 

I think the reasons for conversion are obvious: you need much less imagination for the PC than for P&P but that is just my take...

 

i most strongly and heartily disagree, since i can easily say that for me, and for some of my friends, PC games can never replace a good session of true role playing

 

i have been playing D&D since i was about 10 or so, and moved on to World Of Darkness at about the age of 13 or so, and have played such games in pretty much the same group for about 3 or 4 years

the problem is that such things are getting harder and harder to organize, since people evolve in opposite directions

so it's really hard to find a free couple of hours at the same time, every week, for a long time, especially when dealing with big groups (we were less than 10 in total, but it was still a pain to put together)

 

so, PC role playing games are a substitute to role playing for real, as it's just much easier to get a game, than to organize a group to play

however, role playing in games is even less than a shadow of true role playing, and it's by far less fun (at least when your DM is a good one)

 

so yes, PC games are easier to find and play, compared to real role playing

however, games can never truly replicate the freedom of choice and imagination, that true role playing gives

so hopefully, people will go back to the true art of role playing (and trust me when i say that this is an art, just like true acting, but in front of a much smaller crowd)

 

Well mate, I wish I could join you. Been looking to get back into D&D and WOD for a while (especially now that Dark Sun is back) but can never find people. :confused:

[bben46]

I have volunteered to DM a game of D&D for some people who asked me. However, they can never decide on a schedule. A true role playing game cannot be run in a haphazard way. You need a specific time and place to play. My previous experience is that every other week for 4 to 6 hours seems best. But nobody is willing to allocate that specific time slot. They all want to play, but still want the freedom to change their own personal schedule and screw over the rest of the group.

 

I have told them that I will not do it unless they can commit to a minimum of six sessions - as that is the approximate time I have estimated my starting scenario will take.

 

Most people who have no experience with D&D think they can come once, see what it is like and then stop by whenever they 'have time'. For a new group there is rarely much actual playing time at the first session. The time is spent getting acquainted, learning the house rules, rolling up characters, making adjustments to characters (But I wanted to play an elf mage. These rolls won't work for that!) buying or otherwise acquiring the beginning equipment, back stories, Why can't I do that, What if I, then a session where the characters meet up and agree to go on an adventure - or whatever. All that can take from 4 to 6 hours with people who have never done it before. Plus, about half don't have the stuff they need - dice, pad of paper & pencils, Mapping paper, a basic D& D manual for the version you play ( I play 2nd Edition with some additions from 3rd and some of my own so it would be the Players Handbook, 2nd ed.) I do have spare books & dice, but those never leave my possession.

[brokenergy]

Pen & Paper have it's advantages; it can never be emulated by a video game. They can try but it would never end the same, it feels like 'choose you own adventure book' where you flip from page 3 to 15. You never have total freedom in a video game.

[TheCalliton]

computor games have made me want to try the good ol'e box set D n D

so i would have to say no, they have made me love DnD

[marharth]

I would say yes...

 

People who played pen and paper also played the computer games, and many people who have never played pen and paper have played the computer games.

 

So a much larger number plays the computer games now days, so I would have to say it pretty much replaced it for the most part.