Dragon Magazine Commentary #2
The forum in Issue #151 (November 1989) brings us the typical defensive posture of a tabletop gamer concerning computer RPGs. Some excerpts and my comments from various letters:
A computer RPG is not an RPG.
Depends on your definition. Most people really don't care.
The second variety...is that of a network of players hooked through modem. I grudgingly admit that this could be considered an RPG...
Today, that's what most people know as an "RPG". Back around 1998, a co-worker commented that he thought tabletop games had died out "years ago".
The concept of using the computer to aid DMing is brought up as a final word on the subject. Sure, having all the information on disk would be nice, but I did some quick calculating and just the 1st Edition Dungeon Masters Guide, Players Handbook, and Monster Manual I would
take up 5250K of memory...
This was a valid concern in 1989, but I find it funny in a "no one will ever need more than 640k of memory" sort of way. 5 MB of space was huge back then; today, that's tiny. Ironically, the PDF of issue #151 is almost 9.5 MB in size.
Also, when a question by a player was asked, the GM would turn around, type a few lines into the computer, and spit out an answer, which would remove all the humanity. There would be no need for the GM, and again the RPG concept would die.
Even in 1989 that statement is rather ridiculous. On the other hand, I've seen people level similar complaints in 2007 against having laptops at the gaming table, so it's probably more of an issue of the people running the game rather than the tools they're using.
Whether or not one enjoys computer games, they present a completely different challenge from TSR’s AD&D or SJG’s GURPS® game, no matter how sophisticated software becomes.
When the goal of the players is to "defeat" a dungeon, I would argue that this statement no longer holds true, whether you're talking about Neverwinter Nights or WoW.
The fun of role-playing lies in its creativity. The DM can design exactly the adventure he wants, weaving together pet personalities, private jokes, his acting talent, and favorite fictional or historical events. The players do the same with their characters. Then they add to each others’ creations and inspire new ones.
This is the first statement in the issue's forum that's actually on target. Though with a game like NWN (versus WoW), the DM can design what he wants. But you still have to work within the confines of what the editing tools allow. Now, one would assume these tools would get more sophisticated, but on the other hand, is there enough of a market for that? From what I remember Ryan Dancey saying once, about 25% of the player base of RPGs are GMs. Since most people are players, it makes sense to cater more to them.
Anything that removes the game master kills this interaction. Nobody bothers to talk “in character” for a computer.
Players in MMORPGs aren't role-playing with their computer or the game servers - they're interacting with each other. But even then they tend not to role-play (most them, at least; presumably they do on the RP-style servers). It's not about tabletop or electronic - it's about the type of player you have for your game.
What person in his right mind would choose to sit by himself in a room for eight hours looking at a computer screen, perhaps after four hours talking to it as a leisure pastime, as opposed to sitting down with a pizza, eight good friends, and a role-playing game?
At this point, millions.
One of the most singular and least talked about advantages of a role-playing game concerns the people you meet and associate with.
Another true statement, though through guilds and voice chat, many MMORPG players would aruge they get the same experience with on-line gaming.
Do I have a point with this? Not particularly. I just find it amusing to read the predictions and arguments from years past when computer RPGs began to "threaten" tabletop games. Personally, I don't see tabletop gaming going away any time soon. They're simply another medium that people will use if it meets their needs.
A computer RPG is not an RPG.
Depends on your definition. Most people really don't care.
The second variety...is that of a network of players hooked through modem. I grudgingly admit that this could be considered an RPG...
Today, that's what most people know as an "RPG". Back around 1998, a co-worker commented that he thought tabletop games had died out "years ago".
The concept of using the computer to aid DMing is brought up as a final word on the subject. Sure, having all the information on disk would be nice, but I did some quick calculating and just the 1st Edition Dungeon Masters Guide, Players Handbook, and Monster Manual I would
take up 5250K of memory...
This was a valid concern in 1989, but I find it funny in a "no one will ever need more than 640k of memory" sort of way. 5 MB of space was huge back then; today, that's tiny. Ironically, the PDF of issue #151 is almost 9.5 MB in size.
Also, when a question by a player was asked, the GM would turn around, type a few lines into the computer, and spit out an answer, which would remove all the humanity. There would be no need for the GM, and again the RPG concept would die.
Even in 1989 that statement is rather ridiculous. On the other hand, I've seen people level similar complaints in 2007 against having laptops at the gaming table, so it's probably more of an issue of the people running the game rather than the tools they're using.
Whether or not one enjoys computer games, they present a completely different challenge from TSR’s AD&D or SJG’s GURPS® game, no matter how sophisticated software becomes.
When the goal of the players is to "defeat" a dungeon, I would argue that this statement no longer holds true, whether you're talking about Neverwinter Nights or WoW.
The fun of role-playing lies in its creativity. The DM can design exactly the adventure he wants, weaving together pet personalities, private jokes, his acting talent, and favorite fictional or historical events. The players do the same with their characters. Then they add to each others’ creations and inspire new ones.
This is the first statement in the issue's forum that's actually on target. Though with a game like NWN (versus WoW), the DM can design what he wants. But you still have to work within the confines of what the editing tools allow. Now, one would assume these tools would get more sophisticated, but on the other hand, is there enough of a market for that? From what I remember Ryan Dancey saying once, about 25% of the player base of RPGs are GMs. Since most people are players, it makes sense to cater more to them.
Anything that removes the game master kills this interaction. Nobody bothers to talk “in character” for a computer.
Players in MMORPGs aren't role-playing with their computer or the game servers - they're interacting with each other. But even then they tend not to role-play (most them, at least; presumably they do on the RP-style servers). It's not about tabletop or electronic - it's about the type of player you have for your game.
What person in his right mind would choose to sit by himself in a room for eight hours looking at a computer screen, perhaps after four hours talking to it as a leisure pastime, as opposed to sitting down with a pizza, eight good friends, and a role-playing game?
At this point, millions.
One of the most singular and least talked about advantages of a role-playing game concerns the people you meet and associate with.
Another true statement, though through guilds and voice chat, many MMORPG players would aruge they get the same experience with on-line gaming.
Do I have a point with this? Not particularly. I just find it amusing to read the predictions and arguments from years past when computer RPGs began to "threaten" tabletop games. Personally, I don't see tabletop gaming going away any time soon. They're simply another medium that people will use if it meets their needs.
posted by MythosaAkira | 10:12 PM
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