Hobbies & Games >
Role Playing & War Games
RSS FeedWhich is better: Online roleplaying games or tabletop roleplaying games?
Results so far:
| Online | 49% | 191 votes | Total: 393 votes | |
| Tabletop | 51% | 202 votes |
Online
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesThe Gaming Experience: Online Role-Playing vs. Tabletop Role-Playing
There have been many debates between gamers on the subject of how the online role-playing system has influenced and been influenced by the tabletop system. It is difficult to make an educational decision about which version of the experience to enjoy. I have been involved in both versions of the role-playing game system in varying roles and I believe, as a fence-sitter, that I have positive and negative things to say about both versions of the gaming experience. Following this short introduction, readers will be able to compare and contrast these ideas, making their own choice on the subject. I strongly recommend giving both options the chance before making a final decision; however, I find myself leaning in the online direction.
THE STEP-BY-STEP COMPARISON
1. Gameplay, creativity, and artistryTabletop gaming (or floor gaming if you are like many groups) consists of the basic necessities (character sheets, dice, and a writing utensil) and the extras (figurines, books and manuals, special dice, renderings of your character, items that will enhance the experience, as well as lots of snacks and beverages). The actual playing is done through oral descriptions and the use of dice-rolling for nearly all facets of the experience. The game's playability is dependent upon the creative and enthusiastic approach from the DM/GM (Dungeon Master/Game Master). This individual weaves a story through words, detailing scenes, characters, interactions, situations, and even weather patterns. With a strong story, the gameplay can be a very entertaining experience through the creative artistry of a masterful storyteller. This is the difference between books and movies and depends on whether you would rather listen to the oral version or watch the visual events.
Onine gaming, played at a computer or console device, consists of a system, the software, a keyboard/mouse/game controller, and the mood to play. It is that simple. Most of these options are provided for other reasons than for the primary purpose of role-playing games. The visuals for some of these games are spectacular, the options available are amazing, and the sound-effects/soundt racks are inspiring; unfortunately, the game's playability usually suffers from poor programming logic, bringing down the experience. The storyline can be very open-ended, requiring no set rules for where to go or when; but this sometimes creates a suffering game with no journey.
The Tabletop Arena *Personal Score: 3/5*
The Online Arena *Personal Score: 3/5*
2. Community and relianceTabletop gaming is dependent on having at least 2 players, a DM/GM and a character. The best community available is the group that consists of friends and/or family members that can coexist with one another. The highlights are fun conversation, jokes, and a close-knit group. One problem can arise through illness, where the options tend to limit themselves to leaving a character behind or not being able to play at all. Also, this form of gaming is reliant on each member being available for the gaming time as well as being in the mood to interact.
Online gaming can be a great way to meet people from all over the globe without leaving your own home, safely interacting with culturally-diverse individuals without anyone knowing where you live. You can journey with a variety of individuals or with a specific group of people that know you in real life. Online gamers can be a caustic bunch, but the good news is that you don't always need to interact with those that are abrasive, abusive, or just plain rude. Also, this type of gamer need not be reliant on other players in order to play most online role-playing games provide an environment where you can go on quests in parties or alone, depending on your mood and preference.
The Tabletop Arena *Personal Score: 2/5*
The Online Arena *Personal Score: 4/5*
3. Depth, ease, and convenienceTabletop gaming can be a deep, rewarding experience if done correctly. The plot can be as complex as any story read in a book, creatively weaving a plot that any writer would love to use. Tabletop gaming is not very easy, though, requiring a roll for each statistic in the character's arsenal; for any events, visuals, or spell-casting abilities; and for every attacking and defensive skill used. As implied in the previous sections, Tabletop gaming can be an inconvenient event, depending on different variables such as availability and mood.
Online gaming, in comparison with the tabletop version, can be a deep, rewarding experience also. The plots, as programmed, come in 3 main styles: super-easy, pretty tough, and "where's that cheat-book"? They often appear as quests told by computerized players, sometimes as badly-written as most soap operas. To provide an all-encompassing experience, a programmer needs to incorporate many quests that they would personally find insulting and/or ignorant; however, some individuals wish to choose these types of quests and, in the end, the game is meant to sell itself (even if it is a free online game).
The Tabletop Arena *Personal Score: 2/5*
The Online Arena *Personal Score: 3/5*
4. PriceTabletop Gaming can be a very immersive experience and cost-effective experience; however, it is difficult to elevate the immersion factor without elevating the cost. I know many people that feel the need to make unnecessary purchases for the tabletop gaming experience. These people might buy specially-designed dice, customized characters, a wide range of books, and even expensive outfits. I never spent much on the experience, desiring the experience first before elevating the immersion factor, but I know several individuals who have spent upwards to a thousand dollars or more in the way of these items. The price for Tabletop gaming can range anywhere from $0 (sharing game requirements) to thousands of dollars.
Online gaming is very much like tabletop gaming in this aspect. The more immersive you wish to become, the more money you are likely to spend. Often, in the online gaming community, the game software will be free to download and play but will only provide the very basic necessities if a gamer wishes to create a stronger, more proficient, or better-looking character, he/she must spend money to purchase game cards from department stores in order to buy these upgrades. The base price may be zero, but the upgrades can become very expensive (and some upgrades are even necessary in order to continue playing after a time period or in order to complete a quest).
The Tabletop Arena *Personal Score: 3/5*
The Online Arena *Personal Score: 3/5*
5. Overall enjoymentMy personal experience with tabletop gaming was, to be honest, vaguely boring. The GM was a creative storyteller and very fair; however, the constant rolling of dice, the endless walking, the inconvenience of driving to the location, as well as the lack of patience, provided me with an almost-constant need to drive the conversation and game into tangential orbits. Finally, the more serious gamers would talk amongst themselves when I left the room for a snack or beverage, deciding to make me leave. That didn't bother me, usually, because I have a fairly short attention span after 2 hours of preparation and minor gaming, I would be done for the night.
My personal experience with online gaming has been hit-and-miss. Some of the communities have very elitist attitudes, not providing assistance to new players, choosing to use the slanderous term "noob" to insult me for my lack of playing time in the system. I just recently discovered one game that has captured my attention for the time-being even though I have had to pay a bit in upgrades, most of the game is fairly enjoyable and expansive. Even though many have that elitist perspective, I don't need to communicate with them in order to play. I find that I have a better attention span for this than tabletop gaming, but then again I can just shut it off when I am bored with the play.
The Tabletop Arena *Personal Score: 2/5*
The Online Arena *Personal Score: 3/5*
*
Tabletop Arena *Total Score: 12/25*
Online Arena *Total Score: 16/25*
*
In conclusion, you can see that I am not what many would consider an avid gamer, but my perspective is fairly unbiased and untarnished. I can see both sides of the issue, and I prefer the Online Arena slightly more than the Tabletop Arena. With this information in the back of your mind, give both versions a chance to shine and then make a well-informed decision. In the end, it just depends on which one captivates you more.
Learn more about this author, JJ Whitehead.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Tabletop
While not a man of a great many words, my father did speak on occasion. His words resonated much more profoundly since they were much harder to come by. He spoke succinctly and was always pithy. He was also a speaker of great truth and wisdom, and his words still ring with timeless authority.
One thing he told me was, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
I suppose that would be my best argument for whether or not tabletop roleplaying games are better than online roleplaying games. They are both very entertaining and stimulating, and frankly I have enjoyed them both for hours on end. Truth be told I am much more familiar with tabletop, since both they and I have been around far longer than the other type of roleplaying games. And while most (if not all) online roleplaying games have their roots firmly grounded on the tabletop versions they are based on, and have for the most part the same audience on both sides, I firmly believe tabletop to be vastly superior. Even though I concede the argument that they are also vastly different and in many cases hard to compare.
First and foremost were it not for the foundation that tabletop RPG has laid than online RPG would never have seen its gargantuan empire built. Easier to lay rest than the chicken and egg debate, tabletop came first. Many online RPG enthusiasts either are or were tabletop gamers, and much of the game play of said games hails back to the dice-rolling, tables and charts of tabletop. World of Warcraft would not have come if Dungeons and Dragons had never been published. Mechwarrior would be nothing without Battle Tech having preceded it.
Not to say that the automobiles of the 1930's are superior to the ones we have today simply because they came first: we cannot presume something is better merely because of its age (although some wine drinkers and classic automobile owners might disagree with that statement). Roleplaying games have evolved and changed over the years and so have our gaming habits.
I submit that our change in gaming habits have turned for the worse, however.
Sitting around a table for hours, with pencil, paper, books and dice is a far cry from sitting in front of a computer screen for hours. Whether you are playing a roleplaying game or a board game, you are spending time with friends and family, socializing, interacting, fellowshipping and having fun. When you are online you are spending equal time with strangers you only know through means of a persona, and most likely neglecting the afore-mentioned friends and family.
Tabletop roleplaying games encourage you to socialize. Online roleplaying games encourage you to be anti-social.
Gathering with some friends for a traditional tabletop roleplaying game most often involves getting together at a friends house for several hours, breaking out chips and soda, joking around for a few minutes while everyone gets settled in and set up for the evening's scenario, joking around for a while longer...socializing . Always on a regular basis, most often a weekly basis. Sometimes it happens at a local game shop, or restaurant or coffee house. Wherever or whenever it happens, it excludes the possibility of isolating yourself, since tabletop roleplaying is often recommended for "4 to 6 players."
The last time a friend of mine tried out the latest and greatest online roleplaying game I didn't see him for a month. When I did he looked as if he had been on some deserted island with Tom Hanks: I half expected him to have a volleyball with a face on it. His roommate said he almost lost him underneath a mountain of Domino's Pizza boxes and Mountain Dew cans: he was always plugged into the game and chatting with the other online characters. That kind of game isolates you.
I could say that tabletop is better because it encourages you to use your own imagination rather than simply enjoying the animated visions of someone else's. I could also say that it is better because it teaches useful skills, like reading and writing, group discussion and team-building, mathematics and problem solving. I could say it is better because I am partial to things that are more old-school and old-fashioned. I could say that online roleplaying games were an improvement on a style of gaming that simply needed no improvement.
In my opinion all of that would be true.
What I will say is that we are all living in an age of technology that has us interconnected like never before and more isolated than ever. We get online and chat for hours without ever getting to know anyone. We lock ourselves away and game instead of getting together to play games. This (to me) is the whole point of gaming and playing games in the first place: to get together and have fun.
Tabletop roleplaying games are most certainly better when it comes to that.
Learn more about this author, Ken Fairbank.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
- Role Playing & War Games
- Is Dungeons and Dragons really satanic?
