Playing in Person Is Just Better (for me)

[TwoSix]

Various channel things can be very helpful there, allowing people to do the equivalent of leaving the room to have a side conversation.

For me, it's not the same. 80+% of the side comments are humorous. If they aren't made spur-of-the-moment, they don't land.

 

[Thomas Shey]

For me, it's not the same. 80+% of the side comments are humorous. If they aren't made spur-of-the-moment, they don't land.

Ah, I assumed you were talking in-character exchanges here.

(Though I'll note in the environment I was talking about, there was often OOC channels for just that stuff where it was set up so it wouldn't directly confuse the IC material, but was still occurring at pretty much the same and often used for side chat. It might take a little getting used to, but plenty of people seemed to be able to. You do need to be comfortable doing realtime text exchanges, though).

 

[TwoSix]

Ah, I assumed you were talking in-character exchanges here.

I was. Most of them are also humorous.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I was. Most of them are also humorous.

I guess I'm kind of not getting it, then. After all, you see side comments in fiction all the time, I don't understand why it can't be done in chat.

 

[not-so-newguy]

I've tried to play online three different times, and it has been disappointing. Scheduling is a pain, but in-person is always better for me.

 

[TwoSix]

I guess I'm kind of not getting it, then. After all, you see side comments in fiction all the time, I don't understand why it can't be done in chat.

Humor is heavily dependent on timing. If you wait 10 seconds, a lot of times the moment has passed.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If I can get a game going in person, that's better.

But if I can't, online can be an excellent experience.

And honestly, with adult friends of all ages, scattered across the globe, an in-person game is a treat, not an expectation for me nowadays.

 

[GMMichael]

RPGs are inherently a conversation, and all conversations (from a chat with your BFF to a meeting with HR to an academic intellectual debate) are better in person . . .

Discursive RPGs are inherently a conversation. Computer RPGs, not so much. But yeah, discourse is better in person.

Caveat 3: In case it needs to be said, this post is my opinion and I understand that not everyone agrees and I am not belittling anyone's preferences.

Don't fret. Some a lot of people form their opinions from what others post online.

 

[Composer99]

I definitely enjoy both, though I would like to play more frequently in person.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Humor is heavily dependent on timing. If you wait 10 seconds, a lot of times the moment has passed.

I just didn't see it take ten seconds in the environment I was talking about, either. Like I said, it makes a big difference how used to chat based roleplaying you are to some extent.

(Its not a coincidence that both I and my wife are pretty fast typists.)