Save My Game - Goes off like a bomb!

[molonel]

Then why are you still dragging this out?

Because I decided I didn't feel like letting you win the typing stamina contest.

That's all you were doing, right? Vying fruitlessly for the last word?

 

[Ourph]

Because I decided I didn't feel like letting you win the typing stamina contest.

That's all you were doing, right? Vying fruitlessly for the last word?

No. But I'm not the one claiming to be bored either.

I'm trying to understand why you seem to take such issue with my change of opinion.

 

[molonel]

I'm trying to understand why you seem to take such issue with my change of opinion.

So you are HONESTLY telling me that these statements represent your opinion, now?

"Computers are better than people at every last freakin' thing on the planet."

"Computers are better than people in every single way. This thread has completely convinced me of that. Humans suck. Computers rule. Bring on the Matrix!"

And you can't possibly understand how someone would look at that, and smell rather rank defeatist sarcasm?

 

[Ourph]

And you can't possibly understand how someone would look at that, and smell rather rank defeatist sarcasm?

I can understand it just fine. What I'm wondering is why you care.

 

[molonel]

I can understand it just fine. What I'm wondering is why you care.

Because I wish I knew how to quit you, Ourph.

[/Brokeback Gamers]

 

[Seeten]

Knights of the Old Republic had more roleplaying, and more meaningful choices than any tabletop game I've ever played in, over my 29 years of rping.

Maybe its sad, or maybe KOTOR simply was really that good.

Morrowind, and Oblivion, had more things to DO than any campaign world allowed options to do.

No CRPG ever said to me, "Sorry, I wasnt prepared for that, we'll have to stop here and start up again next week, I'll have to prepare a new adventure." Last dungeon I was in with a DM, one of the available options was not, "Leave the dungeon now, and go explore other stuff." Finishing the dungeon was plot central, so I wasnt allowed to leave. In a CRPG, I can leave dungeons any time I want.

WoW has lots of shortcomings when referencing roleplaying, even though I play it, and love it, it isnt for its "roleplaying" nature. In fact, I'd chuck the roleplaying moniker right off it, there is no meaningful rp in the game itself whatsoever. Some RP servers have rp communities, but thats "play pretend" not real rp either.

Morrowind and Oblivion and KOTOR dont have these shortcomings. The days of the Gold Box railroads are long since over, though, so I think the video game as linear narrative discussions need to stop asap. They contribute nothing, and obfuscate the real topic.

 

[pemerton]

I don't play computer or video RPGs, only tabletop ones. But the comparisons being made are interesting.

I don't think it's a very significant defence of tabletop against CRPG that, in tabletop, it may be possible to engage in non-plot-related banter with NPCs, because for most people this is not what roleplaying is. Roleplaying is about making meaningful decisions for one's character, and inane chat with NPCs is not part of that.

An example of an event from my own game, which I think is something that is less likely to occur in a CPRG, is the following:

A confluence of circumstances led to our warrior mage learning spells from the weather mage pilot of the ship the party were soon to embark on. As it happened, this woman was in fact a dragon in human form. Some members of the party knew this (namely, the two who were a fox spirit and a tree spirit in human form) but the warrior mage did not.

Instead of just learning his spells and letting the NPC dissapear into the background, however, the warrior mage decided to court her - taking her to the theatre on two evenings before the vessel departed, then discussing matters both magical and literary with her during the journey, and finally trying to rescue her from the Sea Dragon who attacked the boat in order to insist that she return to her family. (It was also about this time that he realised her draconic nature.)

Although that initial rescue attempt was unsuccessful, the in-game relationship between the two has continued ever since (although the party has gained about 17 levels in the meantime) and has played a significant role in the character's (and the whole party's) relationship to the Sea Lords, Storm Lords and the heavenly bureaucracy more generally.​

These sorts of character-driven, non-tactical, political and social aspects of play are very easily handled in a tabletop game, but (as far as I know) are not well handled by a CRPG. It is because I enjoy RPGing where these sorts of elements are to the fore that I continue to enjoy tabletop gaming.

 

[Ourph]

The days of the Gold Box railroads are long since over, though, so I think the video game as linear narrative discussions need to stop asap. They contribute nothing, and obfuscate the real topic.

As far as I know, linear narrative console games like Baldur's Gate, Resident Evil, and Halo are still being made, sold and played by millions of people, many of whom also play pen-n-paper RPGs. Why would they be irrelevant to the discussion?

 

[takyris]

As far as I know, linear narrative console games like Baldur's Gate, Resident Evil, and Halo are still being made, sold and played by millions of people, many of whom also play pen-n-paper RPGs. Why would they be irrelevant to the discussion?

Because Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance isn't trying to do anything but put you on the rails, just like your average dungeon-romp pick-up game at a con isn't trying to do anything beyond let a bunch of strangers whack monsters for fun. Debating the shortcomings and limitations of games that try to advertise themselves as nonlinear open-exploration experiences is valid and relevant. These aren't.

Most people who play pen & paper RPGs also use toilet paper. By your logic, we should be discussing that, too.

Me? Quilted, all the way.

 

[Ourph]

Because Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance isn't trying to do anything but put you on the rails, just like your average dungeon-romp pick-up game at a con isn't trying to do anything beyond let a bunch of strangers whack monsters for fun. Debating the shortcomings and limitations of games that try to advertise themselves as nonlinear open-exploration experiences is valid and relevant. These aren't.

Who says it has to be about debating the absolute limitations of a certain media? If linear games like Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance inform someone's experience of PnP RPGs why shouldn't they be a legitimate part of the discussion?