Weaknessess of Computer RPGs

[Bryan898]

I find combat much more interesting in many CRPGs also. In most games you have loads of abilities (even in Diablo) to make combat dynamic. While it's true that CRPGs can degenerate into a 'click-kill' fest, DnD can become a 'roll-kill' fest as well, but at least on a CRPG you can see it happen. In the games I rarely have to wait for my turn, and if I do its a short time (unlike DnD at times). Even in Morrowind I was constantly moving around to dodge attacks, take advantage of terrain, and get the few short seconds to hold a swing. I can't get that in DnD. Of course, that's why I play action games to get my action fix (Devil May Cry 3, Shinobi, etc).

DnD on the other hand has the advantage in being completely open and limitless. Anything can happen, what you do can actually affect everyone, and the story is driven by your actions. No CRPG will ever match DnD's ability to tell a story.

I'm going to chime in just to notice that IMO Planescape: Torment is every bit as good as BG2 for character interaction and then some.

Agreed, Planescape: Torment gets a lot less respect than it deserves. If you haven't played it Neverwinter Nights can be a fun game to play as well. Especially since playing online you can have a DM present.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Bear in mind that I don't like CRPGs at all.

D&D provides such a freedom of imagination that a computer can never match.

Also, you're in less danger of getting carpal tunnel syndrome from D&D.

 

[Mark CMG]

Well, when the whole world goes Skippy-Ska-blew-ey and Skyward, Skew and we don't have the Juice to run the Electro-Game-uh-muh-phonic Machines, we'll all be happy we have our books and dice, I dare say!

 

[ThirdWizard]

Some things you don't get with NWN (most advanced CRPG):

You can't go off the map until the next session
Divinations would be nigh impossible to handle
Illusions would be difficult to handle, or at least extremely limited
You should to be familiar with programming to be a good DM
No face to face interaction

Some things you do get with NWN:

The computer handles the calculations
More "focused" gameplay (example: you never discuss rulings)
PCs can split up without much problem
The DM can have the details automated

 

[Diremede]

The largest weakness of computer RPG's is the lack of spontaneous or improvised actions that can only be conveyed or reacted to by human intelligence. The computer can convey rules for combat perfectly and decide them quickly, but as far as the actual "role playing" experience, I have yet to see a computer game that gives me the same sensation as playing the game with real people, there is just no substitute, thats why the PnP game has continued to be popular.

As for improv the computer makes no allowances for improvised combat. Say I want to rush the table and turn it over distracting those sitting at it and suprising them, it aint gonna happen on a computer. What if I want to take a broken table leg and beat someone with it, or jump out of a window to escape the building, or perhaps set fire to the building. Computers can't do it, they don't allow it, its not in the programming especially since most RPG's are zone by zone games. You are also only given certain choices or paths to take when talking to people, just like the "choose your own adventure" books I used to read as a little kid.

Don't get me wrong I do play some RPG computer games, but most of them I get with high expectations and I'm often let down. Games that I think actually touch on roleplaying have to be the early online RPG's like Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot, but those games have really changed from a role playing experience to the typical what are all the cheats, exploits, tricks, blah blah blah grind and gather the most powerful items wins the game type of games, and the role playing element that should be there is hidden or non existant, but thats what power gaming PC and console players do, they have to "beat" the game and find a way to be "winning", where as PnP games don't really have a win or lose type of theme, but more a cause and effect type of player to game world reaction. Also in computer RPG's most of the game worlds don't change based on events that happen in the game world, at least not on the online level. I wonder how many times a party has taken over gnomeregan in world of warcraft only to find when they leave that they had no impact on the place?

 

[John Morrow]

What aspects of D&D can't be (or aren't) in computer-based RPGs???

The most important is complex social interaction between the PCs and a bottomless pool of NPCs. Less important is that fact that so long as you have a good GM, you can never hit the boundaries of what's been programmed for.

In what areas do computer-based RPGs beat D&D???

Speed of combat resolution. Pretty graphics.

 

[Crothian]

Table top games can be easily played when the elctricity goes out.......

 

[argo]

The best thing about CRPG's is the production values. Beautiful graphics, an appropriate soundtrack, distinct voices for NPC's, a visual representation for every detail. Furthermore the ability of the designer to control the plot and pacing means that, IME, a good CRPG provides a better dramatic (story-telling) medium than a good DM (but the best DM's trump the best CRPG's).

The best thing about table-top gaming is your friends. The second best thing is the ability of the human DM to improvise responses and invent (theoretically) limitless situations.

I like both.

 

[argo]

I have never seen anyone, anytime, anywhere ever get emotionally involved in a CRPG outside of "damn, I just got killed." I have never seen real emotion, real intensity from anyone regarding the events of a CRPG.

Oh my, no no no. I can attest to the fact that I have been "emotionally involved" in more than a few CRPG's (talking single player games here, not massive). I could provide examples but that would get quite lengthy.

The key is you have to be willing to meet the game half way, to put a little effort into becomming emotionally involved, to leave yourself open to the posibility. But the same thing is also true of books, movies and yes even table top gamming. You and I both know that there are many table top gamers who react like "oh, so Bob the Swordsman is dead? Ok, let me introduce my new character: Grog the Swordsman". No sane person becomes emotionally involved in a fictional world without first voluntarily suspending their disbelief.

Later.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Oh my, no no no. I can attest to the fact that I have been "emotionally involved" in more than a few CRPG's (talking single player games here, not massive). I could provide examples but that would get quite lengthy.

Aeris. I know people that cried.