D&D 4E What D&D 4e Should Learn From World of Warcraft

[Khairn]

This is true. DnD's types of gameplay are much more limited than WoW's.

Long time MMORPG player here (UO, EQ, WOW, SB, L2, EQ2 etc etc) and I really don't understand this last statement. In table top RPG the setting, the NPC's, our adventures and every aspect of my gameplay, including changing the rules we don't like, is only limited by the imagination of myself and my players. In every MMORPG, all interaction with the gameworld is completely and totaly scripted prior to me ever seeing it for the first time.

How the heck is a table top RPG's gameplay more limited than WoW's?

 

[Doug McCrae]

How the heck is a table top RPG's gameplay more limited than WoW's?

As Corinth said,

D&D:
Group PVE

WoW:
Solo PVE
Group PVE
Solo PVP
Group PVP

WoW has four times the variety of gameplay.

 

[Clavis]

I don't agree with this, at least not the solo parts of WoW.

Solo in WoW, I can go anywhere I want, take on any quest I want, even ones that are too hard for me if I choose.

In DnD I have to do what the other players want. If I want to investigate a smuggling ring and all the other players want to raid a drow outpost then I'm s--t outta luck.

Depends on your DM. I would let you investigate the smuggling ring, and ask the other players to take the roles of the smugglers! In the same way, I would ask you play the part of one of the important NPCs in the Drow outpost. I frequently ask players to take the roles of inn patrons, people on the street, kobold raiders, shopkeepers, etc. Characters going solo is no problem for our group's play style at all, and it happens fairly regularly. Players often get to play monsters and fight their fellow players!

Of course, I give a flat XP award per session played, whatever the PCs do. This way, even if you as a player are playing the part of a dragon in tonight's session, your regular character (who may be off squandering his money in a brothel) is not being penalized as far as advancement goes.

 

[The Little Raven]

I would let you investigate the smuggling ring, and ask the other players to take the roles of the smugglers!

Well, while this is a noble effort on your part, most players don't want to put aside the character they chose to play in order to portray an NPC for the DM just because one person wants to go against the grain and do something different.

 

[apoptosis]

As Corinth said,

D&D:
Group PVE

WoW:
Solo PVE
Group PVE
Solo PVP
Group PVP

WoW has four times the variety of gameplay.

I am pretty sure you can do all of those with D&D.

 

[apoptosis]

Well, while this is a noble effort on your part, most players don't want to put aside the character they chose to play in order to portray an NPC for the DM just because one person wants to go against the grain and do something different.

Our group actually really enjoys playing the parts of NPCs, it allows them to have more freedom as they are less worried about the end result to their character.

 

[Clavis]

Well, while this is a noble effort on your part, most players don't want to put aside the character they chose to play in order to portray an NPC for the DM just because one person wants to go against the grain and do something different.

I know it doesn't work with every group's playstyle. I happen to have players who don't consider playing NPCs something they have do for the DM, but rather something cool that they get to do on occasion. It's an example, however, of how D&D can replicate every style of play offered by WoW.

 

[The Little Raven]

It's an example, however, of how D&D can replicate every style of play offered by WoW.

If you believe that playing D&D by yourself (as in you are the DM for the only player: yourself) is a valid playstyle, then it does. If you don't believe that playstyle is valid, and D&D requires at least two people, then it doesn't offer the same variety of gameplay styles.

 

[Raloc]

This is true. DnD's types of gameplay are much more limited than WoW's.

I LOL'ed. The WoW fans in this thread are asserting some pretty ridiculous stuff. No offense intended, but the WoW-apologists in this thread are basically saying that WoW has more options/gameplay than D&D which is like saying that war (the card game) has more options/strategy than chess. Absolutely absurd, to anyone that's not already hugely biased.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

I LOL'ed. The WoW fans in this thread are asserting some pretty ridiculous stuff. No offense intended, but the WoW-apologists in this thread are basically saying that WoW has more options/gameplay than D&D which is like saying that war (the card game) has more options/strategy than chess. Absolutely absurd, to anyone that's not already hugely biased.

Perhaps tabletop players should descend from their pedestral and realise that things are not always as they see,ed....