PAPER OR TABLET
Go to any gamer shop today and you can see people have all kinds of things they use to keep track of things. Some people keep characters on sheets that are paper or computer in one form or another. Me I like everyone to put that computer crap away. I understand it's easier to write up characters on sheets and hard labor on computer in a few seconds. BUT WAIT, please don't go that way. It's a tough gig to sit at a table with people that are engaged in tech and it's like trying to run a game while the tv is on.
When people just have paper and books and no tech I actually find people think more about what they are doing. THEY INTERACT. There is NO TEXTING in RPG that is live. Doesn't really matter what system. People can play faster with monsters on computer YES, but they can't get the interaction they get in a live over the table game. You don't get the group interaction that you need to have a good game if everyone is engaged in the game that you have come to play.
One of the things that never seems to be able to replace the mechanics of the game is DICE. You love your dice you hate your dice, but as people play with dice they get a feeling that they can control the outcome of the dice by willing it. This is a self delusion, ask any casino owner, it's a real emotion though ask any gambler.
If you roll dice in your hands there is something about the experience that changes the fun level.
When you play a game, it's a game that has rules that you can change the outcome by your being a better player. If you play a game that rules can be the outcome of players actions, then the rules of cowboys and indians(or tax collectors) come into play. Dice mitigate the need to say who hits and who is dead by how much, but also ad that degree of chance and the OOOOHHHH and AWWWWEE factor that you can't get at home. Also set piece games don't ask if you you are a good or bad person. RPG's do often(or at least they should).
When you play a game like Dungeons And Dragons...Well people that are there are heros! To stand in front and fight the good fight or at least get away with the treasure.
To me you can sit at home and play on computer but part of the special time you have with your freinds playing a game is the interaction and not computerized addition or subtraction.
What to do you think?
Go to any gamer shop today and you can see people have all kinds of things they use to keep track of things. Some people keep characters on sheets that are paper or computer in one form or another. Me I like everyone to put that computer crap away. I understand it's easier to write up characters on sheets and hard labor on computer in a few seconds. BUT WAIT, please don't go that way. It's a tough gig to sit at a table with people that are engaged in tech and it's like trying to run a game while the tv is on.
When people just have paper and books and no tech I actually find people think more about what they are doing. THEY INTERACT. There is NO TEXTING in RPG that is live. Doesn't really matter what system. People can play faster with monsters on computer YES, but they can't get the interaction they get in a live over the table game. You don't get the group interaction that you need to have a good game if everyone is engaged in the game that you have come to play.
One of the things that never seems to be able to replace the mechanics of the game is DICE. You love your dice you hate your dice, but as people play with dice they get a feeling that they can control the outcome of the dice by willing it. This is a self delusion, ask any casino owner, it's a real emotion though ask any gambler.
If you roll dice in your hands there is something about the experience that changes the fun level.
When you play a game, it's a game that has rules that you can change the outcome by your being a better player. If you play a game that rules can be the outcome of players actions, then the rules of cowboys and indians(or tax collectors) come into play. Dice mitigate the need to say who hits and who is dead by how much, but also ad that degree of chance and the OOOOHHHH and AWWWWEE factor that you can't get at home. Also set piece games don't ask if you you are a good or bad person. RPG's do often(or at least they should).
When you play a game like Dungeons And Dragons...Well people that are there are heros! To stand in front and fight the good fight or at least get away with the treasure.
To me you can sit at home and play on computer but part of the special time you have with your freinds playing a game is the interaction and not computerized addition or subtraction.
What to do you think?
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