CRPGs vs. Table top RPGs

 

Something has come up.  And that is my feeling on table top RPGs and computer RPGs.  Obliviously, there has been some good ones on both sides.  For me, it's the Elder Scrolls series and the Dungeons and Dragons game.  I play both, although I have been playing table top more as of late.  And I'm still looking forward to the Elders Scrolls 6 game from Bethesda Studios.  So, the question is, which is superior to the other?

 Actually, the table top experience is actually superior to the computer RPG experience. At least, until Wizards of the Coast decided that their audience is toxic and they decided to expand their player base.  They show this with bad writing, bad illustrations, and bad editing.  So, lets talk about computer RPGs first, obviously they have the upper hand, correct?

 Computer Roleplaying Games

 Actually, I should be showing Starfield up there.  However, I don't play Starfield, I'm looking forward to playing Elder Scrolls 6.  Obviously, computer gaming has advanced since the first four Ultima games.  You've got first person view along with beautiful landscapes and modularity.  You can mod Skyrim, and many people have. I also modded Skyrim. I added new things to my Skyrim that I liked.  Skyrim, being a first person CRPG, has revolutionized leveling.  You choose your skills as you go up and you also customize your character to how you like.

With me so far?  Good.  The Elder Scrolls series is one of the best series for computer gaming.   They have four things going for them:

* Their Creation2 Engine.

 * Modified games.

* Exemplary graphics.

 * (Usually) good stories.

Skyrim is great to play and is a good diversion.  And while I can modify my game, no one Skyrim is the same (modually) as another Skyrim. However, the game gets old and it's tiring to play the same game after a few years.  So you hope that the next BethSoft game will be as good or better than the last. 

Tabletop Roleplaying Games

 So we come to tabletop RPGs.  So to me I get more satisfaction from running a tabletop roleplaying game than playing one on computer.  Sure you get amazing graphics (thank INVIDIA for that) from a computer RPG.  And sure you see amazing spells as flashy.  I mean look at your computer screen.  The difference is, with a tabletop game, I'm telling my own story.  And my players interact with that story. 

I'm currently running a Shadowrun 4th edition game and playing in a Rolemaster game.  Sure, I'm doing it over roll20, but very few people in my area have time to play face to face.  Although a face to face game is ideal, roll20 is a backup. 

So, what is the problem with Wizards of the Coast?  Well, they lie to their customers.  They treat their customers as toxic.  They consistently pay for bad illustrations, and they blame us for their shortcomings.  Still, I think that Dungeons and Dragons 3rd Edition is the best version to play.  Although other people may think that older or newer editions are the best to play from.  However, D&D 3e allows for greater player customization.  This way, my players can make different fighters, different Wizards, and different clerics.  All this based on their feat selections.  It's a win-win situation.

So, are CRPGs better than tabletop RPGs?  It's mostly how you play both games.