Purists vs. Hardcore
I remember back in the old days when me and my old group of tabletop-RPG friends would debate about whether or not MMORPGs are complimentary to traditional pen-and-paper. Most pen-and-paper hobbyists would classify themselves as ”purists” of the gaming revolution and would look at MMORPGs as something vile.
Our debates back then would focus on topics such as how immersive MMORPGs can be, how dull and boring they are (since they are “linear” in a way). Some of my friends would argue that MMORPGs are the onset of technology. It is perfectly natural for gaming to adhere to the rapid gains in technology and the internet.
This debate still lingers on forums and some blogs, let’s try to list down a few of the finer points.
COMPLIMENT OR A NUISANCE
The purists are simply that – purists. They will look at MMORPGs as a barrier to the fun that they get from traditional pen-and-paper. They would argue that MMORPGs can barely scratch the surface of what traditional role-playing can give, i.e. depth of character, unlimited choices, non-linear game play. True, but a single combat in the old “dice and character sheets” type of gaming can last for up to 4 hours! It’s true, I am witness to that during the time I was Game Master (GM) for all the games that me and my friends would play. I remember an encounter that took us 5 hours to complete. Now, what would happen to that same 5 hours in an MMORPG? A lot.
So, let’s list down some points for and against the 2 schools of thought
Pen and Paper
PROS
- Limited only by your imagination
- Non-linear game play
- Play it at your own pace
- Epic adventures, doesn’t need a damn video card
- No internet connection required
CONS
- Setup is a bitch. Character creation can take hours or even days
- Pace is slow. See my notes on encounters above
- If a guy involved in a major plot twist is absent, you’re screwed!
- Difficult to get all your friends on a Saturday night.
- Complex. You need to do a LOT of reading
- Can be quite expensive. You have to buy all those rulebooks
MMORPGs
PROS
- Easy to pick up and learn
- All you need is a PC and broadband
- Free to play (for most)
- You play at your own pace
- Lots of resources on the web
- You can move on
- Not dependent on a group being all present on Friday or Saturday night
CONS
- Linear. Sometimes, all MMORPGs look the same
- The grind! Oh hell!
- Time committment. You spend more time here dude. Is that your girlfriend calling?
- You might need a better PC, faster vid card or a faster connection
- Greed. The motivating factor
- Security. Don’t let yourself be hacked
- Cheats. ‘Nuff said. Those suck
When we were in college, we used to game… a LOT! But when this new thing called “Life” (work, wives, responsibilities) knocked on my door, pen-and-paper became less and less. Now, it’s a burden to get at least 4 guys free on a Friday for an old-school dungeon romp! But I sure miss the good old days.
In closing, for me, MMORPGs do not compete against the old-school games. That’s why D&D 4th Ed has refined some of the rules and even learned from games such as World of Warcraft. Games will be games. And the most fun you can have from them is when it’s interactive or online. Friends are the X-factor in any game.
At the end of the day, it’s the stories that you tell yourselves when you look back at all your gaming. That’s what’s important and that’s what counts a lot.
Thoughts?
Sound off by commenting below.
GM T
**The opinions and viewpoints published in this article are not necessarily those of Level Up! Inc, its games and its licensed products or services.
