Escapist Readers take on table top in a digital age.

[goffers [deprecated]]

Does anyone else have Spidey Senses for finding PnP RPers? Just chatting to someone I can often times get the sense that they may throw down the D20 now and again. And don't say its my sense of smell, because while that would be funny, I do think there is something else to it.

And I have to say, CRPGs can be fun, so can MMOs, but nothing touches the true PnP experience with good players and a great story (supercharged with Coke and stuffed with cheap pizza). And you know what maybe its kind of cooler that there aren't that many of us. We're kind of like some secret cabal. Some secret, super dorky cabal.

 

[Joe]

I've run into a few people at the usual places, but I tend to hide the tabletop geek in me pretty deep when I'm out in the wild. A buddy of mine, however, can skillfully extract someone's gaming habits from a mile away. We've made a few good friends that way. I'm beginning to wonder if there's a secret signal I've never picked up on.

*massages nose*

 

[svallee]

I have to respectfully disagree that Magic and roleplaying are two completely different worlds.

My turn again to respectfully disagree: the two games only share one single element, the theme. Past the theme there's no similitude at all. But then it will still compete on the same demography, because the "fantasy medieval" theme is appealing to that specific group of people. It's like reading superheros comics, and playing City of Villains. Both activities will have a public with strong cross-over, thanks to their similar themes. But then it's two completelly different entities.

 

[Lt_Storm [deprecated]]

I have to disagree slightly: While both Magic and role-playing are not identical, there are parts of them that are very similar. I refer specifically to battles. Generally, in PnP RPGs, a battle is simulated using something that is highly mathematical and random. This portion of the RPG could easily be replaced with a game of cards. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the people who played PnP RPGs primarily for the battle portion of the game may have switched over to games like Magic.

 

[Virgil]

Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the people who played PnP RPGs primarily for the battle portion of the game may have switched over to games like Magic.

You could also draw a parallel between developing a PnP character with the acquisition of cards and construction of a deck. Sure, you have to discount the 'story and roleplay' aspect of it first, but pulling the perfect card out of a booster pack is just as exciting as hitting level X and learning a new skill, or finding the Head of Vecna.

Like Alex said, at that point the distinction becomes one of playing in-character, and if the greatest amount of joy for a player comes in building their character and taking part in combat, plus playing with friends, Magic is like the distilled version. If the players have a competitive streak in them, it's even more compelling.

Personally speaking, I'm one of these players - I like a good PnP game, but I'm much more entertained by mechanics and friends than roleplay and am equally as entertained by board games or card games. This is why, when I play, Alex always makes my characters "me", and has me blowing things up all the time.