My Humble Opinion.
Single Player RPG(I.e. FF Series,Chrono Trigger, Fallout 1,2,3, yes, MGS, etc): Are Great. Sometimes you want to play through a story. You are the hero. You are that one
person that can save everything. Even when you control multiple people, it is you in control. You move forward because, like any book, you want to know what happens next.
The minus is, much like any good thing, it must come to an end.
PnP(I.e. DnD, Adnd, Shadowrun, Rifts, , etc): Once again, great. You and your
friends are the story. Even if your "characters" hate each other, each of you has
to figure out a way to work together long enough too reach your goal. Well, sometimes
you end up in a game where you are pitted against some of the other players(Please
tell me I am not the only one that had a DM/GM do this too) but in the end, you are
the story. Sometimes, you could even be the story, when you and the rest of the
people playing, were not the heroes(Can not remember the name of the book but
FASA put out a module detailing runs where you played as the background characters)
The minus is you have to buy the books, and find people to play with you.
MMO(I.e. WoW, Warhammer, Everquest, Star Wars Galaxies, Ultima Online, etc): This
is where I get very bitter. I started with Ultima Online. I had no intentions of being
that heroic adventurer. I was happy being a Blacksmith. I spent so many days mining,
building up my craft so people would trust me to repair their equipment. Sometimes,
even making something that they would use in combat. Sometimes, in UO, and SWG, people
would come back to me after killing something, and tell me, "You know if it wasn't
for that "Insert item name here" you made, we would all have been dead.
On the flip side. You could be the hero, along with the rest of heros. Much
like PnP. You had to go out and slay the big evil bad guy, then you return, show off
what you did, and thanked the people that made it possible.
Honestly, that is where i think MMORpg lost track, and became MMO. Sure your
playing with alot of people. Sure there is some satisfaction in doing the new
raid boss. But that is all it is now. Better PvE gear, better PvP gear. I know
I am biased because I actually liked being a crafter that could make things people
would actually use for more then ten minutes, but that's my opinion.
MMORpg's had such great potential , and it has been lost.
k, now that the rant is over. my vote goes with PnP. That way you can honestly do
what you want. That and screwing the DM/GM over is always a bonus.