Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2003 18:58:08	In some circles of the Pen and Paper RPG world, the online gamer is looked down upon. Viewing them as vastly poor roleplayer's and viewing the games as mostly hack-and-slash. I have a confession to make. I am now a purely online gamer. I used to have a "live" group, but when the DM goes to college almost 100 miles away that puts a hamper on things. Then our replacement DM robbed a store, threatened suicide and was thrown in the asylum. The group disbanded after that, and I have not seen most of them for a while. Then I was introduced to online gaming. I started playing a Dragon Ball Z MUD, and joining games on these boards. To me, the stigma and stereotype about online gaming is false. In my opinion, roleplaying is enhanced by the relative anonymity of the participants. No more roleplaying the courtship of a fair lady to a DM who is visibly male. Also, no matter what, there is no embarrassing roleplay mishap that alienates you from your friends due to a bad role-playing mishap on one of your off days. Of course, the live group has it's many advantages, mainly seeing the look on someone's face after they got totally owned by the BBEG, and no begging the people who brought food or drinks for some (no greater RP practice than that my friends...) Of course the positives of online gaming are great as well. 1: No annoying spectators. 2: The DM's younger brother who plays as well can't attack you. 3: Almost always a different group when you play. 4: Need to make sure the secret note to a DM or Player gets through undetected? PM or E-Mail them. So in closing, online gaming has most of the features of personal gaming and then some. Don't knock it until you trued it.
#2 hatzinger Aug 30, 2003 18:14:26	looks like you had one very bad experience with pen&paper rpgs. i have played online-rpgs for many years, starting when ultima online first came out and ending with asherons call II. i, personally, like the online-rpgs but miss the personal flavor. yes, i have met good friends in the online world; to the point that i regularly exchange beer bottles with one english guy, just to enlighten him with our own brews. and it is fun to be with him and the rest of the guys. but the big trouble i have - personally - with it is that online-gaming is just not personal enough for me. i like the chatting beside the play; i like to see the emotions on the faces of my fellow players; i like to encounter real persons instead of my screen; i like the social interaction with people. if i may be so harsh to give you an advice, i would tell you to look for another group with experienced players. pen-and-paper can be so much fun, and online-gaming is just a substitute for the real thing.