Re: RPGs: Paper & Pencil vs. Keyboards

From: thomasSPAMGUARD@clark.net (Mark Thomas)

Date: Fri, 01 May 1998 00:00:00 +0000

In article <894017587.29930.1.nnrp-07.9e989556@news.demon.co.uk>, "Steve Pritchard" <steve@NOspelbindSpam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>CasbahCarl wrote in message
><1998042920423100.QAA09498@ladder01.news.aol.com>...
>>For those who have played both types, can you tell me your opinion of the
>>difference between pbem/pbm roleplaying games and those played f2f?

>Biggest difference? PBM isn't as free-flowing or instinctive as F2F
>gaming, but you adapt quickly. Of the two types, F2F gaming is more of an
>instant rush, more hilarity generally and easier to get to grips with for
>the extrovert while playing the game by mail gives you more time to think,
>presents a more structured gameplay and certainly tests your writing
>ability so much more.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I think a key to PBM RPGs is they require
at least a reasonable comfort level with writing. If the game is set up such
that players are seeing each others responses directly, messages full of
horrible grammar, typos and such can really spoil the sense of disbelief (at
least for me).

My experience is that you'll have to try out 3-4 RPGs before you find one
you're happy with (and one that lasts more than 2-3 turns ;)

Mark
-----
Mark Thomas thomasSPAMGUARD@clark.net http://www.clark.net/pub/thomas/home.html
Read about my PBEM game: http://www.clark.net/pub/thomas/eldritch.htm
You can't manage creativity. All you can do is give it a place to work.
Remove SPAMGUARD from address when replying.

References

RPGs: Paper & Pencil vs. Keyboards
casbahcarl@aol.com (CasbahCarl)
Wed, 29 Apr 1998 00:00:00 +0000
Re: RPGs: Paper & Pencil vs. Keyboards
"Steve Pritchard" <steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk>
Fri, 01 May 1998 00:00:00 +0000