[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> One thing that is going to help drive sales of 3E products is the myriad of new
> 3E computer rpgs coming out. I expect to see a lot of sales to people trying to
> get more insight for Icewind Dale, Pool of Radiance II, NeverWinter Nights,
> etc...
>
I disagree. I think that computer RPGs are either neutral or hamrful to
P&P games, at least from the perspective of bringing in new players.
Anyone used to the simplicity and spoon-feeding of a computer game will
be bored and/or frustrated at a P&P game -- having to calculate AC and
to-hit rolls, keep track of equipment manually, etc. Further, having
been conditioned by CRPGs to be only able to pick from a limited set of
options at any juncture, they will be unlikely to understand that in a
true RPG, you can attempt ANY action, and let the GM rule on whether or
not you succeed. They are also used to simply 'seeing' what is there,
and do not know how to ask for details beyond the initial description of
an area or how to 'improvise' a setting into existence in cooperation
with the GM. (For example, a GM might simply say, "You enter a small
inn". The player will then say, "I sit down at the bar and ask the
bartender to give me a beer, and then look around at the crowd." Note
the player was never explicitly told there was a chair, a bartender, or
a crowd -- he simply filled in the details mentally. Computer gamers,
used to detailed graphics, are unlikely to make this leap.)
Lastly, if they come from online games like Ultima Online, they'll think
the point is to kill the other players, since monsters are "dull".
They'll make the Black Hands look like the best of friends.
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