Pen and Paper RPG vs MMORPG

In case you didn't know; there is a new kid on the block: the MMORPG.

MMORPG are part of a very bizarre circle of life in the RPG world. Back in the beginning of gaming, there was war-gaming, usually re-enacting historic battles and it was good. Then someone someday wanted to re-enact a battle from a work of Tolkien(I assume. Sounds right to me anyway), and it was good. Then someone wanted to control a person, not a unit; much like a hero in Tolkien's works (I'll look for a citation later), and it was good. And thus was born RPGs.

But what happens when you can't get people around to game? You're jonesin' to roll some dice, murder orcs, and woo damsels, but no one around to help. Enter the BBS RPGs, the precursor to Everquest (which was the precursor to WoW). You could hunt monsters, interact with people (in a very limited fashion), and gather loot  all through a primitive text interface.

Time advances, as it does. The BBSes gave way to MOO, MUSHes, and MUDS. Then Final Fantasy 7 happened, and RPGs became mainstream enough to be profitable. Out of this came MMOs. (I don't need a citation. You know it to be true).

So what are the differences between the typical Pen and Paper RPG and an MMO? (Be it Champions, Everquest, WoW)

MMOs are great for a variety of reasons.

• There is always someone online to play. With tens of millions of users across all the games, across the world; you will always find someone online to play with.
• The rules and system are nicely encased within the product. Anything you can do is available right out of the box. You don't need to buy "splat books" to make things interesting.
• The complicated math and rolls are transparent to the user. You press a button and it happens. Either you miss or you hit. You heal X amount every time. Your damage is a tidy range from Y to Z, with no calculations on your part.
• They're cheap to play. While the monthly fee is a deterrent to many, one hardcover gaming book can range anywhere from 2 to 3 months of an average game. Nevermind if you buy minis, in singles or boosters, or if you try different systems.

So how do Pen and Paper games stack up? They take more effort to get everyone together. As adulthood encroaches, time becomes more and more precious. The books and accessories are expensive. When an edition changes you are either left behind or your books are obsoleted and you have to start over again.

I think the experience of Pen and Paper roleplaying is much deeper than can be found in an MMO. In an MMO, the quests are repetitive. Why does this one jack-ass need 5 million wolf pelts? And how can he pay so well for each one? As a singular individual, he will devastate the economy. In a Pen and Paper game, the story continues and will not be as repetitive (ideally each campaign is unique unto itself, but originality can be hard to come by).You have more freedom in Pen and Paper games. What if you want to steal from Wolf-Pelt-Man? Can't do that in an MMO, but you sure can shiv him in a Pen and Paper game.

Also, I think the interaction is more enjoyable. Face to face time with friends you know or have known for many years. There is something to be said for sitting with your friends around the table, drinking soda or beer (age depending) and having fun. I know that team speak servers can alleviate some of that; but having an excuse to sit around with my closest friends on Saturday is one of the biggest draws for me.