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Tabletop QOTD 2020-04-04


Tabletop QOTD Template

Borrowing from the idea of the Pluspora Check-in get some tabletop conversation going. If you have any questions that you want to get on the list to be asked, let me know. Also, if you'd like to be added or taken off the list of participants, let me know.

Does the experience of playing a game online lose anything compared to getting together in real life to play?

To me, there's no replacement for the casual interactions that happen during the course of the game. When you're waiting for another group to be GM'd when they're split off and you get together to talk about what you're going to do when its your turn. Or when it's not your turn in a boardgame and you're talking with another player.

Sure those can get annoying at times- especially when they aren't contributing to a game. But you never realize how much it is a part of the game until it is gone.


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in reply to Chuck Dee

The main problem I have playing online is how easily I get distracted. Also, face-to-face interaction is very important for me, I couldn't exactly pinpoint why, at the moment
in reply to Chuck Dee

In person is much better in almost every possible way, but sometimes online is the only option.
This entry was edited (4 years ago)
in reply to Chuck Dee

Definitely. I'm no psychologist but I would guess that different parts of the brain are activated and used when in an actual face to face social situation. Playing online the game part is pretty much the game but the event itself is much luss fulfilling.

Where possible I play in person. To this end I've never played an RPG online, only board games and other tabletop games and well video games multiplayer.

I'm sure someone has done some kind of research on the different brain state during a physical conversation and one over the phone and one through text.
This entry was edited (4 years ago)
in reply to Chuck Dee

I find that it is a much more social environment when playing in person. More table talk and more chatting before, after and in between games.
This entry was edited (4 years ago)