Month: November 2022

With the huge success of games like World of Warcraft and EverQuest, many people now think of computer games when they hear the term “role-playing game” (RPG). What some people-especially younger gamers-don’t realize is that RPGs have been around for over 30 years and don’t necessarily require a top-of-the-line console or computer system to play. While the two forms of gaming are similar in many respects, tabletop games allow a much wider range of possibilities than their computerized counterparts.

On the surface, tabletop RPGs look a lot like computer RPGs (CRPGs), and with good reason-many of the most popular computer games are based on Dungeons amp; Dragons, the first and most widely played tabletop RPG. Like computer gamers, tabletop role-players create characters (game alter-egos) who adventure through an imaginary world. One player, the Game Master (GM), is in charge of creating the world, taking on the roles of characters not controlled by players, and resolving actions and events using the game’s rules system. In short, the GM performs all the functions of the software in a CRPG.

While a computer can often handle the basic game rules much faster than a human GM, player actions in CRPGs are limited to those coded into the software. For example, a character may be able to sneak past, attack, or even fast talk a pair of guards, but other options are simply not available. A human GM, on the other hand, can adapt the rules system to handle anything the players can dream up. If a player in a tabletop game wants to try to frighten those guards away by orchestrating a Scooby-Doo-style “haunting,” the human GM merely needs to decide how to apply the game rules to this situation.

A human GM can also create and modify the story lines of a game to fit character backgrounds, personalities, and motivations. This type of individual customization provides more opportunities for collaborative storytelling and character development. Even though instant messaging and voice software allows computer gamers to conduct “in character” conversations, such role-playing is somewhat pointless, since the software is unable to react to the information revealed through character interaction. Because the plot remains the same regardless of the characters involved, the players are unlikely to feel that they have a personal stake in the outcome of the story.

In addition to allowing for more player actions and more customized stories, tabletop RPGs allow players more choice in game genre and tone. “Generic” or “adaptable” rules systems, such as GURPS and QAGS, allow players to create characters and stories for any type of game world that they want to explore. Unless they have programming skills and lots of free time, computer gamers are limited to the games available on the market, which tend to be restricted to a few popular genres for marketing reasons.

Ultimately, the superiority of tabletop RPGs lies in their ability to allow the players to engage in collaborative storytelling. CRPGs can mimic the most basic elements of traditional role-playing, but the characters are ultimately just pawns in a story created by the game’s designers. With tabletop games, players can let their imaginations run wild and take an active role in story, which is much more satisfying.

Forget the slow, almost turn based point and click fighting in most Massively Multi Player Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) of yesterday. Check out Vindictus, from Korean game producer Nexon, with its next-generation action packed swordplay and fantasy fighting system. No more static battles where you just stand next to an enemy NPC and trade blows. Instead, Vindictus offers fast-paced, intensely energetic gameplay with an array of destructible environments, for free! It looks to be one of the most hotly anticipated MMORPGs of the year!

Mabinogi Heroes was the original name of the game, but it has been changed to the more mysterious sounding, Vindictus. The original Mabinogi game, also by game powerhouse, Nexxon, had a very cartoony, cell-shaded anime look to its graphics. Vindcitus looks completely different, and I wonder if the reason they changed the name was to distance it from the earlier, more kid friendly MMORPG. All speculation aside, it is obvious from the gameplay videos, trailers, and screenshots that Vindictus is no kids game and has gone to an ultra hardcore style of gameplay and graphics.

Players can choose from 5 main characters to play as, in a departure from traditional MMORPGs where players usually choose a “class”, not a “character.” These characters are Kai (male archer), Fiona (female warrior), Evie (female magician), Lann (male warrior), and Karok (giant warrior). All characters have different abilities and skills, making them invaluable on the different levels and zones.

Gameplay is hardcore combat, fast and brutal. The game uses the awesome Source engine from Valve and environments have a lot of physics-based obstacles and destructible items and zones. It appears that players can even pick up different items (trees, gravestones, rocks, barrels) and wield them or throw them at the enemy. Bridges can be chopped down, walls destroyed, traps sprung and so on, in this intense, action-rpg game. I was really impressed with the early gameplay videos for Vindictus and hope the game continues in the same action genre. There aren’t many MMORPGs that use the intense action that Vindictus uses, so it is nice to see this change in the taste from Nexon.

Vindictus is currently available in Asia, and in North America. It is not yet released for Oceania or Europe, playing from an IP address from those regions will not work. You can download the North American client for Vindictus at its website, hosted by Nexon. The game is free to download and free to play, although you can pay money to purchase different item upgrades, costumes and more in the item shop (microtransactions basically pays for this game).