Comparing Two Popular Pencil and Paper RPGs

In the age of ever-advancing technology and computers that feature games with graphics to rival that of major motion picture productions, the once popular art of playing traditional, pencil and paper role playing games has become all but forgotten. While college students once crammed study halls and covered their tables with any number of hardbound books filled with rules, guidelines and game instructions, they now come equipped with laptop computers and Ethernet cables in order to participate in a LAN party.

But for some, the tradition of gathering around a table with your friends for hours continues to this day, and pencil and paper role playing games have unlimited replay value. Two of the most popular role playing games of this type was Dungeons and Dragons, produced by Wizards of the Coast, and Vampire: The Masquerade, which was developed by the creative minds at White Wolf. And these two games are still played and enjoyed very much so by nostalgic role players all around the world.

Let's take a minute and compare these two games, though. While they are alike in the fact they are both role playing games, which require the use of dice (not only normal six-sided dice, but four-sided, eight-sided, ten-sided, twelve-sided, twenty-sided, and more) and large books which contain rule sets and guidelines for everything from character creation, storytelling and engaging in role playing combat, the similarities end there.

Dungeons and Dragons has more of a focus on combat, and possessions that are owned by your in-game character. Every person's character ultimately seeks one thing - wealth. Often times in a game of Dungeons and Dragons the character who has the most gold is the strongest character in the game; and sometimes nearly invincible.

Vampire: The Masquerade, on the other hand, deals more with the actual character that you create and play inside the game world. In addition, Vampire also deals more with emotion, and interaction between your character and the people that are met inside the game world. Your character may have no in-game wealth or possessions; but he can still grow just as strong as anybody else in the game.

In the end, I personally don't think either game is really better than the other. I play them both; I have for years, and will continue to play them well into the future. Deciding on one role playing game or the other really comes down to the preference of the gaming group. If they are interested in acquiring massive amounts of wealth and fancy items, Dungeons and Dragons may be more to their liking. However, if it is an in depth, emotional, semi-realistic feeling that you want to achieve with your role playing game, you should consider Vampire: The Masquerade.