The Point - Tabletop vs. Gaming

well i think i speak for everyone when i say local multiplayer (co-op or competitive) > online, even with your friends and voice chat.

that said, me and my friends have recently been getting back into the tabletop scene. we used to play pen and paper RPGs but kinda stopped. now we meet almost every week and, between pizza, beer and videogames, we grab a tabletop game like catan or battlestar galactica (think turn based, tabletop FTL) and play it for hours.

Tabletop games are an incredible experience when you can get them set up. Most of my favorite gaming memories come from the long evenings friends and I spent over games of D&D, Munchkin, Catan, and far more board games than I can count.

The issue, though, is getting them started in the first place. Setting time aside for an evening of face-to-face gaming has become almost impossible for me and my friends, especially since we've all taken on increasingly busier lives. Sure, an hour of gaming on the PC before bed lacks the immersion of a night of dice-rolling, but it's FAR more accessible for those whose free time is sporadic. It's a shame, too; had it not become so impractical, I would have loved to continue playing tabletop games.

If it were not for shows like this, I would have left GS a long time ago...

Nice one!

Playing different tabletops at least two times a week. I enjoy that more than I could ever with online games. I love playing Descent: Journeys in the Dark (or whatever it's called in english) and The Dark Eye (German version of D&D).

Well I don't use twitter, so I'll just tell you here I guess; Go screw yourself! :D But in all seriousness, great job, Johnny, always love your content.

I played D&D back before most of you were a twinkle in the milk man's eye. But no longer. Haven't touched a 'table top' game in, well, since most of you were a twinkle in the milkman's eye...

What table top games would you kids recommend these days? Some of those in the video looked like they were board games with pieces and action figures!

HeroQuest was my first love, and even now me and the wife play it from time to time.

But I don't do Twitter. Can't I just tell you to screw yourself on here? ;)

not this guy again!

I don't wanna watch your shows man.

You're rude!

As a follow on to what game developers are forgetting is; The multiplayer these days is brilliant, online features helping us connect with whoever at any point but this is taking away from the old school multiplayer of split screen, of being in the same place as your mates. This was seriously more fun then modern multiplayer. I hope developers will push to do this in future as well or with online gaming. Having online is amazing, I love being able to play whatever game I like with my mates whenever but it I have never come across a game as good as sitting around playing 4 player mario kart or golden-eye etc

I've never really got into tabletop gaming. A buddy of mine tried to get me into Warhammer 40K, then I was like I have to paint something #$^% that! But I guess I could have given it a try except i'm married with a family now so the only tabletop games I play are made by Hasbro... sigh.

Oh by the way nice job filling in Johnny!

@AggrandizedUser you are the reason Johnny made this video. It's that mindset that will stop the progression of video games to become better and create a world full of call of duties and zombie survival games.

i was scared when i saw your face on the video for this episode but you did great, Johnny! I have loved tabletop gaming for about a year now and i understand your frustration. There is no imagination in a world that is scripted. Sitting around with the imaginations of your friends and yourself clashing and getting the chance to actually BE and CREATE your character is retardedly more fun than controlling a character made by someone else and limited to actions based on the limitations of the technology.

I have never played a Tabletop game. You used to only hear about Dungeons and Dragons in the news when someone got knifed during a match because they took the game to seriously and got into a heated argument that ended badly. So in videogames people miss the couch co-op with friendly chatter with your friends. This has given way to On-line Multiplayer that is less personal and fun. So tabletop type of games are fun since people are in the same room enjoying the game. Fair enough

If you want to sit around chatting with people for hours, couldn't you just do that without the board game? Or if you wanted to play a video game, there's always local play?

Not saying board games are bad, but there are many other things you could do to get the same social experience. Why not make the next show about going to the pub?

Rifts, brother. :)

Nice show.. Good choice by Johnny... now I really want to try Tabletop games... but I have one small problem... need "real" friends. :(

I was prepared to say something like "Good job, Johnny, but not as good as Danny usualy does". And then you rolled out the one video on GS in which I'm ready to sign up for every word. Got through 5 years of D&D, love tabletop games as genre. So yes, yes, you are absolutely right about everything you said in this vid. Damn you, Johnny!

I still play Cards Against Humanity now and then when one of my friends brings the game with him at Anime meets or for a house party. When I first started playing it back in August myself and a few of my friends ended up playing the game for over 8 hours straight

If I wanted to "interact with people", why on Earth would I be a gamer?! I suppose I interact with people in the pub - well, I say "people", I mean "bar staff"...

Joking aside, I used to play Talisman back when I were a young 'un. Not the same thing, I know, but that's a different world now - the "real world", as I've heard it called.

Very interesting aright Johnny. A very fair point that actually meeting people, communicating with them (even if you are trying to sound like a Mexican) and just being in the "real" world would certainly appeal to most people! I wonder how the masses will react? Sadly I doubt in a good way :( However if you bring your tabletop gaming on tour certainly Dublin would be a great place? (We enjoy drinking, Danny will vouch for us).

it could be a new show? Johnny's Tabletop Tour?

ever try chainsaw warrior for the iOS and Steam (i think there's a version for Android as well). i think that's as close as video games have gotten to tabletop gaming since the game is based off of a tabletop game.

Literally played Settlers for the first time yesterday, hadn't even heard of it before that. Also surprised when you mentioned Carcassonne which I've played a couple times. Had no idea either of them were popular games, but both surprised me how quickly I got into them.

@AggrandizedUser He wasn't saying that tabletop games are inherently better, just certain aspects of them, and I agree with him. Some of the best and most memorable times I've had were playing D&D with my friends and making terrible jokes at the expense of each other's characters.

Johnneh rolled a 20 with this one by bringing up that tabletop is the father of video games.

RIP Gary Gygax

Good job Johnny, this was a lot of fun. Its horrible to see video game RPGs becoming such bland affairs, no wonder tabletop gaming is coming back. I know it's a curse word on this site, but I have Eurogamer Expo to thank for introducing me to this stuff, gamespot can be a little restrictive.

I have had limited experience of rpg table top gaming. I did use to play Risk with 2 of my friends which would always devolve to a cold war stand off with one stuck in the middle being squeezed.

I support the feeling of more collaborative games in the future. I much prefer co-op than deathmatches and love playing the spec ops missions with my friends when they pop round.

I know remote playing will never completely replace the split screen nights round at my friends playing Goldeneye, but there is always hope.

Good job Jonnny, Cheers

This is the most awesome video on Gamespot. Ever. Full stop.

Hey Johnny, Great episode of the point! I actually own a Comic book and tabletop gaming store in wait for it.......South Africa! Were actually running a boardgaming evening right as I type this. I love video games but tabletop wins out everytime.

The best multi-player games money can buy.

@SHEETBIKE Kudos Johnny, and well-done on the shout-out to SU&SD.