Glossary Entry: Tabletop Role Playing Game
Quick Definition
A tabletop role playing game isn't actually a video game - it's a form of board game. Played at a real table with real pieces, these are games where players take on the roles of characters in a story of their own design. While these aren't traditional games in the way that checkers or chess are, they are a lot of fun and are a popular way for a group of friends to play together.
Dungeons and Dragons is easily the most recognizable tabletop roleplaying game, though there are a great many others out there, including Paranoia and Shadowrun.
Technically, tabletop RPGs existed before video games started telling similar stories, so these tabletop games strongly influenced the mechanics and design behind role playing video games. In fact, you can often tell when D&D was an influence on a video game - the game will use D&D's stats system instead of inventing its own.
Dungeons and Dragons is easily the most recognizable tabletop roleplaying game, though there are a great many others out there, including Paranoia and Shadowrun.
Technically, tabletop RPGs existed before video games started telling similar stories, so these tabletop games strongly influenced the mechanics and design behind role playing video games. In fact, you can often tell when D&D was an influence on a video game - the game will use D&D's stats system instead of inventing its own.
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