Dungeons & Dragons has been around for ages. Since the '70s, fans of the series have met around tables to bask in the glory of completing quests. They have enjoyed all the critical successes and critical failures. Many have said that the beloved game is best to play in person.
For a while now, fans of the series have been able to connect with one another online. Instead of meeting around the table, they meet in a chatroom and create maps in computer programs that get uploaded. Fans of the series are torn about which is better for them.
10 Online: Meeting New People
Online chat software now allows players to meet together over great distances. If a player doesn't already have an established group, they simply need to hop in a Discord server. A simple Google search will lead players to multiple websites dedicated to running online campaigns. Meeting people in person requires players to search for game stores or areas that host sessions. They may need to get their friends involved as well. It is now easier than ever to meet people with the same interests and getting into a game is much faster when joining online.
9 In-Person: Body Language
What fun is online when there isn't a face to read? Many players have been caught in a situation where someone in the group might do something that the others don't like. They try to hide it, but that smirk gives them away. It's easy to tell what someone's intentions are when you can look them in the face. That is part of what makes the game fun.
The same experience just can't be mimicked online without webcams and microphones. Nothing can beat seeing the look on the DM's face when their favorite task gets beaten easily or the strongest monster gets taken down.
8 Online: No Travel Required
Travelling can get annoying pretty quick, and spending the money on gassing up the car or paying the bus fees can really pile up. Depending on how far away a player lives from where they go to play, they can waste their entire day. Jumping into an online game is quick, easy, and convenient. No more packing the bags with dice and books. People can now sit in the comfort of their own home while watching the battles unfold.
Alternatively, players can get a wizard to transport them to their destination, but the chances of success are slim.
7 In-Person: The Time Commitment
Online games can take a lot longer when playing in-person with random people or with friends. Someone can nod off, go to another room for something, or just forget about their turn. When playing in-person, people can be reminded about actions.
If someone steps away to get a quick snack, they are more likely to come back instead of catching up on a YouTube video and forgetting about the game going on in the next room. The concept of being AFK, or Away From Keyboard, is something that exists in every game that people can play online, but it is more frustrating and time-consuming when it comes to a campaign.
6 Online: Access To Beautiful, Shareable Maps
Maps are used all the time to simulate the world that everyone is in. When they enter the dungeon, they can see it unfold on the table. One of the biggest shortcomings of in-person games is the lack of creativity for maps, though it's something a monk may find no issue with. These maps are usually drawn on paper or map boards. The DM takes up time creating the maps for the players if it is a created adventure.
In comparison, there are many map creation tools online, such as Inkarnate, for people to download and mess around with. The visuals of these maps are almost always better than anything someone can do in-person without spending hundreds of dollars.
5 In-Person: No Need To Learn New Materials
Online tools can be useful for many things involving a campaign, but the downside to all these new programs and toolkits is learning to use them. The amount of time it takes to learn a new program could be put into creating an entire campaign. Some of these programs come loaded with so many features that it is almost like relearning the entirety of the game all over again.
While some people might not mind that, not everyone in the party may be so willing or have the time to sit down and learn all of the new information.
4 Online: A Vast Array Of Tools
Online tools can be incredibly useful. One of the biggest things they can be used for is keeping track of information, so players don't need to have it ready. Players used to use DM Screens to house information about the quest. They would come in with a book filled with notes about what is going on.
With the use of online toolkits, players can now house all of the information about their spells, items, and equipment in one place. If they need to refer to the information, there is no more looking through pages. It is now as simple as point and click.
3 In-Person: The Cost Of Materials
Sure, traveling to a place can cost some gas money depending on how far everyone needs to go. This can also be tedious. The upside, however, is that this cost is minimal to the cost of some of the programs that players use for online sessions.
Buying up all the books can add up, but for players who already have them, why should they buy another program at the cost of $50? Yes, some of these programs are free, but they lack features that the good programs have.
2 Online: Score Calculation
Math is annoying, especially whenever a player needs to roll multiple dice at once whenever they attack. Dice are also small objects that have a tendency to roll away if not confined to an area. One of the many useful tools players can get access to when playing online is a dice roller. This simple tool takes all the necessary addition and subtraction out of the equation and solves everything right in front of everyone in the blink of an eye. Never worry about lost dice and solving equations with a tired head ever again.
1 In-Person: Technical Issues
Computers are complicated pieces of technology that often have problems. A lot can go wrong when playing online, from internet connections going out to calls getting dropped. People don't need to worry about fixing issues whenever they play in person because no internet connection is required.
It is a shame to play with someone, who uses their phone, for it to not be charged when game time comes around. It can get annoying if a connection is bad and someone's voice sounds robotic or broken up.