Both worlds have their virtues, and not a few similarities, but personally I find roleplaying in a pseudo-medieval world of magic more appealing. I didn’t exactly jump for joy when Bioware started working on a Star Wars RPG, nor was I moved by the rave reviews the Star Wars Galaxies demo elicited at E3. I’m not sure why, but I think it has to do with “depth” and even more important – “possession.” I’m looking forward to Neverwinter Nights and Pool of Radiance primarily because these games will be based on a hallowed system of rules and conventions established since the 1970s. The D&D rules permit for open gameplay in a world with limitless possibilities of adventure and exploration. Though not as popular as the Star Wars franchise, the D&D worlds are richer by far, and supported by thousands of classic modules and campaign settings. For example, although the Avatar trilogy (from which the Baldur’s Gate series finds its genesis) was a indeed a momentous chapter in the history of the Forgotten Realms, the D&D world could go on as if it never happened. Contrarily, Star Wars makes no sense if even one of its episodes were missing. But the main reason why I prefer fantasy settings as opposed to science fiction settings is, as I stated above, “possession” – the feeling of actually “owning” the world, of having been responsible for its conception; the sense that the world in which you roleplay, its colors and contours, people and places, reflects something about your mind and heart that no graphic card can ever successfully reproduce. I doubt I’ll ever be able to say the same thing about the Star Wars (or any sci-fi) universe, since it bears the hand and character of George Lucas too much for me to ever call it “home.” The graphics its developers may be proud of now may unfortunately leave no room for a player’s imagination. The genius of the D&D world is that the “laws” of its worlds were laid down before the campaigns that would later give it shape and form were written. The Star Wars universe works in reverse. The rules were established (or are still being established) after the campaign. The world was created before its laws could be laid down. As a result of this, I fear the rules of its gameworld will reflect the reality New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Jedi have already made known, thus limiting its scope and depriving its players of the same open-endedness and sense of possession which the D&D world has to offer. Does this make sense to anyone? I hope so.
