Using a ton of books to me seems silly;maybe its just me, but I've never felt the "urge"(if your addicted like i am to this game) to use more than two books(no matter the game). Usually Core and Class coordinated book.PHb & Complete Cleric or CRB & UM-------just examples.
Different strokes for different folks. YMMV. To each their own. bla blah blah.
I own over 120+ books just for 3e/3.5/PF, and if my character concept calls for it, I'll put material from each and every book if I so desire. Nothing silly about it.
But, I print off copies(personal use only) of certain pages regarding special rules if my character's options come from a lot of books. Rather than scribbling a ton of notes all over my character sheet(my handwriting is atrocious, borderline unreadable by others), I have the exact rules from the exact book I pulled the option from for my DM's reference. Also, save my back by not having to carry so many books at a time.
I think the Power Gaming/Video Gaming analogy has more to do with the type of Video Game someone plays (EDIT: and/or the way they play it). The argument can be made for a correlation, but as Josh M has illustrated, it is not a be-all-end-all situation. It has more to do with they way you play and the motivations behind your decisions. I tend to like TTPRG's more because of the social interact and the fact that I enjoy writing/acting more than punching buttons.
The games I Like (and why I like them):
The Sims (for the world building and the customization of the looks)
Final Fantasy (for the story, plus easy play)
Fable (again, story and easy play)
KOTOR (I like Star Wars, and it has a good story)
Saint's Row (love the customization)
I would probably like the Elder Scrolls series if I could ever figure out how to get out of the first area.
The Games I Don't Care for:
Call of Duty (loved the story when I watched Mr. Neph play it, but can't get into shooters)
Halo (tried once, couldn't aim worth s&*t)
Total War (tried it, hated the fact that I couldn't see the cities I was building, that they were just an icon with a description)
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Some newcomers haven't played older dnd or older games
You mean like the tactical wargames D&D was originally based on? And the early adventures whose "plots" consisted of "let's go into this dungeon/set of ruins whose dangers have no logical reason to have been built that way, kill everything in it, and grab all the loot we can carry"? Yep, some newcomers are completely unaware of how the game was before all this newfangled "roleplaying" started creeping in and diluting it, dragging in a younger generation and its more modern ideas of story and immersion that tore our beloved game from its roots.
That's what you meant, right?
;)
Are you trying to say, early dnd, first edition and advanced, didn't have roleplaying? Are you high?
I remember huge worlds, great and complex plots, more than a few reasons to be in dungeons and dangerous areas.
The roleplaying which you claim is new, isn't the problem. The power gaming and crunch, higher and ever raising numbers has been identified as a series of problems that hasn't gone away.
Some newcomers haven't played older dnd or older gamesYou mean like the tactical wargames D&D was originally based on? And the early adventures whose "plots" consisted of "let's go into this dungeon/set of ruins whose dangers have no logical reason to have been built that way, kill everything in it, and grab all the loot we can carry"? Yep, some newcomers are completely unaware of how the game was before all this newfangled "roleplaying" started creeping in and diluting it, dragging in a younger generation and its more modern ideas of story and immersion that tore our beloved game from its roots.
That's what you meant, right?
;)
Gary Gygax agreed with that to a certain extent, from Dragon 102 (page 8)
There was a long period of time when
action, rather than role playing, was the
major focus of gaming, and this was espe-
cially true with respect to tournament sce-
narios at conventions. Thus, an AD&D®
game scenario would typically stress combat
with monsters to achieve the goal set before
the characters. Now, the pendulum has
swung the other way much emphasis is
being placed on how well the player takes
on the role of his or her character. Personifi-
cation and acting are replacing action of the
more direct and forceful type be it sword
swinging, spell casting, or anything else.
Before this trend goes too far, it is time to
consider what the typical role-playing game
is all about.
Overall he takes a semi-measured approach in the editorial, but he's decidedly anti-thespian.