Table-top or computer? Big difference. TTRPG's requires you to use your imagination, while PC RPG's are imagination-optional (some exclusions may apply).
... My RPGs are imaginative. Admittedly, not much in the "user-imagination input" compared to D&D, but that'd take a whole lot more programming than I'm prepared to do on a strictly hobby basis.
I love RPGs because of their destructive power. I mean, it's a grenade propelled by rockets. What more could one ask for?
Funny that you mentioned that, we are starting a new D&D campaign sometime in the next two weeks. I already have my character all rolled out and ready to go, I just need to spend some time working on backstory. All from the EPH and CP books I made a Chaotic Good Synad Psychic Warrior.
We played this past weekend, we completed two adventures in the campaign in one sitting and our group is now collectively level 2. Though we did get fucked at one point, we all got shit rolls and were all near death (I had -6 HP, yikes!) so our Gnome Wizzy had to use a luck point to save our asses. She was the last one conscious at 1 HP and had to face two Kobolds with no more spells per day left. Luck points are a system our DM implemented so that we can enjoy the game better. In various situations that could prove drastically bad for plot if we fail or would just be a very big bummer if we died our DM will allow one of us to use a luck point. The effects are usually outrageous and the only one that remembers the event is the user, the other party members just wake up in a safe spot completely healed and restored in spells per day or power points. Personally I am saving my points for when he pulls the Terrasque out on our asses. We get 3 at start and in X levels we get 3 more, after that at X more levels we get another 3. X is a variable decided by a d20, currently we will not regain any until level 8. Oh, I also told the big evil opposing us to suck a black dragon cock. We communicated with him throuh some scrying device in the tent of one of his kobold hordes and when we realized he knew it was us I started spouting off wild obsceneties- last thing I said before kicking over the scrying device was "Fuck your mother."
I used to avoid tabletop RPGs cause the only people I knew of who played them were...sad. Like, live-in-the-basement-of-their-parents-house-and-wear-old-shirts-with-big-holes-in-them sad. But then my buddy started a game with some friends from work / school. And I decided to try it out. It's actually a lot of fun when you've got (mostly) normal people playing. I'm enjoying the Star Wars one. Heh. I kinda screwed the whole party over by capturing them and turning them into the Imperials for a cash reward. That was fun.
I'd think all PC RPG's could benefit from imagination, really. Having the odd conversation with someone passing by on the street, filling in all the little village shops and such that the designers didn't bother to show you, deciding what Character X or Y or Z would say when catching sight of the latest horrific monster . . . . It depends, I suppose, on the level of detail the player is interested in.
Considering my friend and I spent last night painting little figurines of our characters...yeah I simply take solace in being employed, having a girlfriend, and bathing regularly.
