Weekend Reading: Pen and paper versus console RPGs, part 2

Last week, I talked about the difference in storytelling and feeling between pen and paper RPGs and console RPGs. This week, I'm going to be talking about system mechanics and gameplay for the two.
There's something to be said for both of them. With pen and paper games, situations can go in your favor or utterly crush you at a totally random moment. Meanwhile, console games will usually keep you in a more central position, with things usually going as planned — unless, of course, the enemy does something really off the wall. Then, we just start screaming "h4x!" at the screen.
So, let's get crackin' on what makes these two systems tick.

Original post by mrdestructoid@gmail.com (Destructoid.com) and software by Elliott Back