So, these tablets of which Vester has spoken aren't computers, just attachments? Disregarding that, how do they compare to pencil & paper? Is drawing with it similar to drawing with those, just neater?
Yes, tablets are attachments to computers.
Drawing with a tablet is similar to drawing with a pencil and paper, but different. It's not really something i can explain, but you use different drawing styles with physical media and a tablet.
The major attraction of tablets is that they tie into the computer; you don't use up reams of paper and any mistakes you make can be completely erased, instead of leaving behind ghost outlines or whatever, you can layer an infinite number of colors to build up on top of things and so on. If you're using Photoshop or GIMP (both programs designed to take advantage of tablets) you can do all sorts of fun things like make your tablet pretend to be an airbrush, or a paintbrush, or watercolors, and you can freely mix and match all these different effects. There's a third program which is specifically designed to replicate real-world media on the computer, but i can't remember what it's called. Gah.
If you have the right software you can also do fun things like use your tablet to sculpt 3D models, or paint textures straight onto the 3D model in question. You can control properties with pen pressure, pen tilt, pen location or any one of the many buttons.
Basically, it's similar to a pen and paper, but
far more versatile. And with practice (alot of practice) an artist armed with a good tablet can create jaw-dropping work. (See
www.sonsofthestorm.com )