Ad&d Outdated?

DiscoZombie

<div class="IPBDescription">thoughts while playing planescape</div> just wondering how people feel about real-time AD&D computer games... or non-RT ones... or AD&D in general... is it worth doing anymore?

I haven't been on the boards much in the last few days cuz i'm addicted to Planescape: Torment, which I bought in a bargain bin =P as much as I love the game (amazing story, feel, music, visuals, voice acting...), I can't for the life of me see the point of keeping up the charade of AD&D based rules... these rules were made for PAPER, in the days BEFORE computers. The D&D tradition of good stories is wonderful; the races and worlds are engrossing; but I can't help but wonder whether games like planescape and baldur's gate and icewind dale would be a lot better if their engines were more like ultima's or diablo's...

magic particularly sucks. I can't stress enough how much it's always bothered me to have to sleep 8 hours to be able to smack one baddie with an 8 damage magic missile, which they'll probably get a spell save from anyway... thief skills are no fun either. walk behind a wall, start being stealthy, walk back into combat for the mere CHANCE of backstabbing someone, for 2x damage. soo convenient and worthwhile. and practicing pick lock and pick pocket when you could just bash open the lock or bash the person's skull (or talk them out of the item)...

I think I'm done ranting. just seeing whether anyone agrees.

Aegeri

Backstab increases with levels, X2 at first, then x4, x6 and finally x8 IIRC. Been a long time since I've bothered with AD&D. Dungeons and Dragons 3rd Edition is infinitely better mechanically.

Mr_Headcrab

true, but the removal of Firearms was a bold move.


Personally, i switched over to WhiteWolf based and B.E.S.M.


(Big Eyes, Small Mouth: anime-esque RP)

Hida_Tsuzua

AD&D is an anicent system based off RPG's ancestor, wargames. It does however hold a special place in the heart of nearly every gamer since it was their first system (I can recrite the brave adventures of Dupo the Fighter off the top of my head). It lacked an even halfway decent skills system or much in the way of "multiclassing". However its martial focus makes it a good choice for computer RPGs. D&D 3rd Edition and 3.5 are more up to date systems that would fit well in a computer format as well with skills, easier multiclasses to break molds, redone classes (backstab is better now with bluff!), feats among other things.

However every RPG has its flaws. D&D's is the same basic spell system (you cast and forget the spell). However you can keep slots open now and fill them with only a 8 minute deal along with the sorceror class (no more memorizing in exchange for less spell choice). Another bane of the old system is gone to such as wizards not allowed armor or swords (they can now if they're willing to give up something). The D20 gives a long flat range of chances. It's also easy to min/max if you know what you are doing.

Personally I'll like a computer RPG based on Earthdawn. It's got a rich setting and the magic system makes sense. Shadowrun would also make an interesting choice for a computer game as well as the complexies of some of the things in Shadowrun are nothing to a computer with a very nice magic system. Legend of the Five Rings's D10 system while in my opinion better than White Wolf's is not suitable for computer games with the raises, void points, and lethality (L5R is easily one of the most lethal RPGs) all going against it. West End's old D6 system found in its Star Wars RPG is the Empire Strikes Back to D20 Star War's Return of the Jedi. Fallout 1&2 while computer games are based on a table top system not unlike Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu.

Since a computer can cunch numbers better than a pad of paper, pure table topish computer RPG systems would be interesting as it can handle of all shorts of variables (such as good accurate auto fire rules!).