The D&D Thread! (other systems welcome)

[Dravin]

Okay, we kinda (and by we I mean mostly me) went a hijacking another thread with D&D talk. Pam in her infinite wisdom suggested we start our own thread.

So basically this is the thread to get your geek on.

(The thread we hijacked for reference: http://www.lds.net/forums/lds-gospel-discussion/23025-what-do-all-you-think-about-stuff-like.html )

[DigitalShadow]

I'm in 2 D&D campaigns right now and I'm working on making a tactical RPG loosely based (so I don't get sued) on the D&D system.

Fear my nerdiness.

[Dravin]

That sounds kinda interesting actually.

[DigitalShadow]

That sounds kinda interesting actually.

Yeah, it hit me the other day when I was playing Neverwinter Nights 2, it didn't really feel like D&D and if I were going to make a game as close to D&D as possible, it would have to be in the turn based/grid style of Final Fantasy Tactics, but oh so much more complicated.

Ever since then I've been working on programming the framework for a very complicated D&D like tactical RPG :)

[rameumptom]

D&D 3.5

I'm DM'ing one game, and playing in a second.

The first game is somewhat focused around a cleric of Oldemara. They are about 5-6th level. They just finished wiping out a bunch of lycanthropes and their WereLord. Now they are in a city, where several of them are getting skill training, etc. The cleric of Oldemara has been given a special staff of Oldemara with 6 stones (so far). Depending on which stones are in the staff, and the ability of the cleric, the staff can do either good or bad things. The cleric first tried one set of stones in it (the bad set), only to have a tornado rip into their camp. So he's being very careful with it.

The one I'm playing in, I'm a warmage. We just started this campaign, and we're going through a series of traps to get to the bad guy.

I enjoy playing and DMing, because it enhances my thinking process and imagination.

BTW, I definitely recommend using HeroForge, SpellForge and MonsterForge for developing characters. MS Excell required (won't work with OpenOffice hangs up, or Google spreadsheet- it doesn't show all the tabs).

[Dravin]

Yeah, it hit me the other day when I was playing Neverwinter Nights 2, it didn't really feel like D&D and if I were going to make a game as close to D&D as possible, it would have to be in the turn based/grid style of Final Fantasy Tactics, but oh so much more complicated.

Ever since then I've been working on programming the framework for a very complicated D&D like tactical RPG :)

Have you ever picked up The Temple of Elemental Evil (the video game)? It's turn based an tactical, also 3.5 E. Sadly I lost one of the disks or I'd probably have it installed right now, its great for when you just want to make a party of butt kickers and dominate. Actually one of my favorite characters in that game was a glaive wielding improved tripped combat reflexes barbarian half-orc, he kicked all sorts of trash in that party :)

[rameumptom]

About 2 years ago, I found an original AD&D Manual in excellent condition and bought it for my 29 year old son's bday. Here in Indianapolis, every August they have GenCon, where D&D is one of the big games shown. Gary Gygax showed up, and so I gave my son an early birthday present, and he had Gary Gygax sign the AD&D book. Gygax was surprised it was in such great shape. He died just a couple months later, so I'm glad we were able to do that.

[pam]

Are you guys even talking English?

[Dravin]

D&D 3.5

The one I'm playing in, I'm a warmage. We just started this campaign, and we're going through a series of traps to get to the bad guy.

.

Other folk's lists are probably to long to list, but to date in D&D I've played the following characters:

Bastard Sword + Buckler wielding human barbarian, there was some flaws in the character design, but he was my first, cut me some slack.

True Neutral Cleric of Oghma, lots of skill points spent on languages, that game died suddenly.

Halfling Fighter who dual wielded and threw daggers, though that game pretty much died at birth.

Halfling Druid who rode a Wolf... on my mission, though that game was kinda muchkiny. (Hey, it was P-Day!)

[Dravin]

Are you guys even talking English?

Yep. That's okay though, I know how you feel. I feel the same way when somebody starts going on about cars.

[DigitalShadow]

Have you ever picked up The Temple of Elemental Evil (the video game)? It's turn based an tactical, also 3.5 E. Sadly I lost one of the disks or I'd probably have it installed right now, its great for when you just want to make a party of butt kickers and dominate. Actually one of my favorite characters in that game was a glaive wielding improved tripped combat reflexes barbarian half-orc, he kicked all sorts of trash in that party :)

After reading the wiki, I really want that game!

I'm actually really surprised Wizards of the Coast didn't do more with D&D in video games, or even making a full D&D client letting a DM host a campaign over the internet. I'm guessing they might have given somewhat exclusive rights to Atari and Atari just didn't see that much profit in anything but turning it into a hack and slash bastardization (Neverwinter Nights).

[Dravin]

Looks like the idea found them at some point, at least in some capacity if this article (ICv2 - 'D&D 4th Edition' Announced at Gen Con) is to be believed, its from 07 and a quick view of the site mentioned shows an online compendium, character creator and some other tools but no virtual table and voice chat, don't know if its pending or if they've scrapped it.

I did find some open source stuff though, OpenRPG: Online Virtual Tabletop this the kind of stuff you are looking for? Actually the prevalence of open source may be making them think twice, its hard to compete against free.

[DigitalShadow]

Looks like the idea found them at some point, at least in some capacity if this article (ICv2 - 'D&D 4th Edition' Announced at Gen Con) is to be believed, its from 07 and a quick view of the site mentioned shows an online compendium, character creator and some other tools but no virtual table and voice chat, don't know if its pending or if they've scrapped it.

Yeah, I had heard 4th edition was supposed to launched with all this wonderful online functionality but the general consensus seems to be that it sucks. Although the reception to 4e in general has been pretty mixed, so I don't know.

I did find some open source stuff though, OpenRPG: Online Virtual Tabletop this the kind of stuff you are looking for? Actually the prevalence of open source may be making them think twice, its hard to compete against free.

Thanks for the link, I might have to give that a try :)

[StallionMcBeastly]

I have no idea what any of you are talking about.

[rameumptom]

D&D, or Dungeons and Dragons, is a role playing game that was developed in the late 1960s by Gary Gygax. It has gone through several renditions since then, and is now up to version 4e. Many people dislike version 4 (imagine the Vista version), and so version 3.5 is probably like XP - it works well, so people stick with it.

There are several different types of worlds, characters you can play, and quests/adventures a person can accomplish to gain skill, experience wealth, and power.

A lot of fantasy writing is based upon D&D concepts. One of the biggest fantasy authors today, Salvatore (pronounced, Sal-vuh-TOE-ree) has books based upon worlds he's created for D&D (Forgotten Realms, etc).

The nice thing about D&D versus online gaming is you get to see people face to face, and have real relationships, unlike the guy who lives in his parents' basement and never sees the light of day because of World of Warcrafting. You also have greater creativity, as you invent your own worlds and conquests, versus having them imposed upon you by others online.

Edited June 30, 2009 by rameumptom

[pam]

I have no idea what any of you are talking about.

That's okay I don't think they do either.

[FunkyTown]

Right now, I'm playing in a campaign that a friend of mine made based upon Revelations, Daniel and Isaiah - And placed them right smack dab in the middle of a fantasy setting.

I'm playing a spiritual shepherd!

We're just some guys from a tiny village, thrust in to a world that justifies itself in its evil. And the end of the world is a-comin'. :)

[Dravin]

Weapon Focus (Sling)? :)

[FunkyTown]

Nah. He's a Druid. Carries a Shepherd's Crook. Doesn't like violence. Likes tending sheep and doesn't ever talk about 'Balance'. He's just a pious guy who loves animals and helping out his friends. We also have the son of a noble, a bar wench, a woodsman and...*sigh* A powerful wizard. Who doesn't quite fit in with everyone in the game.

[utcowboy]

I haven't played the paper version of D&D or AD&D for too long and I miss the social aspect. I do play NWN and NWN2, Baldor's Gate, etc. Right now we (my wife and I) are playing WoW, not quite the same as the old D&D but close enough for us to "spend time together". Its funny, she's downstairs on her computer and I'm upstairs on mine, full headset and "chatting" with her about the quests we are working on. You'd think it would be easier just to hook up in the same room, but this works for us... LOL

[Dravin]

Nah. He's a Druid. Carries a Shepherd's Crook. Doesn't like violence. Likes tending sheep and doesn't ever talk about 'Balance'. He's just a pious guy who loves animals and helping out his friends. We also have the son of a noble, a bar wench, a woodsman and...*sigh* A powerful wizard. Who doesn't quite fit in with everyone in the game.

Witches and wizards are part of the OT so it works in that sense, though I suppose an Egyptian priest would work better... though come to think about it you could just keep the Wizard mechanics and do the RP as a priest.

Though I imagine you mean doesn't fit RP wise not mechanics.

P.S. Does he ever fight with that crook? If so do you just treat it as a quarterstaff? I've never played anything but standard D&D style fantasy so I'm probably having trouble understanding a different setting on a gut level.

[talisyn]

That's okay I don't think they do either.

Unfortunately, they do

Please, give me an online game like FFXI. If the cute {Elvaan} next to my cute{Mithra} character is a 45 yr old living in his parent's basement when he's not a line cook at Jack in the Box I don't want to know

Of course in this time of economic troubles...no I still don't want to know.