| RavenBlog |
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| Comments on Tuesday 25 March 2003: |
| I've been looking for a decent new RPG for a while, finding Neverwinter Nights and Dungeon Siege to both involve about as compelling a plot as Nethack, and Morrowind to have a horrible horrible interface albeit attached to at least a rudimentary semi-flexible plot. I thought Warrior Kings might be good, based on reviews, but I couldn't even bear to play a demo beyond one minute, because the interface was unwieldy and the tutorial stupidly, mindlessly non-interactive, with no introduction to the controls or anything. In the end, and in disgust, I fell back on the previous knowledge that Spiderweb Software have previously made RPGs that I've enjoyed, in the old low-tech style of Ultima 4 and 5, and went to see if they had any new offerings. Avernum 3 was a little too similar to Avernum 2 to maintain my interest for long, but Geneforge is just what I was looking for. A nice simple effective interface, a proper flexible plot ("over a dozen" endings, only one of which involves dying at the appendages of random monsters), a tutorial period that properly introduces you to all the basics at the same time as forming your character, and it even has fairly decent graphics and sound. On the downside, it seems likely to be a bit shorter than each of the Avernum/Exile series; the first fifth of it (the length of the demo) taking only a single night to finish. Also tsk, I'm supposed to have a registration code within 24 hours of registering, which would be now; I still have none. [06:04] |
| C. Copperpot |
| It's not new and difficult to find outside of Ebay by now, but Planescape:Torment is a good game. T3h r0xx0r, indeed. |
| Tom |
| Problem as I see it is that you can't actually play a good RPG on a stand-alone computer. (Could be possible to run a D&D game over the net). Computers are stupid, good Dungeon Masters (upgrade the term as you see fit) are not. If you want to play a good RPG, or LARP session, or whatever, you need somebody intelligent in control. Computers are not intelligent, they can't really adapt to the needs of a good RPG. Computer RPG games haven't really progressed much since 'Eye of the Beholder' and similiar. Never been much about role playing. There's no Dungeon Master to reward good role playing. Kill enough monsters and you increase your experience. This is not as satisfying as when the Dungeon Master rewarded XP for working out a creative way around an obstacle. Until computer RPG games can create the feeling you get around a D&D table with a good DM, they will be boring. Though, I'd love to watch people try and justify why they brought a laptop to a mediaeval LARP session. |
| bv728 |
| Planscape: Torment is indeed good, and not THAT hard to find; there's a best buy near me that has it in a $10 bundle with a really crappy game. But, yeah, Geneforge is very good. |
| RavenBlack |
| Already done Planescape:Torment. Deus Ex, also, which was quite good as an action-RPG-FPS. I'd rather play Geneforge than a tabletop, even with a good GM, really. Except that Geneforge has a lifespan of "complete it a couple of times". |
| bv728 |
| It's no Gamma World, though. "This flying, tree-dwelling species of barracuda is only notable for its agressive attitide toward humans." |
| C. Copperpot |
| If you want something similar to Deus Ex, the rare System Shock 2 is a diamond. A creepy diamond. |
| RavenBlack |
| And again, already done, unfortunately. I do agree, though, that it was excellent. |
| Katrina Silvermoon |
| I got my paws on the Geneforge demo yesterday, and while the interface was a little simplistic, I quite enjoyed it. Until it crashed my computer. I run a MUCK server, so if a game crashes once (to the point where I'm forced to reboot), it usually doesn't get another chance. Ah well. It seemed nifty, too. |
| C. Copperpot |
| ...A very creepy diamond. |
| raven_scott |
| I recently joined this online novel rpg thing. It's at www.panhistoria.com since everything on the site is novel based it has a plot, but game-wise you don't roll stats. You just write; also, you can't kill other characters/mortally wound them without their concent. Hope I helped! |
| geezer |
| anyone got the reg codes for avernum 3 and geneforge 2 on the mac? |
| RavenBlack |
| Yes. People who paid for them. |
| Tombat Cheese Lord |
| Geneforge is a good game.Avernum 3 demo... um?It's got a... um? good plot... BUT THE GRAPHICS(if that's what you call it)BELONG IN THE STONE AGE(preferably Jurassic). Oh but if you download the geneforge 2 and 3 demo they ARE good. I have the full version of geneforge 2(and competed it) It's cool. You can create any thing from acid Oozing zombies to flying things with eyes on stalks(very pleasant). |
| oly |
| What is the regestration code for geneforge 4 please can u tell me !! |
| RavenBlack |
| It is "I am dumb". |
| oly |
| ha ha halarius but really what is it? |
| RavenBlack |
| Really it is "you are dumb". |
| pickle |
| heheh....raven is right, sorry oly...heh.. |