August 17, 2007 by Matt.

I don’t know how I feel about it, honestly.

The Pros:

• They can fix their issues.  Fixing the grappling rules?  Fighters getting things to do other than roll to-hit/damage?  Whee!
• Getting access to stuff you buy online when you purchase the paper version is very tasty.  No more scanning for yours truly, and hopefully it’s freakin’ searchable.
• A legitimate chargen program that hopefully won’t act/look like it came out of a monkey’s butt.
• A digital table that hopefully won’t…. etc etc.

Cons:

• Monthly fee for online content?  For what, specifically?
• Whenever you touch something, you have a chance at breaking it.  They’re going to touch polymorph and wildshape, but what exactly are they going to do to it?
• Actually, I’m still a bit nervous about the online thing.  Online is for MMOs, PnP is for sitting at the table with friends.
• Buying more books. *grumble*
• The books are coming out in a staggered manner, which will bite horribly. PHB, then MM, then DMG.
• The idea of the SRD’s supposed to come with as well.  Now some good things have come from letting anyone play in your sandbox, but there’s been some damn scary things out there too, and I’d rather see cheaper licensing and some quality control than everything becoming part of everyone.

Of course it’s all speculation until next May and like the little sheep I am I’ll probably buy the PHB at least, but I get this feeling that unless that book’s an orgasm on paper people will be a bit slow to switch.

Posted in PnP, News | 1 Comment »

August 1, 2007 by Matt.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/30/dragon-quest-iv-v-vi-remakes-bound-for-ds/

This makes me happy - If memory serves, 5 didn’t make it over here and I’m not sure if 6 did either.  I’m pretty sure it was 7 that was here in PS1 format, and we all know about 8.  Let’s hope they continue this tradition.  Old games are new again!

Posted in Console, News | 1 Comment »

July 25, 2007 by Matt.

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6556&Itemid=2

So he says that MMOs these days are following the Old Code of Online Gaming, that the gameplay is lacking and everyone is too busy watching statistics to have fun.

I gotta say I agree, to a certain extent.

Being able to see yourself get more powerful has always been a big draw with MMOs. It’s the power factor - that orc that turned you into a grease spot three levels ago is now a challenge, and in three more levels it’ll be his turn to be grease. That spell you just cast, with two more intellegence, will do 8 more points of damage! Whoopie! Huzzah! But is it real character development? Does that little boost equate to good gameplay?

He says that Tabula Rasa isn’t going to be the best thing since sliced bread (smart man, lest TR become the next Daikatana) but he hopes for it to be a blueprint for the next generation’s games, with choices that really affect your character. While some would argue that you’d not be able to experience the full game if you’re limited by that, well… them’s the breaks. That character made that decision. You sided with the Pink Flamingos and now you’re an enemy of the Purple Trousers. You killed that character instead of saving him, congrats, you have the “merciless” quality and moved two points to the WTF alignment. I’m all for having characters be able to switch sides and be a traitor to your other team but I’d like to see some big choices made story and character-wise that really matter other than picking a realm/city/faction.

One can hope, at least.

Posted in News, MMORPGs | 1 Comment »