Valdain the King

I have been away for a while and just bought Avadon 3. I havent played a spiderweb game in a while. How are you fine people doing today and what are you up to?

I've taken it upon myself to create a tabletop Pen&Paper RPG version of Geneforge; initially just the rule framework and mechanical stuff and then just as with D&D people could all do pretty much whatever the hell they wanted story and content wise in their own little groups and not have to code anything. I wouldn't sell it or anything, and idk if I'd even be able to distribute it for free but I want to make it anyway even if I only end up playing it with my friends. And maybe if it turns out well it could get approval from Jeff.

 

I'm aiming to transpose as many of the mechanics and math stuff from the games as possible with minimal alterations into the tabletop system, anything that wouldn't be murderous to calculate by hand or require too many dice. Then borrow ideas from D&D to fill in the gaps like frog DNA in Jurassic Park's dinosaurs. And I plan to create a very elaborate shaping system with more depth and customization than the games have. Probably differentiate the classes a little more with exclusive bonuses and abilities besides the variance in health/energy/essence pools and which skills are cheaper. add some stuff to make melee more interesting. Crafting will work similarly to how it does in the games

 

The time consuming thing is going to be the "monster manual" and doing spells and items, because of the sheer volume. And typing up background and lore stuff for reference. And a lot will probably be vague since there's only so much we can extrapolate from the existing games.

I've taken it upon myself to create a tabletop Pen&Paper RPG version of Geneforge; initially just the rule framework and mechanical stuff and then just as with D&D people could all do pretty much whatever the hell they wanted story and content wise in their own little groups and not have to code anything. I wouldn't sell it or anything, and idk if I'd even be able to distribute it for free but I want to make it anyway even if I only end up playing it with my friends. And maybe if it turns out well it could get approval from Jeff.

 

I'm aiming to transpose as many of the mechanics and math stuff from the games as possible with minimal alterations into the tabletop system, anything that wouldn't be murderous to calculate by hand or require too many dice. Then borrow ideas from D&D to fill in the gaps like frog DNA in Jurassic Park's dinosaurs. And I plan to create a very elaborate shaping system with more depth and customization than the games have. Probably differentiate the classes a little more with exclusive bonuses and abilities besides the variance in health/energy/essence pools and which skills are cheaper. add some stuff to make melee more interesting. Crafting will work similarly to how it does in the games

 

The time consuming thing is going to be the "monster manual" and doing spells and items, because of the sheer volume. And typing up background and lore stuff for reference. And a lot will probably be vague since there's only so much we can extrapolate from the existing games.

I am behind you 150%. I just started playing table top and would love a nice sci fi pnp board game. The only question is how would the missions and quests work?

@Valdain: Pixel Dungeon is an enjoyable roguelike you can play on your phone or tablet. Well, enjoyable if you enjoy dying a lot. The mechanics are really simple, but the game is strangely addictive.

 

Some of the fan-made mods are better than the original.

Thanks for that! I think there was another roguelike called tiny keep which is similar maybe? I remember playing that in 1st person. I grinded for 10 minutes and then got slaughtered by a boss

I got a few free roguelikes as well that i havent tried-

Claustrophobia

Lost labyrinth (though no permadeath i guess no rl)

Cardinal Quest 2 (not sure if i have it but i think i do)

Cardinal quest is ridiculous, you have to really know how to memorize steps taken when and before activating berserk on your warrior. I got somewhat far like 7 or 8 times but never beat the 1st game. I played the rogue but they are too slow. I wonder if 2 was a better game?

I like the game but find it to be too complicated. Doom the Rlike and Diablo the Rlike are the best and my favs. I beat each of them. 3 for doom and 1 for diablo. There was some other roguelike dungeon fray but that was too easy. I beat that on warrior, rogue and wizard. I suck at the genre but my favs all come from Chaos Forge so it is what it is. There was one named cardinal quest 1 but i couldnt get past 7th level with all classes so whatever. SOTStars i didnt like but got far in. That is a roguelike that is nearly impossible on all difficulties. I think i got to level 17 which sucks.

I guess the forums are dead or everyone has never played it.

I cant seem to get past the game tales of maj' eyal's 1st level with ANY of the characters. I played the game and made a few builds but none of them work. I dont really like the fact that none of the builds work in the game and the fact that it is so very confusing the mechanics. I played doom the rlike and beat it with no prob with all 3 chars. I beat diablo the rlike too with a warrior.

Is the game meant to be so confusing and what build should i use? Its very frustrating.

I am hoping to hear you are doing well friend.

Whats next? I will tell you-They need to fess up this big conspiracy. How tall was Andre the Giant compared to the Ogres of Avernum? Its a simple question. Andre was 7'4 and weighed 470 pounds, can the ogres come up with better numbers and bouts of strength or are they just little Tandres (Tiny Andre the Giant). I would like to know as its been bothering me for a couple days.

Well I guess its been a while but Jeff mentioned once that pokemon inspired him on Geneforge. I dont know if you can classify that as a jrpg.

I usually never finish any of them but they are still fun for maybe 10 hours. Has jeff come and said what games in that area genre he has played? I got halfway through BoFire 3 and spent 30 hours on that one, but didnt like the 2nd part of the game so bailed on that one.

Currently playing Digital Devil Saga 1 on ps2. Its an interesting genre-Scifi-horror-jrpg. Pretty cool, but lame as there are no weapon/item system. Then there is FFantasy Series which is alright. I really like X-2 but I quit after 10 or 12 hours.

Wild Arms is a wild west jrpg though the one I played wasnt too good. It was too slow-Wild Arms 3. Magical Starsign was awesome and I really like that one.

Like I said they are fun and I dabble in them but dont spend too much time with them. I just wanted to see what titles jeff has played if anyone knows.

Thankyou! That was just what I was hoping to hear. I didnt see the 3rd one but heard it wasnt very good so I was hoping that the new one was better. Sweet!

Sylae and Tyranicus mentioned Mad Max Fury Road. Was that any good? I want to see it on dvd. I loved The road warrior but didnt see the sequel of it. The prequel was alright but nothing special.

V-Bomb is Vaderbomb. It's a personal derivative I like to call him. it would likely be impossible for them to create a new character out of nowhere so you would have to be right about it being Sidious old mentor who he killed. Otherwise jarjar and any other idea would likely only be put together if Uwe Boll directs the movie. If that is the case then I will go to the theatre all sauced up with liquid courage and hope that I laugh at it.

I liked star Wars but it was a little confusing some of the characters. There was this 12 foot tall vahnatai-similar guy who looked like a ghost. Shamoke was his name I think and I didnt like that everyone said that's v-bomb. How can it be V-bomb he's dead ya know?

I can promise nothing but this-Things WILL get better. I have a mental disorder as well and it took me a while to find right med/schedule and after I did that I realized that I dont need to do certain things in my life, I am happy about me being me. For a while it was tough with voices and all that but when it got to where it is now-it was worth the stress.

Important things you have going on-

-You are helping yourself by seeking professional help (This is important)

-You have a support group (You have one up on me-I dont and still dont have one. I had one program that lasted for 3 months but after that there are none in my area that I go to on a regular basis. I CANT go to one close or even remotely close.

-You acknowledge what is going on. (Very important. If you know you are having these things happening that is much better to some people that DONT and will not acknowledge these things. This is a major strength.)

Dont give up even in the struggles of life. I know that it is easier said than done but things WILL get better, that I promise you.

All I know is I hope jeff makes another game like Avernum series. Geneforge and Avadon focus on the character rather than the party but even then still about party. Still it would nice to see another awesome world and one where jeff gives us choice for creating whole party rather than just said character.

Thankyou Slarty. By the way, what was your take on the 2nd Remake? I thought it was a little better than Escape from the Pit but they are both good games altogether. The 3rd game has to be amazing when it is done.

I am sorry to hear that. I want you to know that your maps saved me countless times in the original games. I hope you get better and maybe just maybe we can see your famed Mad Monk Squad in one of jeff's future games. That would be nice I think.

I am trying to get someone who knows dispel barrier. I cant find aimee who is supposedly located in Barrier Tower.

Any ideas?

What exactly do you normally have difficulty with? Is it the combat? Finding necessary locations or items? Resource management? Something else? I've played and enjoyed a number of the games on the list and didn't find them impossibly difficult: what is it about games like this in particular that's throwing you off?

The thing I have difficulty with is how I determine the threat of each enemy in the group. With Paper Sorcerer being most recent one, I am confused because I was fighting a lot of mages which normally at least usually are a large threat to a party with AOEs. In this game they became known to me where I figured OK, mages are to be taken care of ASAP. Then I got a bit further in the game and this one fighter in a group of 3 regular enemies kills 1 of my party members. I got confused as to how that happened when before the mage was the threat but now a regular soldier is?

I dont know maybe the games are just not for me as you can see in the list.

I cant figure out how you possibly can beat one of these games.

I am referring to first person perspective, turnbased rpg games with you and a party of 4-6. I have only beaten 1 of them and that is because I know the rules and am a junkie for those rules.

Otherwise I will say I have had more success with turnbased tactical rpgs, roguelikes and regular rpgs. Regular rpgs would fall into top down rpgs like planescape, Icewind dale and Avernum. I dont consider 1st person games like dungeon crawlers to be rpgs. I consider them to be adventure games where you have to place more emphasis on finding openings/doors.

I have played the following and they are just horrendously impossible to beat-

Eye of the Beholder (2nd Edition-Stuck on Third level)

Warriors of the Eternal Sun

Gateway to the Savage Frontier (That and sequel are impossible and frustrating)

Paper Sorcerer

Swords and Sorcery Underworld

Etrian Odyssey1-4 (All of them)

Heroes of a broken land (This isnt rpg more strategy game)

Elminage (This game claims to be 2ndedition but it gives no info on any of the stats)

Thunderscape (Cant get past 1st area)

Devil Whiskey (Same as Underworld)

The ones I have played and had some success with were-

Original Pool of Radiance (I am getting this soon on Nintendo WII)

I beat Eye of the Beholder (Gbadvance-The 3rd edition game)

Otherwise I have less luck than with games that are supposedly more difficult like Roguelikes and Tactical Rpgs. Is it because these games are harder by nature because If I am playing on easy with all of them maybe the developers didnt make their games right or rushed them?

If occasion should arise on these boards, I believe we have a new alternative to the Communist Manifesto, the Treaty of Westphalia, the Aeneid, the Prose Edda, and the Kama Sutra.

I liked your phrase but I have no idea what it means.

I like the doggie, he/she reminds me of my doggie. There should be a separate thread for pet abominable gamer helper or something like that.

The only think would be cool would be if jeff made more survivable creations. I want to really take 2 fyoras and buff them up and make them last the whole game. No 1 shotting. In endgame in g1-3, all creations are weak and get1 shotted. Thats all I really want. His games are art and they are ideas that cannot be tampered with. They are bulleproof. And otherwise they cant be made bad. At least I think s.o.