🚀 go-pugleaf

On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 06:03:30 -0400, DMP <D...@nodomain.com> wrote:

>I am really looking forward to this game after reading this article 
>about customizing characters and quests in Sword Coast Legends.
>
> From "the Escapist"
>
>http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/conferences/e3-2015/14164-Dungeons-Dragons-Sword-Coast-Legends-Dungeon-Master-Mode-Preview


Much the same has been said about earlier games with similar features
(hearkening all the way back to Vampire:TM Redemption) but in the end
the "live DM" feature was rarely as easy-to-use as they made it out to
be in the previews, and almost never gave the DM as much control over
the game as you'd expect (I've heard that in SC:L the map-editing is
very limited, for instance). So I'm not holding my breath that this
game will be any different.

Personally, I just want access to the Witcher's map-editor. Not to
create new levels and adventures; I just want to create a new world,
Minecraft creative-style. I want to see my imaginings realized in
beautifully rendered 3D using the game resources. Sadly, Projekt Red
(the developers) apparently does not intend to support modding so
these tools are unlikely to be forthcoming.

On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 6:39:53 AM UTC-7, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 06:03:30 -0400, DMP <D...@nodomain.com> wrote:
> 
> >I am really looking forward to this game after reading this article 
> >about customizing characters and quests in Sword Coast Legends.
> >
> > From "the Escapist"
> >
> >http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/conferences/e3-2015/14164-Dungeons-Dragons-Sword-Coast-Legends-Dungeon-Master-Mode-Preview
> 
> 
> Much the same has been said about earlier games with similar features
> (hearkening all the way back to Vampire:TM Redemption) but in the end
> the "live DM" feature was rarely as easy-to-use as they made it out to
> be in the previews, and almost never gave the DM as much control over
> the game as you'd expect (I've heard that in SC:L the map-editing is
> very limited, for instance). So I'm not holding my breath that this
> game will be any different.
> 
> Personally, I just want access to the Witcher's map-editor. Not to
> create new levels and adventures; I just want to create a new world,
> Minecraft creative-style. I want to see my imaginings realized in
> beautifully rendered 3D using the game resources. Sadly, Projekt Red
> (the developers) apparently does not intend to support modding so
> these tools are unlikely to be forthcoming.

I tried some live online DM'd games in NWN and found them very weird.  Couldn't get into them.

The NWN tools to create your own adventures were really very good though, I did try a couple of the higher rated fan made ones and they were better than the original adventure, though not as good as the expansions.  I had one I made I really liked, but lost it, I'm not sure what happened to it.  It was really the best I've ever seen.

The NWN 2 tools never worked for me, and from what I'd seen of them they were far more difficult to use than the NWN tools.

Hopefully the SCL tools will be better, but I don't have much hope.

- Justisaur

On 6/23/2015 12:19 PM, Justisaur wrote:
> On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 6:39:53 AM UTC-7, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
>> On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 06:03:30 -0400, DMP <D...@nodomain.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I am really looking forward to this game after reading this article
>>> about customizing characters and quests in Sword Coast Legends.
>>>
>>>  From "the Escapist"
>>>
>>> http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/conferences/e3-2015/14164-Dungeons-Dragons-Sword-Coast-Legends-Dungeon-Master-Mode-Preview
>>
>>
>> Much the same has been said about earlier games with similar features
>> (hearkening all the way back to Vampire:TM Redemption) but in the end
>> the "live DM" feature was rarely as easy-to-use as they made it out to
>> be in the previews, and almost never gave the DM as much control over
>> the game as you'd expect (I've heard that in SC:L the map-editing is
>> very limited, for instance). So I'm not holding my breath that this
>> game will be any different.
>>
>> Personally, I just want access to the Witcher's map-editor. Not to
>> create new levels and adventures; I just want to create a new world,
>> Minecraft creative-style. I want to see my imaginings realized in
>> beautifully rendered 3D using the game resources. Sadly, Projekt Red
>> (the developers) apparently does not intend to support modding so
>> these tools are unlikely to be forthcoming.
>
> I tried some live online DM'd games in NWN and found them very weird.  Couldn't get into them.
>
> The NWN tools to create your own adventures were really very good though, I did try a couple of the higher rated fan made ones and they were better than the original adventure, though not as good as the expansions.  I had one I made I really liked, but lost it, I'm not sure what happened to it.  It was really the best I've ever seen.
>
> The NWN 2 tools never worked for me, and from what I'd seen of them they were far more difficult to use than the NWN tools.
>
> Hopefully the SCL tools will be better, but I don't have much hope.
>
> - Justisaur
>

I have "0" experience with a Dungeon Master mode as explained in the 
article about SCL, but it did seem like it would be fun to try. The 
article made it sound simple, but it might not be.

If it becomes a chore, then it's not gaming anymore, IMHO.

D.

BTW, I'm still trying to enjoy The Witcher. Not getting very far, but 
haven't given up yet. I must be the 1 in a million whose not overly 
enthralled with it.

On Wed, 24 Jun 2015 05:33:46 -0400, DMP <D...@nodomain.com> wrote:

>
>BTW, I'm still trying to enjoy The Witcher. Not getting very far, but 
>haven't given up yet. I must be the 1 in a million whose not overly 
>enthralled with it.

Keep at it. One review described the Witcher 3 as "a slow boil", and I
think that's fairly accurate. The start of the game is very slow. I
didn't start getting interested until at least five hours into the
game, and didn't start LIKING it until maybe 15 or 20. The game takes
its time - arguably, it takes too much time - setting up the
characters and story but the I think the payoff is worth it.

At least, if you like story and character and that sort of stuff. If
you are just in it for hack-n-slash, the game will disappoint. The
combat never gets any better and was something I merely "endured"
right to the end.

On 6/24/2015 9:34 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Wed, 24 Jun 2015 05:33:46 -0400, DMP <D...@nodomain.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> BTW, I'm still trying to enjoy The Witcher. Not getting very far, but
>> haven't given up yet. I must be the 1 in a million whose not overly
>> enthralled with it.
>
> Keep at it. One review described the Witcher 3 as "a slow boil", and I
> think that's fairly accurate. The start of the game is very slow. I
> didn't start getting interested until at least five hours into the
> game, and didn't start LIKING it until maybe 15 or 20. The game takes
> its time - arguably, it takes too much time - setting up the
> characters and story but the I think the payoff is worth it.
>
> At least, if you like story and character and that sort of stuff. If
> you are just in it for hack-n-slash, the game will disappoint. The
> combat never gets any better and was something I merely "endured"
> right to the end.
>
>

Thanks for the info. I do prefer story & character. Full time hack & 
slash not my favorite thing. Combat seems a bit more cumbersome than 1 & 
2, but maybe its just me. Geralt sounds like Adam Jensen.

I only did the tutorial & the first village with Vesemir and it was a 
slog, but am determined to get through a bit more of the game.

D.

On Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 2:34:20 AM UTC-7, DMP wrote:
> On 6/23/2015 12:19 PM, Justisaur wrote:
> > On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 6:39:53 AM UTC-7, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> >> On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 06:03:30 -0400, DMP <D...@nodomain.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> I am really looking forward to this game after reading this article
> >>> about customizing characters and quests in Sword Coast Legends.
> >>>
> >>>  From "the Escapist"
> >>>
> >>> http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/conferences/e3-2015/14164-Dungeons-Dragons-Sword-Coast-Legends-Dungeon-Master-Mode-Preview
> >>
> >>
> >> Much the same has been said about earlier games with similar features
> >> (hearkening all the way back to Vampire:TM Redemption) but in the end
> >> the "live DM" feature was rarely as easy-to-use as they made it out to
> >> be in the previews, and almost never gave the DM as much control over
> >> the game as you'd expect (I've heard that in SC:L the map-editing is
> >> very limited, for instance). So I'm not holding my breath that this
> >> game will be any different.
> >>
> >> Personally, I just want access to the Witcher's map-editor. Not to
> >> create new levels and adventures; I just want to create a new world,
> >> Minecraft creative-style. I want to see my imaginings realized in
> >> beautifully rendered 3D using the game resources. Sadly, Projekt Red
> >> (the developers) apparently does not intend to support modding so
> >> these tools are unlikely to be forthcoming.
> >
> > I tried some live online DM'd games in NWN and found them very weird.  Couldn't get into them.
> >
> > The NWN tools to create your own adventures were really very good though, I did try a couple of the higher rated fan made ones and they were better than the original adventure, though not as good as the expansions.  I had one I made I really liked, but lost it, I'm not sure what happened to it.  It was really the best I've ever seen.
> >
> > The NWN 2 tools never worked for me, and from what I'd seen of them they were far more difficult to use than the NWN tools.
> >
> > Hopefully the SCL tools will be better, but I don't have much hope.
> >
> > - Justisaur
> >
> 
> I have "0" experience with a Dungeon Master mode as explained in the 
> article about SCL, but it did seem like it would be fun to try. The 
> article made it sound simple, but it might not be.
> 
> If it becomes a chore, then it's not gaming anymore, IMHO.
> 

Have you seen roll20.net?  Works pretty well as a virtual tabletop.  I've run a few games there, it can require a bit of prep, well as much as you want to do.

> D.
> 
> BTW, I'm still trying to enjoy The Witcher. Not getting very far, but 
> haven't given up yet. I must be the 1 in a million whose not overly 
> enthralled with it.

Eh, I didn't even like 1, so haven't gone with 2 or 3, from what I've heard each is slightly worse than the one before.

- Justisaur

On Wed, 24 Jun 2015 10:59:23 -0400, DMP <D...@nodomain.com> wrote:

>On 6/24/2015 9:34 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
>> On Wed, 24 Jun 2015 05:33:46 -0400, DMP <D...@nodomain.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> BTW, I'm still trying to enjoy The Witcher. Not getting very far, but
>>> haven't given up yet. I must be the 1 in a million whose not overly
>>> enthralled with it.
>>
>> Keep at it. One review described the Witcher 3 as "a slow boil", and I
>> think that's fairly accurate. The start of the game is very slow. I
>> didn't start getting interested until at least five hours into the
>> game, and didn't start LIKING it until maybe 15 or 20. The game takes
>> its time - arguably, it takes too much time - setting up the
>> characters and story but the I think the payoff is worth it.
>>
>> At least, if you like story and character and that sort of stuff. If
>> you are just in it for hack-n-slash, the game will disappoint. The
>> combat never gets any better and was something I merely "endured"
>> right to the end.
>>
>>
>
>Thanks for the info. I do prefer story & character. Full time hack & 
>slash not my favorite thing. Combat seems a bit more cumbersome than 1 & 
>2, but maybe its just me. Geralt sounds like Adam Jensen.
>
>I only did the tutorial & the first village with Vesemir and it was a 
>slog, but am determined to get through a bit more of the game.

Yeah, those bits are pretty dull. You need to get into the more
open-parts of the game (Velen, Novigrad) to start appreciating the
title. There's a rather unenjoyable interlude (fortunately fairly
short though) between where you are and the good parts though. Its a
shame that the game starts so poorly, since I am sure it put off a lot
of people.

Once you get to Velen, start wandering around. Lots of side-quests
that build up a very impressive image of a war-torn land. Don't be
afraid to run away (difficult as that can be in this game, stupid
automatic combat-mode) from more difficult monsters though; there are
a lot of beasties in the bush that can kill you with one swipe. Don't
worry, you'll get revenge on them all later ;-)

On Wed, 24 Jun 2015 08:22:25 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
<just...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Have you seen roll20.net?  Works pretty well as a virtual tabletop.  I've run a few games there, it can require a bit of prep, well as much as you want to do.

I looked at Roll20 but it still was more complicated than I liked.

Personally, I'd be happy with just a virtual shared whiteboard that I
could draw on as necessary combined with a chat (text/voice/video)
client. My campaigns have never been that fussy with exact placements
and distances anyway, so having everything plotted down to the inch
isn't necessary. A whiteboard with let us all keep track of general
location of PCs and monsters in combat, and let me sketch out the
general shape of the map as necessary.

It helps that we don't use "hey look, we're a miniatures game, no wait
we're an MMORPG" 4th edition D&D ;-)

On Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 6:44:04 AM UTC-7, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Wed, 24 Jun 2015 08:22:25 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
> <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> >Have you seen roll20.net?  Works pretty well as a virtual tabletop.  I've run a few games there, it can require a bit of prep, well as much as you want to do.
> 
> I looked at Roll20 but it still was more complicated than I liked.
> 
> Personally, I'd be happy with just a virtual shared whiteboard that I
> could draw on as necessary combined with a chat (text/voice/video)
> client. My campaigns have never been that fussy with exact placements
> and distances anyway, so having everything plotted down to the inch
> isn't necessary. A whiteboard with let us all keep track of general
> location of PCs and monsters in combat, and let me sketch out the
> general shape of the map as necessary.
> 
> It helps that we don't use "hey look, we're a miniatures game, no wait
> we're an MMORPG" 4th edition D&D ;-)

I think you can do that on roll20, not absolutely sure.  I tried running one game with no graphics, and the players started drawing things out on the map anyway :)  You'd probably better served by just using google hangouts, I know there's a whiteboard & dice tools.  I usually use roll20 & G+ Hangouts anyway as the voice & other tools are far better on hangouts and roll20 integrates well with Hangouts.

- Justisuar