Filed under: computer games, dungeons and dragons, role playing games | Tags: dnd, games, planescape
A friend sent me a link to a blog entry by taluxb about planescape: torment.
It’s a great post, and explains the game well, but it doesn’t quite explain why so many RPG fans love the game.
I may be a sad nerd (I am), but myself (and my then wife) loved the game and played it together for about 2 weeks until we completed it, then when Balders Gate 2 and others (inc. Neverwinter Nights 1) came out then I bought them immediately, and was disappointed that they didn’t match up.
Myself, I think the reason why Torment was such a brilliant game is because it’s different; seriously different to standard (i’ve got a new term to use here..) Munchkin-esque DnD type games which can be seen just about anywhere.
Firstly as the nameless one you’re not sure why you’re there or what you’re doing. The environment is seriously different to other games. Neverwinter Nights etc. you’ve seen the scenery a million times, you’re going to meet gobins, elves, and orcs. In contrast Torment (and the Planescape setting) is more varied, yes you’ll see elves and dwarves, but in new and interesting ways. Plus it feels more grown up than the other games, it’s slightly subversive, without having to resort to horror or gore.
I really hope that somebody comes along and does a spelljammer or planescape game, as they’re different enough to be exciting, I doubt we’ll ever see a worthy sequel to Torment though, and that’s a damn shame
Personally I’m not convinced that it’s purely a role-player’s pc game: my wife never played D&D, and yet she was a fanatic (and also ended up deeply disappointed by Balders Gate and stuff).
For other info take a look at the wikipedia page for torment
if you want to buy it then it’s going to hurt i’m afraid – Ewelike has Planescape: Torment on it but it’s only available from an Amazon Marketplace vendor (for £40! – i didn’t pay that the first time round when it was new and was released!) – but they do have links to eBay sellers where it seems a more manageable £15/$25 .. still expensive though!). A quick search round the web doesn’t seem to show anybody else cheaper 
Filed under: Accessories, Books, dungeons and dragons, role playing games | Tags: spelljammer
Ok, this is one that’s up for grabs… is it the Spelljammer (Adventures in Space) Campaign Setting or the Planescape campaign setting the best campaign setting for advanced dungeons and dragons?
For those of you that don’t know, Spelljammer was a weird idea that characters could travel between worlds using “spelljamming” ships. These had a false gravity and oxygen bubble around them and used a magical “helm” that allowed the navigator to move between the galaxies. Players could hitch a ride on a ship (or own their own) and a few new races were included. Various accessories and expansions were added to describe different galaxies (for example Spelljammer Realmspace – spelljamming in the Forgotten Realms universe) but none had the excitement or writing of the original.
Jeff Grubb is at his best in this book (well boxset to be precise) and although it was made for 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons it’s easy to create a conversion to use 3.5 or 4th edition. It’s still available from various sellers (admittedly secondhand/used but in varying conditions) so check it out at ewelike (and don’t forget to press the “auctions” tab incase ebay has it at a better price).
Ok, it seems like a naff idea, but it’s truly a D&D classic (from the days when they were TSR – oh and the novels aren’t too bad either!)
barcode is 978-0-88038-762-0 for those of you who like your isbns 
, and before anybody asks… no i’m not selling you my pristine copy!
Filed under: Books, dungeons and dragons, role playing games | Tags: Books, dungeons and dragons, newbie guides
I was bought the Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Survival Guide a well meaning relation and it’s a real disappointment for me.
It’s 60 pages long (yes, 60!) and there’s not a lot of content in there. Certainly nothing as meaty as the old “Dungeoneer Survival Guide” from first edition (i loved that book, i really should replace my copy as it’s fallen to bits). It’s simply written and is basically a nice little book full of illustrations and an advert for other dungeons and dragons / wizards of the coast adventures and supplements.
However, I gave this to my (non-gaming) nephew and he loved it, it was just the right introduction to role playing games (especially dungeons and dragons), glossy, nice to look at and easy to read (kind of like a Games Workshop brochure/info-mercial book). He’s now borrowing my old 3.5 edition dungeons and dragons books and him and a bunch of friends are getting a group together.
One problem we all have with the wargaming/rpg community is that it’s hard to get fresh blood in for anything other than warhammer/warhammer 40000 (and the occasional card game)
If you’ve got a relation that you think would benefit from an introduction to role playing games (especially D&D) then this is a good start. Yes it’s pricey (but you can buy it from the US for a lot less ) but if it starts somebody new loving D&D then i’m a happy camper.
Of course you could also buy some cheap and second hand copies of the 3.5 core dungeons and dragons rulebooks in advance too (so you’ve got something ready to hand over to the new eager beaver ). For example you can now get the old 3.5 edition of the D&D Player’s Handbook for 8.50.
So, in summary; if you’re an old-hand/veteran gamer then this is junk and you should ignore it, if you’re a newbie then this may be a good start.
Let me know what you think!
PS: Thanks to Rog of my local gaming group – he also pointed out The Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set that’s available for fourth edition. I haven’t used it myself but he recommends it heartily for getting new people into the hobby… thanks Rog!!
Filed under: Accessories, dungeons and dragons | Tags: d&d, dice, dungeons and dragons, role playing game, rpg
I recently bought fourth edition dungeons and dragons core books (more on that in a later post) and I also bought the Dungeons and Dragons Premium Dice at the same time (they were cheap..ish). I just wish I hadn’t of bothered now Ok, they look nice, but there’s nothing “special” about them. Instead I’d just wait until your next wargaming / role playing (like Reading’s Warfare wargaming show or Newbury’s Colours Wargaming Show)
So, let the buyer beware (caveat emptor) – you’ve been warned!
