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Post by mysterd on Aug 26, 2008 22:56:22 GMT
I have to agree with EK...I can't think of a reason to consider it a curse...sounds pretty awesome to me. In the role of the (so-called) hero of the game that has a pre-determined storyline to slay dragon and then become "cursed" with the ability to turn into something your character is always slaying -- that's a curse, storyline-wise. (Now, I don't know if you can pick options in dialogue-trees to say you hate dragons period, just are slaying them for money, that you love dragons, or whatever -- no clue, the game isn't out yet). And I'm sure if the gameworld full of human NPC's see you switch from human to dragon or dragon to human -- especially since your job as the dragon slayer is (duh!) to slay dragons in the game -- yeah, they probably are not going to treat you very favorably; especially if you decide to go evil and just run amok on areas with your new-found power. If you use the power for good intentions, well -- that might get a little interesting; maybe some will love you, feel sorry for you, still hate you b/c you have the dragon gift/curse, whatever; I don't know, the game ain't out yet. From what the preview says, it sounds like that this power can go along with The Witcher's motto -- "For every action, there's a consequence." I'm sure if you use it too much in public, there'll be drawbacks to using the dragon power. Kind of like in Bloodlines, if you use your vampiric powers in public too much, you can damage reputation with certain NPC's, lose the ability to contain the power (to the point the power might just start up on its own if you blow your Humanity rating down the tube), and other things. We'll have to wait and see what Larian really does w/ this Dragon-power, to make it interesting -- b/c there's a lot they can do around this. Now, for every gamer -- yes, they probably are going to want to be a dragon; just be a powerful roaring dragon that can be powerful, almighty, breath fire, do mean things, and scare people.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Aug 26, 2008 23:09:18 GMT
That makes a lot of sense, D, yeah.
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Post by Hand-E-Food on Aug 26, 2008 23:38:44 GMT
I have to agree with EK...I can't think of a reason to consider it a curse...sounds pretty awesome to me. CUT ME OFF IN TRAFFIC WILL YOU!!!! ROAR!!!! *turns car into a rotisserie oven* My question is why are you in traffic to begin with being a winged dragon?
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Post by mysterd on Aug 27, 2008 1:27:20 GMT
I have to agree with EK...I can't think of a reason to consider it a curse...sounds pretty awesome to me. CUT ME OFF IN TRAFFIC WILL YOU!!!! ROAR!!!! *turns car into a rotisserie oven* My question is why are you in traffic to begin with being a winged dragon? Maybe he got in the way of a much bigger and more badder bad-ass dragon?
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Post by Nero the Glorious on Aug 27, 2008 4:08:02 GMT
nah I just prefer to go incognito...until i get irritable anyway
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Post by Alrik on Aug 27, 2008 11:06:05 GMT
Now, for every gamer -- yes, they probably are going to want to be a dragon; just be a powerful roaring dragon that can be powerful, almighty, breath fire, do mean things, and scare people. Yes, this is what i actually fear. That people will exploit this in order to become an "über-character". Like becoming one in recent Action-RPGs, where this is nothing but normal. I had hoped that Drakensang would be different to this scheme, by the way, but my hopes were in vain.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Aug 27, 2008 13:51:44 GMT
The problem with the scaring people part is being hunted. 'Dragon Slayer' is a profession and I doubt the main character is the only member. Sooo... a bit of scaring may mean some seriously lethal hunters on your tail...
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Post by mysterd on Aug 30, 2008 11:57:49 GMT
Now, for every gamer -- yes, they probably are going to want to be a dragon; just be a powerful roaring dragon that can be powerful, almighty, breath fire, do mean things, and scare people. Yes, this is what i actually fear. That people will exploit this in order to become an "über-character". Like becoming one in recent Action-RPGs, where this is nothing but normal. I had hoped that Drakensang would be different to this scheme, by the way, but my hopes were in vain. I like becoming an uber-character. I just like it when I can become a uber-character and also talk my ways out of situations (from improving Speech skills) a la Fallout 2 or PST.
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Post by Nero the Glorious on Sept 2, 2008 22:48:27 GMT
Yes, this is what i actually fear. That people will exploit this in order to become an "über-character". Like becoming one in recent Action-RPGs, where this is nothing but normal. I had hoped that Drakensang would be different to this scheme, by the way, but my hopes were in vain. I like becoming an uber-character. I just like it when I can become a uber-character and also talk my ways out of situations (from improving Speech skills) a la Fallout 2 or PST. Or talking Aribeth back over to the good side in NwN...freaking 5000 for the roll on that persuade check....hooray for stacking buffs and ammy of the master...etc etc etc
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Post by Alrik on Sept 3, 2008 10:21:46 GMT
I like becoming an uber-character. I'm rather argueing from the TDE (The Dark Eye) system's perspective. To become a really powerful character might need years in P&P. TDE is an rather realistically-oriented system. This is by the way source of criticism regarding Drakensang, where the heroes reach levels in such a short time which is just unrealistic for this system. Me and a few others say that Drakensang was modelled too much towards its "big ideal" of Baldur's Gate. Because the balancing in (A)D&D games is totally different than in TDE. TDE is rather some kind of mild grinding, whereas in (A)D&D you get very powerful weapons, armors and stuff (like spells) which are balanced against equally powerful opponents. In TDE, normally ! , there aren's that powerful opponents, especially in early levels. Thus there's no need for high-level powerful items in it. Drakensang - from the perspective of "us" - is just TDE modelled so that it will fit into a (A)D&D -dominated world. The balancing is not much TDE, but rather (A)D&D instead, especially in higher levels (during earlier levels you won't see much of it, though). In Drakensang, "we" say, the heroes reach higher levels too fast - and too high levels to be believable within the TDE system. Levels of 20 or so are - for example - almost "legendary" - which means that EVERYONE on the whole continent of Aventuria shoul've heard of the heroes ! But it's hard to incorporate them into the official timeline, because they SHOULD be mentioned in the 2-monthly "magazine" the "Aventurischer Bote" (which is an in-game magazine also containing help and knowledge sections for both players and GMs) as the "winners" of the so-called "Drachen-Queste" (dragon quest, a special kind of quest which is started every 87 years). And not mentioning almost "legendary" or at least very, very well-known heroes in in-game "newspapers" or "magazines" is ... unbelievable, at least personally for me. In short words: "Über-Characters" are relatively unlikely for a long, long time in the TDE system. To me, it's like some sort of mild grinding. Others might disagree. So, that's why I'm rather sticking with a rather "realistically" formed character, traditionally.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Sept 3, 2008 15:47:06 GMT
Alrik, have you ever actually played the P&P version of AD&D? I have to ask because you seem to be basing all criticism of it on the computer games which really are not the same.
The speed of leveling and gaining of magic items are totally down to the GM in ANY RPG and it's perfectly possible to have a low level campaign that lasts for months where you won't gain more than a handful of levels or much in the way of magic.
You seem to think TDE is somehow unique or special. It's not. All RPGs are based on D&D at their heart because it was the first (Well, unless you count Chainmail which I'm not sure you can...).
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Post by Alrik on Sept 3, 2008 19:25:26 GMT
No, I must admit that I've never played the P&P version of (A)D&D.
I've got a starter set of I think 3.5, and bought a rule book for I think 2.
That's it.
But on the other side - if it is so different in P&P, then why isn't this carried out in the video games as well ?
And yes, TDE is in fact based in some points on (A)D&D. It's relatively obvious in some very early elements in it.
However, it is a system which reflects an approiach which imho might reflect the German culture - at least a bit.
To me, it is not surprising to find that each RPG system reflects to some point (often between the lines) the culture of its creators.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Sept 3, 2008 20:27:54 GMT
Despite being created by Americans, (A)D&D has quite a cross-cultural sensibility, not least due to the greatest major influences on it clearly being Tolkien and Moorcock - both English authors. There's also a lot of Norse and Greek influences and latterly stuff from other cultures, too.
The difference with the video/computer games is, I suspect, due to immediacy. An eight hour P&P RP session is nothing unusual and in that time the game may advance a few rooms, a lot of conversations and (In a campaign designed to be low level and stay that way) maybe a quarter to half a level if you are lucky.
Eight hours playing solo on a computer where you make no visible gain is just a complete non-starter. So they speeded the whole thing up.
It's also the case, of course, that you will get a lot more done in eight hours solo computer gaming. There are no dice to roll, no other people to talk to, no really lengthy conversations and incredibly limited options. That too will speed up the process.
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Post by Hildor on Sept 9, 2008 9:13:02 GMT
Still haven't heard anything from Larian for the playtest since their last "we're waiting for enough people to subscribe so we can start forming player groups".
Get on with it! ^^
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Post by mysterd on May 27, 2009 1:47:56 GMT
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 27, 2009 2:01:20 GMT
Impressive looking set! The knight's sword is also a letter opener, for those who don't yet know. I suspect they'll only release something that expensive-looking in places where they are guaranteed good sales - which likely means Germany only, at least for now. The Germans getting the best deal should please Alrik, considering how rare that is
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Post by mysterd on May 27, 2009 22:50:33 GMT
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Post by Nero the Glorious on May 28, 2009 4:17:46 GMT
I want the little statue... someone tell Lynn to be nice to us NA folks...
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Post by Hand-E-Food on May 28, 2009 4:25:18 GMT
Heck, just import it. We live in a global economy!
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Post by Alrik on May 29, 2009 20:47:08 GMT
The Germans getting the best deal should please Alrik, considering how rare that is Yes, right. ;D Althought I *very strongly* expect a Belgian Collector's Edition as well ... I think it would be just fair so. But ... time will tell ... Apart from that, this set is currently scheduled for about 60 Euros ... Which is quite an amount for me ! Now, it's the time to put some money away ...
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