Traditional D and D Style Game

[Mike_Everley]

First...  Did you say Tom Bombadil?  Am I gonna find Glorfindel or Celebrían?  Be a shame if not.  Glorfindel didn't make it to the movies......

Second... is there a working title? Or would it give too much away?

And third... the mechanics.  Are you using the newer D20 or older THAC0 system, or using your own?

Hi,

Thanks for the interest. No real title as yet. I'll see where it goes first. Glad you liked Tom. A nod to JRR. I have a Tulkien in the game as an elven historian. He believed the elves descended from the sky walking Sindar. A nod to Arthur C Clarke and 2001. Just need to smuggle Asimov's Foundation in and we are away!

Made the Character Select system myself using events. Not sure exactly how the D20 or THACO systems work or how to apply. A problem being that, unlike in the game, only the player is really involved rather than a party and they could select any race, class and alignment level. So the game needs to offer choices that are limited by their previous choices. I would rather character development to come from previous choices made as in an existentialist sense, although luck also has a part to play with randomisation in place of dice throws. That is why it is a d and d style game rather than a replica. If that makes sense. However, randomisation will be introduced in the form of chances of avoiding poisoning etc. Higher if a cleric than a rogue for example. And chances of getting caught when stealing, if your alignment allows you to steal, higher for a cleric than a rogue.

I suppose one ending could be achieving a higher alignment than you started with. But that suggests a moral compass which isn't always present in d and d or fiction for that matter. Tolkien has it in the Lord of the Rings which basically is about temptation and the ability to resist it, while Grim in Game of Thrones doesn't and his, I suppose, in more in keeping with d and d. As an old fashioned socialist I suppose I prefer Tolkien's vision.

With regard to game mechanics,  basically it is a mainly evented game, with some borrowed scripts from Yanfly and Gav etc for enhanced message systems and regional restrictions etc. Would be glad to hear about ideas of how either D20 or THACO dice throws could be introduced. Would need different variables for different dice presumably. 1 out of 6, 1 out of 8 etc. Although perfect randomisation never works in any system either analogue or digital as there are always built in system biases.

Although the player selects companions for certain quests, they are not like players in table top versions who have their own agendas and roles. Also people can react to situations as they find them, while these companions are limited by their programming and it would be difficult to predict at the game development stage every situation that the player may place them in. Particularly as the game gets bigger and the choices for action wider.
On the plus side I have completed the 40 lore books using EST's Notebook system and the EXP curves using Dekita's system. Although I think I need to tweak the latter as otherwise the fighter's get to level 40 while the wizards are still on level 4. The lore books draw on d and d material, but I have invented a history, mythology and religion, but it a little brief.

I have added quite a few homemade maps using Profantasy's Campaign Cartographer 3 Plus.

Anyway, hope that answers you questions. Great to hear from you.

Mike