Articles tagged with: RPG

When I backed Shadowrun Returns at Kickstarter nearing a year ago I did it based on pure faith. SR was a game I read about when I was young but never had the chance to play. I now have the third edition book + companion so at least I can read and learn specific rules, but in general I love the aesthetics of this futuristic fantasy world and was curious about how the computer videogame might result.

Well, the first screens and "alpha gameplay" footage is here, and I can't be happier.

In the video we see conversation options, skill points assignment, combat and exploration modes (the first turn-based, the second realtime). It also has the "old school CRPGs" isometric view, but with hi-res graphics and what looks to be a simple but powerful user interface.

And best of all, the level editor is going to come with the PC version!

I love how the whole game is being done: open and transparent communication with backers, frequent updates, early screenshots and even videos, and no desire to get greedy; As they already have quite some money, even non-backers will get a nice RPG that will feature near-endless hours of fun due to the editor.

Publication date: 2013-03-09

Tags: RPG Shadowrun Videogames

CD Projekt RED, creators of The Witcher videogames (quite good RPGs that respect all the lore of the books) have just released a small trailer of their next game, Cyberpunk 2077 (+ wikipedia link, not much info yet, though).

From the trailer description:

Welcome to the year 2077.

The teaser shows how the Psycho Squad might acquire a new member.

The Psycho Squad specializes in combating "psychos" -- individuals who overuse implants and substances that boost or otherwise alter the human body.

There comes a point when they overdose on these innovations, and their bodies start to rebel against their biological body parts as well as all things organic around them. Simply put, they start killing people, who they now derisively call "meatbags."

When a psycho goes on the rampage, strange things can happen. There's carnage, and the psycho might be taken down by regular police, but they're not always able to get the job done.

When things spin out of control, they call in MAX-TAC (Maximum Force Tactical Division), popularly called the Psycho Squad.

And the cool trailer:

I can't wait for the game, Cyberpunk 2020 was my first approach to the futuristic cyborg setting (along with Blade Runner).

I actually have some miniatures painted from long long ago, a dozen characters depicting from gang members and private security mercs to policemen, hackers and executives:

Update: The teaser making of. Awesome level of detail...

Publication date: 2013-01-11

Tags: Cyberpunk Miniatures RPG Videogames

I am around 10 projects backed on kickstarter already, and not all of them are RPG related, but at the time of writing this post, you still have 52 hours to get an incredible deal.

Reaper miniatures is doing a "Bones" kickstarter: For 100$ (+25$ for international shipping), you get the "vampire level" which right now amasses around 150 200 miniatures, including heroes, monsters, futuristinc minis, "fire" and translucid special minis, townsfolk, elfs, dwarves, goblins...

Just count, is less than 1$ per mini, and believe me, the quality is really high and most look really amazing.

And then, if you want, for increases of 10-15$, you can get optional packs with huge minis like dragons (all sorts of them), giant skeletons, ettins, drows, giants, demons, even Cthulhu mythos monsters!

I couldn't resist having the Ettin and Drow extra packs, and I'm seriously thinking about Dragons or daemons, but even the basic pack is incredibly cheap for the stuff you get.

At the kickstarter page you can check the full lists, I won't link them because the image is already huge and constantly changing (the total pledges are coming near 1.9 million dollars!).

If you like fantasy miniatures, either for painting or for any fantasy game (Descent, DnD or any similar one) you should really take a look. But do it fast before the kickstarter ends!

Publication date: 2012-08-23

Tags: Miniatures RPG

Kickstarter.com is a nice fresh idea: You present a project, define what it will be, show some concept art, sketches or a video of somebody explaining it, and you define pledges and associated rewards. A simple pledge can be a copy of the new RPG book, or a copy plus t-shirt, or even being included in the book as a NPC!
Then you get funds directly from buyers, and they get their pledge when you finish. Is amazingly simply yet brilliant, and what I love most is t hat you no longer need middle-companies or distributors, so you get mor profit and less restrictions.

While there are some really cool projects about physical RPGs, custom dice or new expansions/modules for existing games, two computer RPGs have all my attention (and now a bit of my money ;)

Shadowrun Returns & Wasteland 2.

If you are a pen&paper RPG player and old enough, chances are high you at least have seen, read about or played Shadowrun. But if not, there is a nice 87 free PDF "primer" at the authors' website.

And about the original Wasteland... Let's just say that the original computer game was the inspiration for the Fallout series.

I'm pretty sure more cool games will appear, but this two ones are looking really promising.

Bonus: Legend of Grimrock has just been released a few days ago. The game is a tribute to the legendary Dungeon Master, and from a few hours of play I can say it's recommend for all old school CRPG lovers.

Publication date: 2012-04-14

Tags: RPG Videogames

• Treasure chests can only hold one or two items at most. People can hold a near infinite amount of items.
• If someone in town tells you that they heard a rumor, it's true.
• Dungeon monsters and traps will only attack or effect the hero and the people traveling with him/her. If you're just an unimportant person, you can go ahead and run through the dungeon, temple, forest, desert, cave, or other place teeming with evil unharmed.
• You should always walk behind waterfalls, because there's always something hidden back there.
• Animals, in general, will attack you relentlessly as you travel from one place to another.
• Most people stay in the same exact spot all day long.
• Everybody in every part of the world speaks the same language.
• Sleep is the only absolute necessity of life. You can travel all over the world and fight as much as you want, and there is never a need to eat, drink, or go to the bathroom.
• Most houses in the world only have one room.
• After dealing your arch enemy an apparently fatal blow, don't think you can rest easy. He'll probably transform and become stronger.
• You may see beds everywhere, you may be able to get into them, but you won't be able to sleep unless you pay money.
• The world is flat.
• You can carry 99 tents, 99 potions, and 99 Phoenix Downs, but you cannot carry 100 potions.
• Items in treasure chests, even in someone else's house, are yours for the taking.
• Your job is to defend a world that has less than 100 people and a limitless amount of monsters.
• Store owners have the right to keep getting rich from the hero, even though the fate of their world rests on the hero's shoulders.
• All methods of transportation, be they subway, airplane, boat or bus, are usually free.
• When you get injured by a sword, or other weapon, blood will not pour out, only numbers.

 

This, and more funny things we have surely learned, at the original source.

Publication date: 2012-02-06

Tags: Humour RPG