What are Your Thoughts On D&D

[seebs]

Actually they are quite compatable. The difference in skill lists is mainly due to the fact that there was some SIGNIFIGANT additions to the skill list, due to lack of really important skills (research comes to mind). Most people simply use a grand 12 skill per category list when combining the game. Non-core skills were always part of the game anyway, and there's definately room to fiddle (since there's no necessity for there to be any one particular skill in game, unlike D&D). What most people don't understand is that the system encourages fiddling. The main incompatability comes from the vampire's need to maintain humanity, while mages can blithly do what they want, and other problems. These too are resolvable.

Yeah. I just wish they'd synchronize the systems and put all the same skills in the games; it'd be that much easier.

Conclusion: The systems can't be melded without changes, but they can be changed easily, unlike D&D.

Er... What makes it hard to change D&D? I don't know anyone who doesn't tweak D&D a little here and there. New skills, new classes, new spells, you name it. 3E is well-suited to introducing new skills or adapting existing ones.

 

[Radio-Free Gnosis]

D&D is good, but, like a lot of others seem to, I enjoy White Wolf more.

If you're looking for a Storyteller System tailored to fantasy, check out Exalted.

 

[Dracil]

Oh yes, I have Exalted. Haven't actually had a chance to play it in a RPG group though.

 

[Kelly]

Er... What makes it hard to change D&D? I don't know anyone who doesn't tweak D&D a little here and there. New skills, new classes, new spells, you name it. 3E is well-suited to introducing new skills or adapting existing ones.

Agreed, and most of the skills can be attempted without training (meaning you don't have to have any ranks in the skill to give it a try - you just use the appropriate ability score mod)

Some company put out a big book of feats, including some non-combat feats. Also, check out Swashbuckling Adventures, there are lots of non-combat feats and a new twist on them - virtues and wiles. Little special abilities that reflect the character's personality.

 

[Lady Jaina]

Personally, I have never played it, though I have played things similar. I was wondering b/c many of my Christian friends suggested that I not play it due to the content. It sounds fun, though and I am glad to that ya'll don't see anything wrong with it.

 

[MediocrityInAction]

"I don't like Christianity. It has anachronisms such as a God concept (who believes in this anymorre?), the restrictive "sin" concept, and all this strange stuff about an afterlife."

How did you guess?

But as to the revised Storyteller system used in Trinity, most of the revision is taken in one of two ways. Firstly, the combat system is streamlined by simplifying the damage rules immensely. This goes hand-in-hand with a general streamlining of the whole mechanics of the system. For example, a straight 7 or more on a D10 is now a success, so no more of the needing straight 10s to succeed on some rolls. Instead, difficulty is represented by needing multiple successes to achieve difficult tasks. Secondly, a greater emphasis is placed upon creating characters other than the supernatural ubermenschen common to other White Wolf games. Mere humans actually work in the Trinity setting.
Oh yes, and there is one more thing which makes this game so excellent. NOT A WISP OF GOTHIC ANGST ANYWHERE!!!!!!

 

[JamesMc]

Hey, check it out, first post

I think the starter of this topic meant thoughts on D&D from a Christian perspective, rather than "is it any good?"

Anyway, I think that, like anything, as long as you don't take it too seriously, it's good fun. One Christian church I know locally tells us that anything involving anything remotely "evil" is evil, and hence should be given a wide berth by Christians.

I think that outlook is narrow minded at worst, and dangerous at best. For starters, where would you stop that train of thought? D&D? Warhammer? The Lord of the Rings movies (orcs and goblins -> evil -> avoid)?

As far as I'm concerned, as long as stuff like this doesn't take over your life - (ie you have a reasonable grip on reality!) then playing such games is no problem at all from a Christian point of view. If anything it lets you go out and take on evil without actually leaving your dining room.

Should anyone want to play and "evil" character, then a Christian DM would use this to demonstrate that evil is a thing to be overcome. A Christian player in a non-Christian group could use his D&D character to help bring Christian beliefs to the rest of the group. And so on.

Myself, played second edition, found it fun, seen 3rd edition, looks good too. Most of my contact with D&D recently has been through the PC games, Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale.

I'm off to the gym now - New Year's Resolution to stick to!

~James

 

[Lady Jaina]

Thanks James. That Christian Church you know locally sounds about like mine, as well as several of the Christian radio stations in my town. My views on things like this and LOTR are pretty much the same--just don't let them lead you astray or come between you and the Lord.

 

[seebs]

One of the most interesting characters I ever played was evil to start with; he was eventually redeemed. It was very, very, interesting to watch him learn.

 

[Beanface]

I have always wanted to play D&D, but I don't know anyone who is a good DM. My dad told me about playing it while he was young, but without a good DM, it sucks, and he could never be a good one. so I guess I'm jelous of all you guys who play it

 

[OceanAngel]

Anyone here ever played a system called Gear Krieg?

Its set in WW2 but with a higher tech level, its quite a cool system that does away with levels and uses a movie style gameplay.

 

[Dracil]

One Christian church I know locally tells us that anything involving anything remotely "evil" is evil, and hence should be given a wide berth by Christians.

Does that mean they aren't alive anymore? They said "anything", which I'm pretty sure would include human life.

 

[Christiangamer]

For the mostpart harmless......being an agnostic i have nothing to worry about with the moral question of games as long as im mature enough to not take it literally.

Funny, its ironic with my sn.

 

[Kelly]

I have always wanted to play D&D, but I don't know anyone who is a good DM. My dad told me about playing it while he was young, but without a good DM, it sucks, and he could never be a good one. so I guess I'm jelous of all you guys who play it

Look at your local hobby shop. Perhaps they have a message board up somewhere in the shop. Chances are if the person went through the trouble to leave a note requesting players, they are decent DMs (the idea there that if they are willing to DM strangers, they are probably pretty good). Also, just shop in the game books section, if you see someone looking at games see if they are looking for a new player, you never know.

Secondly, if you live near a university, there is without a doubt a gaming organization of some varity.

 

[Light in the Darkness]

Should anyone want to play and "evil" character, then a Christian DM would use this to demonstrate that evil is a thing to be overcome.

Did I read this wrong, or are you suggesting that a player with an "evil" character be punished?

 

[OceanAngel]

When I DM I like to let my players do what the character alignment dicates, but if they take evil actions, they are consequences.

I.E. in one of my games without going to far into details, two of the main characters are evil and have become well known for those actions and have been blamed for a crime they didn't commit and are now on the run, i kinda like the slight irony there.

I personally dont think I'd make a good DM if i said 'no those actions are morally wrong so you can't do that.' also I feel I make more of a point if I 'show' them the consequences rather than tell them them.

Anyway thats my 2 cents.

 

[Kelly]

Did I read this wrong, or are you suggesting that a player with an "evil" character be punished?

I think he meant that the evil character would overcome it. Like Darth Vader at the end of ROTJ?

I might add that a Christian DM, who's running his own campaign, has every right to restrict his player's alignments, spells, dieties and such - as long as these types of things are spelled out before players come aboard and join his group. There are ways to punish and reward actions appropriately - think Light Side and Dark Side points in SWRPG.

 

[MyOwnWay]

This may get me in trouble, but I feel I must comment on this thread.

I do believe in God and His love. Though I am not what most people would call a Christian. I was baptized Anglican but that's about where it ends.

I am like most Gamers that when we try to put the words "Christian" and "D&D" together, the stereo-typical response usually ends up with the rolling of ones eyes and a chorus of groans and exasperated sighs. This has been perpetuated by the media because when almost any violent act is perpetrated by a gamer, the imediate response is to blame the game. This upsets me for obvious reasons. As a result, most gamers think that any and all religious organizations, primarily Christianity, think all of us gamers are a bunch of heathanistic, sadistic, devil worshipers who like to put cats and virgins to the chopping block while chanting "Hey, Nani Nani" or some such thing.

Reading this thread I can see that I, and alot of other gamers, have been quite misled. It would seem that you Christians DON'T hate us after all!!! I am glad to see that I was wrong. I must also say that reading this has strengthened my belief in God and Christ's teachings of love and acceptance. From now on I will do my best to squash the notion of "Christians vs. Gamers".

I suppose I have "seen the light" in this matter. Happy gaming everyone, and God Bless you all.

MyOwnWay

 

[Kelly]

I was a gamer before I was a Christian and I continue to be one now. It's a hobby. If anything, it kept me out of trouble through High School, right? I could have been out at parties or something on those saturday evenings. Instead, I was in my parents basement, surrounded by friends, safe and clean and creatively entertaining them with interactive fiction.

Gaming, like any hobby, is what you do with it. You can celebrate goodness, virtue, and heroics or you can focus on personal gain, power, etc.

 

[Skellybones]

Should anyone want to play and "evil" character, then a Christian DM would use this to demonstrate that evil is a thing to be overcome.

Yes, I remember having this problem a few years back (about 1.5), I got stuck in a group that already had the DM picked out, so I had to settle with playing alongside everyone else...not something I care for. So yeah, the group consisted of mostly CN, N, and one CG character(s), this was boring, so I decided to liven the game up. My wizard slowly became more sadistic over time, the DM would do his best to try to show me (my character) "the error of my ways". This is funny because no one else was complaining when I had a small militia of undead as backup. Needless to say, I have yet to begin a campaign involving that DM. Preaching during a session is very annoying. Therefore if it continues, I tend to reward the evil PCs as sort of a polite way of saying "shut up and let us finish the game!" Heh, do what suits you.