Diablo RPG Kickstarter signup is live

[JConstantine]

It’s joined by an anthology of one-shot adventures curated by Joe LeFavi, featuring award-winning writers from across the industry like Cullen Bunn (Horrow County), John Harper (Blades in the Dark), Graham McNeill (Warhammer), Micky Neilson (Diablo), Francesco Nepitello & Umberto Pignatelli (Lord of the Rings), MJ Newman (Arkham Horror), Grégory Thomazo (Shadows of Esteren), Shawn Tomkin & Matt Click (Ironsworn), and more.

I know he's a busy bee these days, but I'm a little surprised Matt Mercer wasn't tapped to write one given how much of a fan he is, and Blizzard already sponsored Critical Role for a Diablo oneshot.

The rules are powered by a custom d6 dice pool system from a dream team led by Joe LeFavi (Blade Runner) and GCU’s Przemysław Zub (Dying Light) working alongside Cam Banks (Marvel Heroic Roleplaying), John Harper (Blades in the Dark), Mike Olson (Fate), and Shawn Tomkin (Ironsworn) on the core rules.

This is a genuinely surprising design team for a TTRPG based on an aRPG built around combat and loot.

 

[darjr]

I know he's a busy bee these days, but I'm a little surprised Matt Mercer wasn't tapped to write one given how much of a fan he is, and Blizzard already sponsored Critical Role for a Diablo oneshot.

This is a genuinely surprising design team for a TTRPG based on an aRPG built around combat and loot.

Yea. I wonder if they asked? I bet he would love to work with these folks.

 

[Jahydin]

That’s a stacked design team!

I’m kinda sad they don’t even mention loot in the description. A Diablo rpg, at least for me, needs an amazing random loot and equipment generation system as a pillar.

I wonder if that's why they brought on Shawn Tomkin (Ironsworn)? I'd imagine solo-RPGs need a lot of tables...

 

[stormwriter]

I wonder if that's why they brought on Shawn Tomkin (Ironsworn)? I'd imagine solo-RPGs need a lot of tables...

That or maybe the game will have a solo mode since it’s becoming more popular lately? I can totally see a solo procedurally generated dungeon, it could have that feeling of exploring the first dungeon alone in D1.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Is there a secret cow level?

That feels like a great backer exclusive.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

That or maybe the game will have a solo mode since it’s becoming more popular lately? I can totally see a solo procedurally generated dungeon, it could have that feeling of exploring the first dungeon alone in D1.

I've actually toyed with making a procedurally generated dungeon for Shadowdark, riffing off of Diablo. Doing so for the Diablo RPG itself definitely seems like a great idea.

 

[overgeeked]

I've actually toyed with making a procedurally generated dungeon for Shaodwdark, riffing off of Diablo. Doing so for the Diablo RPG itself definitely seems like a great idea.

The old stuff from the AD&D DMG doesn't do what you want for that?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The old stuff from the AD&D DMG doesn't do what you want for that?

I would want to include a bunch of Diablo-inspired set pieces like a Butcher analogue randomly showing up, even on easier dungeon levels, the various distinct rooms like the altar where the prince was sacrificed, etc.

So an existing dungeon generator (although probably more along the lines of a Stygian Library-style depthcrawl generator, rather than straight up random rooms), but bespoke for the Diablo flavor.

 

[cbwjm]

This might be the first kickstarter in a long time that I back, I love diablo though I have more fun when my friends play and they've sadly given up on d4. I'll be keeping an eye on it, even if I don't back it, I'll likely pick it up later.

 

[SteveC]

This will be so interesting to look at, but I'm hesitant to back it. The names on the game are great, and I own a lot of products by many of them. But, those names make me feel like the game may suffer from being much more than anyone expects of a Diablo game. I've told the story that a friend of mine backed the Avatar game thinking it would be all about amazing Bending combat. It was not. The names on that list that I know design games about introspection and telling complex stories, not about satisfying combat.

When I play Diablo, most of the game involves my character saying "I don't have enough mana for that" while blasting hordes of mobs.

Now I am 100% willing to be wrong about this, but I'm concerned. Maybe the result will be a game I would actually enjoy more, but I suspect there will be a lot of people wanting to see how many enemies they can chain with their powers.