ColonelHardisson
What? Me Worry?
EricNoah said:
Yeah, that was one of the main threads I had in mind.
Is Hackmaster a joke?
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Yeah, that was one of the main threads I had in mind.
BeholderBurger
First Post
The thread is titled "Is hackmaster a joke?" and as far as I am aware it is. In fact it seems very intentionally designed for those who hearken back to the lighthearted Hack&Slash D&D Days. Everybody remembers games like this to some degree when they started out but some people over the years have stepped up the seriousness quotient and may either have forgotten (or just dont appreciate) these days.
It reminds me to a certain extent of the parodies that games like Paranoia and Chainsaw Warrior and comic strips like Thrud the Barbarian (In White Dwarf for those that dont remember) tried to create in the early days of the hobby.
I think over time the game has shed a lot of the less serious gamers and now holds on to a core group of hardcore serious gamers who favour realism and plots and decent art (not comic crap like in 3E). I think this shows in threads like this.
It reminds me to a certain extent of the parodies that games like Paranoia and Chainsaw Warrior and comic strips like Thrud the Barbarian (In White Dwarf for those that dont remember) tried to create in the early days of the hobby.
I think over time the game has shed a lot of the less serious gamers and now holds on to a core group of hardcore serious gamers who favour realism and plots and decent art (not comic crap like in 3E). I think this shows in threads like this.
I don't have HM, but its on my 'get it one of these days' list. I wouldn't ever have time to play it, but the bits and pieces I've seen in the comic and what I've heard on the net it sounds like it would be a hoot to read.
I think the idea that if someone doesn't find KoDT funny they aren't going to like Hackmaster. Reason is, they haven't had the experiences most of us have had. KoDT got me with this scene.
DM - "You see an old beggar trapped in the river. He is starting to go under and is calling for help"
Player - "Fireball coming on-line BA"
Its like Dilbert. If you work in a typical corporate atmosphere, its like someone put a camera in your hallway. If you've never been in that environment you aren't going to get it.
And if you don't get the style of play that KoDT parodies, you aren't going to like the HM style (as I understand it)
I think the idea that if someone doesn't find KoDT funny they aren't going to like Hackmaster. Reason is, they haven't had the experiences most of us have had. KoDT got me with this scene.
DM - "You see an old beggar trapped in the river. He is starting to go under and is calling for help"
Player - "Fireball coming on-line BA"
Its like Dilbert. If you work in a typical corporate atmosphere, its like someone put a camera in your hallway. If you've never been in that environment you aren't going to get it.
And if you don't get the style of play that KoDT parodies, you aren't going to like the HM style (as I understand it)
JiffyPopTart
Bree-Yark
Just what everybody wants...another opinion!
I actually was very disappointed when I bought the PHB for Hackmaster, because I was expecting it to BE a joke. Granted it could have a set of workable rules thrown in with the jokes, but I really was expecting an entire RPG book making fun of DnD, and to a lesser extent RPG's in general.
Intead what I got was a pretty decent sized book that had some really funny parts "how to get your dice karmaized", some parts that just reminded me of reading my 1st edition DnD book, and some parts that were actual new and interesting gaming rules.
Sadly, all I really wanted was the funny stuff. I bought the DMG (damn that collector gene) and it was a little better, but I still wanted more funny fluff and jokes and a lot less actual game.
IMHO
DS
I actually was very disappointed when I bought the PHB for Hackmaster, because I was expecting it to BE a joke. Granted it could have a set of workable rules thrown in with the jokes, but I really was expecting an entire RPG book making fun of DnD, and to a lesser extent RPG's in general.
Intead what I got was a pretty decent sized book that had some really funny parts "how to get your dice karmaized", some parts that just reminded me of reading my 1st edition DnD book, and some parts that were actual new and interesting gaming rules.
Sadly, all I really wanted was the funny stuff. I bought the DMG (damn that collector gene) and it was a little better, but I still wanted more funny fluff and jokes and a lot less actual game.
IMHO
DS
EricNoah said:
The serious attempt at AD&D 3rd Edition and the gaming parody give the game the most problems, because they're inconsistent with one another.
An example of this can be seen with the Skill system. Quite simply, it's one of the most interesting systems I've seen for gaining and advancing skills. It's probably overcomplex, but that's okay - I can handle complex systems.
However, it has way, way, way too many skills. Consider the simple act of first aid - it is split into three skills: "Cauterise Wound", "Sew Own Wounds" and "Sew Wounds". Okay, there's a skill suite, but still this irritates me.
Then too, consider the number of skills dealing with NPC interaction: Bargain Sense, Bartering, Haggle, Intelligence Gathering, Skilled Liar, Interrogation, Art of Seduction, Berate, Diplomacy, Flex Muscle, Idle Gossip, Intimidation, Knowledge of Courtly Affairs, Oration, Parley, etc.
The good parts of the system are obscured by the silly parts - and tearing them apart leaves you with something that is very similar to 2.5E with a few parts of 1E re-included.
I like Hackmaster, but I cannot see myself ever playing a serious campaign with it.
Cheers!
EricNoah
Adventurer
I'm closing this topic for now. (Read why... )
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