Last Saga preview: what's D&D's Starship Combat?

[Ranger REG]

I prefer my D&D more tactical than roleplaying, but I tend to game with rolepalyers exclusively. :\

Roleplayers tend to add a level of interactivity and dialogue to the game.

But I have gamers who look at this game as to simply solve a problem, troubleshooters who don't project a lot of persona for their PCs. Like they're running one of those emergency drills that our neighborhood first responders prepares in case the real ones actually happens.

 

[Ranger REG]

The genius of D&D was to keep the controversy around. There are better games out there but none that offers a meta-game this much fun!

True. You ever tried to meta-game Monopoly or Magic: The Gathering?

 

[Nifft]

Depends on the group. For some groups, it's social skills. For others, it's stealth and larceny. I'm sure the riding thing comes up too often; I've seen the ship thing recently, too.

- - -

The moral of the SW Saga Skill set story seems somewhat sad: players can't be trusted to not overspecialize, and DMs can't be trusted to reward generalists. So this sort of thing is a nice enforced de-escalation. SALT for Skills, if you will.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Klaus]

The D&D equivalent to Starship combat, as in "aspect of the game that requires lots of investment but is rather limited"? I'd say Mounted Combat. You must invest several feats (Mounted Combat, Ride-by Attack, Spirited Charge, Trample, Mounted Archery), skill ranks (Ride, Handle Animal) and resources (a sturdy mount, food and lodging for said mount, gear for the mount and the rider) to be really good at, it is featured so little (in part due to the dungeoncentric nature of the default game) that said investment rarely pays off (notable exceptions like Red Hand of Doom are rare indeed).

 

[Nifft]

ever tried to mega-game Monopoly

"Hello? You're playing a SHOE! What the hell kind of shoe would put a hotel there?!"

Cheers, -- N

PS: I'm going to pretend you typed "meta", because I can't think of a good spelling flame.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I'd have to say mounted combat would be the starship combat of D&D.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Cam Banks]

I agree with the association of mounted combat with starship combat. In fact, I think running epic battles between dragon riders in Dragonlance could be better suited with the knowledge that a dragon is on a scale above standard foot soldiers. The dragonlance then becomes an equalizer for those foot soldiers or knights. It would also make people fear dragons, griffons, other flying and/or large and dangerous creatures.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Green Knight]

Iterative attacks is what really kills mounted combat. The whole point of being mounted is mobility, whether you're charging with a lance or firing a bow. But if you're mobile, then you're not getting your iterative attacks.

Personally, I hope D&D 4E emulates Saga and eliminates iterative attacks. Then maybe we might see the end of the 5-foot step combats.

 

[Ranger REG]

I agree with the association of mounted combat with starship combat. In fact, I think running epic battles between dragon riders in Dragonlance could be better suited with the knowledge that a dragon is on a scale above standard foot soldiers. The dragonlance then becomes an equalizer for those foot soldiers or knights. It would also make people fear dragons, griffons, other flying and/or large and dangerous creatures.

Cheers,
Cam

Ah. So you're equating dragon riders and their dragons to pilots and their starfighters.

I equate Temeraire and his flight crew (including Capt. Laurence) to Millenium Falcon and her crew.

 

[Klaus]

I agree with the association of mounted combat with starship combat. In fact, I think running epic battles between dragon riders in Dragonlance could be better suited with the knowledge that a dragon is on a scale above standard foot soldiers. The dragonlance then becomes an equalizer for those foot soldiers or knights. It would also make people fear dragons, griffons, other flying and/or large and dangerous creatures.

Cheers,
Cam

I'd equate dragons to flying siege engines, in a scale above regular mounts (wether flying or not).