by Chris Ware on Sep 24, 2009
Upcoming
browser based RTS style game
href="http://forum.lo.igg.com/" target="_blank">Lords
Online
released two screenshots and revealed that Advanced
Dungeon & Dragons
rules greatly influenced design. Having strong underpinnings is always
a good idea for any game and it is hard to argue with structuring your
game around the most popular rule set on the planet.
Here is the official announcement:
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forthcoming Lords Online browser-based strategy game combines a number
of RPG elements to achieve a unique balance. Among the key elements are
a number of rules based on standards established in the legendary
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons system.
Gamers across Europe and North America have long admired the
AD&D
rules, and any new game incorporating similar conventions can count on
players having a certain amount of instant familiarity and comfort
without having to learn completely new ways of doing things. In fact,
the imaginary worlds, creatures, civilizations, and swords and sorcery
combat detailed in AD&D have had a lasting impact not only on
games
but also Western culture.
In Lords Online, players have two map-based modes of play: Lord mode
and Hero mode. AD&D rules have their greatest impact on Lord
mode
adventures, which include elements not generally found in traditional
strategy games. Using Lord mode, players can recruit heroes to fight
alongside their main character, allowing for unique teams built to take
advantage of cooperative strategies and diverse classes.
Hero attributes are also strongly influenced by AD&D rules.
Each
hero has skills and abilities based on their three basic attributes:
Strength, Agility and Intellect. As heroes grow, what they learn
directly affects their attributes and effectiveness.
AD&D influences are also found in the system Lords Online
follows
for improving a character’s equipment. As players collect
better gear
by completing quests in Hero mode, they can then improve what
they’ve
acquired to make their characters more formidable. The developers based
equipment attributes on AD&D guidelines, so players can easily
interpret how their gear stats affect a character’s
performance in
battle.
Even if players have never been exposed
to AD&D rules, by using a
proven blueprint as a starting point the developers have built a solid
foundation for an exciting and entertaining fantasy adventure.
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