Post originally by Zombi Bobb at 2005-03-07 21:53:46
Converted from Phorums BB System

*Sigh* Where to start...

I find it funny that I was indoctrinated into roleplaying with BattleLords in the Ninth grade. Yes, this game is great for blowing stuff up and yes the writing is not the very best it could be, but to read this game as only that is to only get a shallow idea of its potential.

The generic-ness of the setting and races, coupled with the deadliness of the combat system (yes, you can armor up but good and not have combat be so deadly for you), allow the players to concentrate on what I think is a brilliant roleplaying dynamic. That of inter-party conflict.

Yes, this isn't new. However, when BattleLords first came out games were starting to explore this more purposefully, but alot of those still allowed individual characters to accomplish alot because they were usually "cinematic", meaning an individual could pull off quite amazing feats.

In BattleLords, making a starting character, you have weak weapons, crappy armor, make little money for the work you do and are forced into a squad with people you hate. The key component to alot of the races is that they have some sort of problem with someone else. These hatreds are all stereotypes of each other, whether they are true or not (and makes for wonderful commentary on modern day race relations), and focus a roleplaying session on the party interaction. The system does not allow for individual heroes (the biggest hero in the game is Madd Mike who started up a mercenary brocure after sole-surviving a huge massacre in which the press leaves out that he did so by hiding under the bodies of his fallen teammates), so the side with the best tactics will win the day. To execute good tactics the party has to overcome their biases and work together. Most often they end up screwing each other over for one reason or another (national pride, personal vendetta, fragging the crappy CO).

So that is how I see BattleLords. I hope someone out there sees something better than just "I gets to blow stuff up real good", not that it's not good for that too.