Quote:
Originally Posted by ZeroGFrame
In response to Spike's review...
Combat is intentionally deadly. The system was designed around realism and role-playing, so the objective is to avoid combat whenever possible. It's not a hack-n-slash system! Second, I wouldn't say the cards are "optional"... they really are an integral part of the game, and help to keep players alive, and help them succeed. Also, the Narrator only receives a small subset of experience as compared to the amount the players earn, to keep things interesting... so it's not that everything balances out and negates itself.
|
I was able to use the game as written without purchasing the cards. While I suspect they can and do add to the game play in some ways, they are in now way necessary. Having looked at the sample characters in Cyberpop I have seen the types of backgrounds 'added' by drawing cards. Maybe I'm missing something, maybe I'm not.
I have played RPG's with decks of special cards before (the whole Masterbook line before and after the 'Masterbook' thing...) and I found keeping up with a deck of cards in play was not worth it to me. Others may disagree, I just try to report it as I see it and hopefully unbiased enough to let others make their own decisions.
As for the earthdawn link, now I've got to dig out my old, cover-less copy of the game and take another look at the mechanics.
