This is the cyberpunk genre as we see it in today's science fiction, and not trapped in the 80s like so many competitor RPGs. If Cyberpunk as a genre appeals to you, if only even Science Fiction appeals to you, buy this game. Ex Machina deserves notice.
Post originally by arcady at 2004-11-15 01:53:09
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I just wanted to let people know why I put "Playest" and what the extent of my relationship with GoO is/was.
I chose Playest for this review because it seems rpg.net considers that to mean you have played the game, rather than you were a playtester. I have always assumed it stood for people who did playtesting for a game company and served as a way to wanr people that the reviewer was really an insider. Way back when I wrote my first review here there was a flame war over that subject in the forums, so I chose Comp review under the assumption that it meant a comprehensive read and analysis rather than a semi-employee / volunteer for the company.
At the time it had apparently come out that some industry insider(s) were pretending to not be such, and the flame war was the result of being caught at it.
Anyway, I chose Playtest under the new assumption - that it means I've played the game. I have run and played in tri-stat campaigns, so I have that level of understanding of it. Youcould assume that any part of the game rules original to Ex Machina might therefore be a 'Comp' review, and the rest (the majority) Playtest.
I was at one time, for a short period, an actual playtester for GoO. The relationship ended when I found myself too busy to keep up at that time, and my players uninterested in signing NDA agreements (thus limited my efforts to merely reading the material I was sent). At present however, I no longer have such a connection to them. At the time I found GoO to be very nice and polite, and came away with a positive impression of them as people. If you feel that biases me, then take that into account as you must.
Or you could instead use it as a judgment call by me that you are likley to be treated well if you have direct interactions with them.
Anyway, just wanted to say why I chose Playtest. I'm personally still very unsure on that. To me, Playtest ought only to refer to people who are actual playtesters, and not people who have played the game.
Post originally by Nawara at 2004-11-15 08:29:24
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I wasn't really interested in Ex Machina before reading this, because Cyberpunk always seemed kind of... well, stupid. This review managed to dissuade all of my fears and preconceptions (which come from seeing too many "Cybered Punk" games, movies, and comics).
I think I'll pick it up now.
-Jeff
(Side Note: I've found that the Tri-Stat system works best when it's 2d4 roll-high... Stat+Skill + 2d4 +/- modifiers vs. target number of 9. The "scaling" seems to be designed to make rolling the dice more fun, but it detracts from the suspension of disbelief when you have player characters with average skills failing more often than joe-average NPCs with the same stats. Also, 2d4 roll-high is more intuitive, and makes a normal professional 94% proficient at average tasks, and a talented one 100%. It's only at high difficulties that rolling the dice is needed for people with high non-combat skills.)
Post originally by Philomousos at 2004-11-15 17:44:26
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Great review. I'd love to pick the game up, but the fact that they use D&D physics for the combat ultimately causes me to give it a pass.
I don't know why, particularly in a gritty genre like cyberpunk, people can't design a game where, if you get shot, you tend to die. That's why the military uses *guns* after all. I mean, I can believe a person evading a firer's aim through nimbleness a lot more than I can believe someone standing there, getting filled full of lead, and walking away.
Post originally by European at 2004-11-15 18:24:05
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"Wait, weren't we talking about democracy? What does capitalism have to do with that? - or so the European might ask... before the US bombed his cities out of existence for raising the question"
This European rolls his eyes...
Capitalism has to do a lot with democracy,as it gives power to people not the govt.
And anyway the comment about US bombing cities...Most of us Eastern Europeans would live much longer in poverty and tyranny if it wasn't for good old USA and their support for our freedom.
Post originally by arcady at 2004-11-15 18:25:49
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Cyberpunk 2013 was the only one that fit the bill on this issue, but it failed on several other counts.
Consider a couple options to get it to fit what realistic combat should be like:
Choose one or more of the following:
1: multiply max damage of all guns by 8. This would make it so the maximum damage would equal the average health score.
2: Lower PC points by half.
3: Use all the same numbers, but half PC points and switch the die roll to 2d6.
4: Require all characters, and not just henchmen, to take the limited health defect.
5: encourage the use of the massive damage attribute by giving to even henchmen and common thugs. Assume anyone who has had even a one hour seminar on how to shoot a gun has four ranks or more of massige damage with guns.
6: mix these options in some manner.
I agree with you - guns should be able to kill in a single shot. They won't always do it, but it should be possible. The frequency that you get max damage in a damage roll in tri-stat is about the right frequency for it too... 2-4 on 2d8.
Post originally by Philomousos at 2004-11-15 18:29:05
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Those are all good options. Thanks. I guess I'm just getting tired of writing up extensive house rules for every game I purchase. I want to buy one that works out of the box, someday.
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