My recent addiction to shrapnel games.

[PvK]

Originally posted by Arryn:

quote:

---

Originally posted by PvK:
Matrix games

Matrix is a great indie publisher, but be wary of some of the titles. Especially any games that Gary Grigsby's been involved with. They're obtuse, buggy as hell, and their forums are full of fanboys. (For example, Uncommon Valor.)

---

Ya I would look for external opinions of their specific titles, but they have some interesting ones. I think they tend to shun demos, though, which can make it hard to judge. There was one RTS about the normandy invasion developed by a Mexican team that was pretty terrible, but some others are quite good in their niche, such as Korsun Pocket (that specific niche being operational-level wargame about one battle with lots of detail and complexity). I'm currently interested in their most recent Pacific War and Starshatter games, but am waiting for the full reviews to appear at The Wargamer and elsewhere.

PvK

[Arryn]

Originally posted by PvK:
... some others are quite good in their niche, such as Korsun Pocket (that specific niche being operational-level wargame about one battle with lots of detail and complexity). I'm currently interested in their most recent Pacific War and Starshatter games, but am waiting for the full reviews to appear at The Wargamer and elsewhere.

Korsun Pocket is good. Be warned that Pacific War is by the same developer as Uncommon Valor, and appears to use the same engine. (The engine's okay; the developer isn't. IMO.)

[Gandalf Parker]

Shrapnel has other "retro" feel games. Space HoRSE (a remake of M.U.L.E.) and Dungeon Oddyssey and Interstellar trader are all games I enjoy. None of them are as deep as Dom2 or SEIV, nor as wide-open potential as TWE, but they still live on my computer (longer than any recent "shelfware" game).

[Beorne]

Originally posted by Cainehill:
Spiderweb Software (www.spiderwebsoftware.com) is a very well regarded indie - about 10 games, I think mostly turn-based, multi characters RPGs.

After long time playing Japan RPG on PS I'd like to buy an RPG on PC. Being a DOM2 addicted, is very important for me the advice of other DOM2 loving palyers.
I've through the "What other games do you play" thread to make some ideas about good rpg, and the usual popular titles are coming out: NWN, Morr, BG, Diablo etc. Surely very good products with some good points and some flaws each. Surely products with money on great graphics and marketing.
But I'm not a high quality graphics fan, apart JRPG I played and loved NetHack, Adom, Dom2, SEIVG etc. I love depth.
So, can you tell me if the SpiderWeb rpg have more depth than the cited classics? Is the comparing a no mathc like Dom2 vs AoW (a pretty game suddenly becoming a mediocre product after you put hands on the unknown Dom2)

Thank you

[Karacan]

Spiderweb published the Avernum series (formerly known as Exile), and Avernum III is a really, really good game that feels very open ended due to the huge world. The storyline is also pretty good, and the game gets fiendishly difficult but very interesting towards the end.

I also really like the "do as thou wilt" way of character development in Spiderweb rpgs, and the way that in battle, tactics are much more important than dicing luck, especially in dungeons and similar places.

However, the graphics are outdated and the interface takes some time to become second nature, but maybe that's just me.

[Cainehill]

Originally posted by Beorne:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cainehill:
Spiderweb Software (www.spiderwebsoftware.com) is a very well regarded indie - about 10 games, I think mostly turn-based, multi characters RPGs.

After long time playing Japan RPG on PS I'd like to buy an RPG on PC. Being a DOM2 addicted, is very important for me the advice of other DOM2 loving palyers.
I've through the "What other games do you play" thread to make some ideas about good rpg, and the usual popular titles are coming out: NWN, Morr, BG, Diablo etc. Surely very good products with some good points and some flaws each. Surely products with money on great graphics and marketing.
But I'm not a high quality graphics fan, apart JRPG I played and loved NetHack, Adom, Dom2, SEIVG etc. I love depth.
So, can you tell me if the SpiderWeb rpg have more depth than the cited classics? Is the comparing a no mathc like Dom2 vs AoW (a pretty game suddenly becoming a mediocre product after you put hands on the unknown Dom2)

---

The Spiderweb RPGs tend to have some real RP in them, unlike, say, Diablo2 (which I confess I've played thousands of hours of). Different factions, plot lines, quests that actually make a difference.

Definately better in terms of depth than MorrowWind, the original Baldur's Gate, and the like. But you don't need to try too hard for people's opinions with these ones - just download one of the demos and give it a spin. The demos aren't crippleware - 1/3 to 1/2 the game is right there to play, no turn limits, no magic research limits.

They're no graphical wonderland, albeit I think the later ones especially have serviceable art, but - without fancy graphics, the guy has made a living doing indie RPGs for ten years or so.

But give 'em a try - I had my issues with the early ones, in particular inventory management could be a pain. Everyone has different pain thresholds for things like that though, and the later ones may have improved the UI.

(Oh - while I never finished them ( the only RPG I can recall finishing was Wizardry 1 and Bard's Tale 1 ), Baldur's Gate 2 and even more so, Planescape Torment were, imo, pretty damn good RPGs given the handicap of using the AD&D rules.)

[fahdiz]

Originally posted by Arryn:
Korsun Pocket is good. Be warned that Pacific War is by the same developer as Uncommon Valor, and appears to use the same engine. (The engine's okay; the developer isn't. IMO.)

WitP is the best PTO sim I've played, actually.