Ropecon 2016

Ropecon is the largest non-commercial role-playing convention in Europe and it was held this weekend in Messukeskus, Helsinki. I took part to Ropecon once again and weekend was full of fun. There were several possibilities to play role-playing games and try various systems. This year participating to pen and paper role-playing games was way more uncertain since you were not able to sign up beforehand. Still I got lucky and was able to take part into four different games during weekend. Some of the systems were so interesting that I will tell a little about them and maybe write even more after I have tried my own role-playing games using those systems.

When one game usually lasts 3-4 hours in Ropecon, it is wise usually use some simple system. I tried game which used rules from Cyberpunk and at times it felt a bit heavy. There are so many lists and rolls than often it was only rollen all the time for being able to do something. And when the playing groupd was big (seven players + GM) you can imagine how long rolling took time. So from experience I always give a big hand simpler systems without endless rolling and giving room for storytelling.

But one of the best systems I tried this weekend was definetely Dread. It is simple role-playing system where players plays Jenga instead of rolling dices. If the tower falls, tha player will be deleted from a game. So it is a perfect way to bring some excitments to one-shots. Or you can deny to play Jenga when GM demands that and only accept that you will fail on that what you were trying to do. Sounds simple it worked well. And there wasn't either any character sheets with huge amount of numbers. There were questions what we answered from our characters and made the roles that way. Once again it sounded simple, but worked perfectly. I am so fascinated about this Dread that I will study more about it and keep at least one game using it. My plan is to write more how it worked then as a GM. 

But Ropecon was  totally worth of visiting and planning to go there next year again. If you want to read more about it, here is direct link what will tell more in English: https://2016.ropecon.fi/en/frontpage-ropecon-2016/. If you're any kind of gamer, this is a good convention to visit then!

Back to Dragon Age Inquisition

About a year ago I started to play Dragon Age Inquisition but I was too stressed and didn't have enough focus to keep playing that. I was thinking the game during summer, autumn and winter until started to play it again about month ago. Now I decided to focus on the story and texts what I will be hearing and now even the different kind of playing system didn't bother anymore. How the game felt then? Totally good and still  wanting to play story through.

The characters can jump, climb and so on.

My character Evelyn is focusing.

I am still loving the views.

Last time I tried to play as a rogue and first I planned to make a warrior this time. I even tried the warriorclass but decided to have third beginning as a mage. And it feels that solution was right one. Magic system in DAI is a good one and you can surviva alive as a mage. I can't say how difficult it would be on more difficult levels but the easiest ones are at least enough easy to play without frustration. 

It rains a lot in Storm Coast.

A moment of loneliness in Wilderness.

Redcliff looks diffeny comparing to DAO.

The world is as beautiful as I remembered it to be. The views are stunning and very detailed so it is pelasure for the eye. But only lovely-looking game wouldn't make me to return. Now I have realised that storyline is interesting and your choices affects the game. I have played a lot of game what goes to same solution no matter what you do during game. Now I have a feeling that my decisions matters. Like some storylines opens when I do certain decisions and some others will be sealed for the rest of the game.

The game includes a lot of detailed info.

The oasis is breathtaking.

And I begin to enjoy more about the difference of my companions. Since I can only choose to accompany me during adventuring I try to switch the party every now and then even I do have my favourites among the characters. But this way I can learn more about their nature and listen the conversations what they have. But once again I have a good feeling about playing a role game. Even though I am missing to play more pen and paper rpgs as well. But as long as I do not have a chance to play that often those, I can spend my time with DAI. Time well spend. 

Wasteland 2, first impression

It seems my October was overbooked since I hadn't much time to play nor write about the games. I also didn't know what to plat after Child of Light since that game was so cute and I hadn't have anything similar.. I tried few games like playing some Guildwars 2, Dishonored and eventually Wasteland 2. All the game were different to each other but that last one hit the jackpot this time. I got the game as a gift from my brother and decided to give it a try.

The beginning was so cool. I realise that I am desert ranger in Arizona. If it would had been in Texas probably I would had been less enthusiastic. But Arizona! I have been there myself and seen the desert so it was easy to imagine the atmosphere of the game when travelled there. So cool.

Loading screen looked nice.

The game looks nice.

You can use premade characters or make your own heroes. You're part of the team Echo and when travelling in the desert all kind skills. I decided to make my own jack of all trades girl Sonja who wasn't good on many things except on fighting. She knows how to find things, search the areas and talk to animals. But when the battle comes she needs her friends who will take care of the enemies and also keeps group all healed up.

For new player game is advicing things if they want that.

There are several small areas and then worldmap what combines everything.

World map seems rather empty at first.

Arizona is rough place to live after nuclear holocaust. Some of the areas are dangerous to walk because of teh radiation, there are attacking groups and if you run out with water, you will be dead in the desert. Such a lovely place. My first mission was to solve mystery of the Ace, one of the rangers. He had found as dead one and our group were supposed to finish his work. Now we were like wannabe ass-kickers but solving mystery of the Ace would grant us to be a real rangers. How cool.

You can move whole team together or one by one.

Dry and devastated lands won't give much hope.

You can watch your travelling on the map.

First hours with Wasteland 2 has been rather entertaining ones. At first I was a bit suspicious if I would like this game but I have realised that plot is good one. You have to do choices and those have always consequences. I also like the fighting system where I have time to think strategy because it is based on turns. So for now.. I have positive feeling about this game and will post more when I have played it further. 

Child of Light part 2

The story has continue and what a story it is! At the same time it is touching, at time I would like to cry a bit but still it is full of hope. So good, so very good! I know that this game isn't open world where you can do all kind of things but at times it is so nice to follow good straighforward story and solve puzzles during it.

First you begin with few skills.

Every time you get level, you can get one new skill.

And all the skills are well explained.

On higher levels you have more options.

At first I was confused with the levelling system but after few levels I realised how it works. Every party member has three skill trees what leads to different kind of skills.  Everytime you reach a level you can pick one of the skills so improving one of the skill pathes. Every skill os explained and at times they give you more health when other times you gain new battle skills or improve the old ones. Simple and effective system. The longer I used it, I started to like it more.

Always getting some when gaining level.

All the party member gains exp even they are not fighting.

Oculis are usefull in many ways.

You can add oculis either to weapone or armor.

You also got more HP and defense and attack bonuses automatically when you levelled up which was informed after gaining levels. And of course you had to fight to gain levels.. playing story further didn't grant you more than good knowledge. Another interesting detail in Child of Light are oculis. You can craft them, combine them to creat even better ones and having new colours.. and each colour and each different kind of oculi has different skill. And it even depended if you added oculi to your armor or weapon. So.. That way all the characters can be even more unique. And that makes it more fascinating.

These small puzzles were cute add to a game.

Every scene is so detailed and well made. Piece of art!

The atmosphere changes during game.

Icy world  looks cold but beautiful.

What I can say? The game has gotten me.. The music is beautiful. The game itself looks stunningly awesome and you can stare the landscapes a long time only watching small details. I have to say that this game is succesfully made and I loved how it tells story of the girl. Not a flirtatious game since everything is based on friendship. So truly refreshing game among many others! So if you haven't try it, you should. At least find the music of the game and listen it.. even the music has own story to tell. And for once you're really playing a heroine, Princess Aurora. So jump in to save Lemuria!

Child of Light, Part 1

If you want to play a game where is lovely but sorrowfull music and beautifull landscapes I can name you one game immediately; Child of Light. The music in  game fits so well into the storyline which is sad but still you will find some hope when you play game further. Sad and lovely at the same time. So simply touching.

She finds her first companion.

Finding a sword.

Battles are turn-based.

Hero of the story is princess Aurora, a young girl who dies. And story begins from that. She is a girl who shows bravery when studies the wonders of the new world. During her journey she meets company who are willing to help and travel with her. And when the game goes further, companions are truly usefull ones. Of course you can also decide not to take them with you but discussions with companions gives you more information about the story and the world.

Solve small puzzles to go forward.

The landscape is absolutely stunning.

The story is well-written even straighforward.

New friends will also help in the battles.

You can travel around the beautifull land and trying to find all the hidden spots. Usually you have to solve simple puzzles to go forward but they are not nothing too difficult to solve. At times you have to find heavy thing to keep button down, activate symbols etc. Also battlesystem is good one when you just learn how it works. It is turnbased where speedness of teh character is meaningfull. You can attack using magic or weapons or simply stay on defend mode if you have no time to attack before enemy on that round. Every spell or attack has own speed so some of them are fast to make and some takes more time. Luckily at times your companions can slow attacks of the enemies so that you will be acting first. It took me some time to realise how system works but when I learnt it, it is very handy and allows you to have various tactis if enemy is bad one.

Flying is one of the neatest thing in the whole game.

Helping people improves your character as well.

There is also levelling system in game and you can improve your gears. I will post more from it on next posting what I will write about this game. Now my heroeine has reached level 16 and she has earned wings. Flying is one of the things which makes exploring even more fun! So far I have loved the game. You can't affect on the story since discussions do not offer much choices. But you can always decide if you take companions with you or not. But I would say, having them makes journeys more interesting with new dialogues and they're usefull during battles also. So for now I have only found positive sides from this game. And biggest plus is the main chracter is red-haired young girl! How many games you can name where is similar sounding heroine?

Dragon Age Inquisition, first impression

After finishing earlier Dragon Age games I expected a lot from Dragon Age Inquisition. When I installed game and opened it, I was so thrilled. I had heard so much positive things about it and many said it was better than second. But still at first I was completely shocked after playing first few hours. What happened?

There is tutorial what explains what to do. 

The game looks awesome.

Well the new things happened. I really didn't expect gaming system being completely different from earlier. At first it took me a long while only to learn new way of moving and acting when I had way more possibilities and totally new levelling system. It was so confusing that I almost stopped to play game. 

Comparing to earlier games, you can climb and jump!

The map is huge.. and world is open.

But now I am happy I didn't quit game too fast. I gave it a chance and it the more I play it the more interesting it seems to be coming. I admit that at first I missed the plot when was learning new way to play but the more you play the more you will understand. I have tried game by playing elf so can't tell if beginning is different with other races or not. I have been thinking to try some another race also to see if it is completely same or not. I hope there would be variations like it was in Dragon Age Origins. 

The first battles seems to be going fine.

Now horses have been added into game.

The game still has a lot of information about the surrounding world.

World of the Dragon Age still seems mystical and interesting. Even I am still very low level being only level 4 I am startign to be more and more excited about the game itself. Plot begins to seem as good as before and it is nice to see also some old characters from earlier games even I wished not to see some of them. But maybe I can get nicer people into my team when game goes further. And yeah I will post new reviews from this game when I am getting to know it more.

The Dragon Age II: levelling and abilities

Now I have played more the Dragon Age II and get known with the levelling system. And since I have played many kind of games I can say that this system works. It limits your possibilities of course but still you have enough choice to make your character to be the way you want. There are more options on Dragon Age II than what it was in the first game and that ain't bad thing.

I have now played some as a mage and rogue. At first I decided to make mage but started to miss my rogue stylish playing so.. playing game with two characters making a bit different choices during the game. Companios are still mostly same since I just personally prefer to have group of males around me instead of pack of women. My personal choice, that's all.

Varric is usually rather easy to get to be a friend. 

Anders gets some advantages when you get along with him.

Rival or friend? That matters really.  If someone is your rival, they get different benefits than being your friend. If they are neutral to you they do not get anything extra until arrow goes one way or another. Sometimes it might be usefull to keep someone as rivalry but well I do not have heart to do that if I can avoid it. I am just too diplomatic player.

Marian is rogue who uses dexterity and cunning.

Since I haven't played Aveline a while I had to level her more.

Every class what you can play (mage, fighter or rogue) there  are two attributes which are more usefull than others. For my rogue cunning and dexterity comes in handy since she uses two daggers and need cunning to disarm traps and locks. Aveline is fighter so naturally strength and  constitution are what she needs. On the plus side you also see the changes to the armor, damage etc. when you add some of the attributes. Makes it easier to think what kind of character you wish to do.

If you're friend or roval with someone, you gain something extra.

abilities trees gives you a lot of opportunities to make a char what works for you.

And every ability there is good explanation what it really does.

After Attributes you still pick abilities. Abilities variates a bit between companions what makes your company more unique. That way you can build your very own dreamtime what works best with your own character. Of course there is always good to be one mage, warrior and rogue in your party but there are multiple choices for these among your companions. So what can I say.. to me this system works way better than what they had in the Dragon Age Origins.

So even I have heard that many didn't like to play Dragon Age II after the first.. it has surprised me positively. That is true that world isn't open and wide like it is in Skyrim but since there are many plots you're following somehow it helps me to work more organized when I do not have to wonder around that much. At times exploring is fun, at times I prefer more straightforward path.