That's bullshit. Of course PS:T and Arcanum could have played better. Of course their systems could be more than complete shit.
Why is PST system a complete shit?
PST is a storytelling based game. There are just about two things you have to work on when doing game like that:
1) Adding prerequisites for dialogue lines and
2) Working with variables ("Annah loves u = 0', "U lied times = 5').
Sure, AD&D is a combat focused system, but there's nothing wrong with using it's stats for dialogue either. It has 6 stats from 8 to 25, that represent character's performance well, and are easy to use in creating character builds and roles. And because it's easy to control variables with small number range like that you can avoid "choose your adventure" feel with enough writing, something that is harder to do if you also have ~20 skills that range from 1 to 100 like AoD used to have.
To make character concepts a bit more deep Numenera uses those "tides" now (relatively simple color-graded morale system), while PST used aligments. And AD&D is a combat-ready licenced system, so if you want to add some distractions on the way, like kicking rats, you're ready to go.
I disagree. Here is a review with Dark Souls I agree with:
Uh, giving a link to a review without time point is too much. Why do you disagree?
DS is generally about:
- Managing resources (estus, stamina, poise, souls);
- Engaging in risky combat situations, sometimes fighting multiple enemies, sometimes one very strong enemy;
- Learning patterns of enemy attacks.
Magic shits on all three - the more magic you have the less managing of resources you have to do; you don't need to engage anything if you have enough magic missiles because enemies don't aggro on you badly; and you don't need to learn bosses patterns except, hehe, Bed of Chaos, if you use magic.
Also, magic in Arcanum is downright terrible.
Why? Because it's overpowered? What's terrible about large amount of schools and spells, what's terrible about it's utilitarian capability, what's terrible about it allowing multiple builds and roles?
Agreed, however this doesn't apply to Arcanum. Its system was complex and fun to toy around with without context, but ultimately pretty shit in context, and would have been regardless of what context.
It totaly does. Just fixing Arcanum character system is not an impossible task (no talking about real time though, I don't know why it exists).
The biggest problem there is Speed attribute, which, when manipulated, turns just dangerous characters (melee, backstabers, spellslingers) into destroyers. Anyone can come up with a few clever decisions at toning down most unbalanced parts of it. But it won't matter. Because game still has like, 2 interesting combat encounters (Lukan and Guns-Master), shitty dungeons and AI that can't use abilities you gave it. So you'll end up with a game with not retarded combat (like one of modders did) where you will fight 500 rats, 50 ore golems, 200 lantern arrayas again.
PST actually has the same problem, but with locations. It is a fairly combat-light game that, for some reason, has Baator_01, Curst Prison and final run in Fortress of Regrets. Encounters there are poor even by most combat-driven AD&D standards I think. What DM would throw at you 20 abishai/50 guards/20 respawnable shadows? That just doesn't make sense.
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? Don't take it personaly, Grunker, but I strongly suspect that everything you know about Shadowrun comes from wiki, or - even worse - from Shadowrun Returns...
