I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Gleichman for his honest review.
-WormSpeaker (Charles R. Capko Jr.)
(Note: This review pertains to version 1.0 of BADLANDS.)
I was going to do one of these a month. But we just had another one
announced in the newsgroup and for the moment, it seems like a good idea to
review these games as they come along.
_Badlands_ is by Charles R. Capko Jr.
It may be found at http://www.oocities.org/wormspeaker/
where it is available in badly formatted html or as a 35 page pure text
file.
--
Style Comments:
These are more like condensed notes than an actual presentation of a system.
What little favor there is here is lifted directly from it's source
material.
Also like many free rpgs, the system is not complete. Major sections are
presented in a short, curt style. Others are just missing.
Despite this, I had little trouble finding my way around, or getting the
main concepts of the system.
--
General Rules Overview:
The game is meant to be a table top version of the old C-64 game Wastelands
(at least my copy was on the C6-64). This was one of may favorite computer
games of that era. The setting is classic mutant/robotic/road warrior stuff.
The system used for this is what I would call modified D&D (the designer
speaks of the D&D heritage in the appendix). The original Hit Point concept
is still in place as is classes with their special talents unavailable to
others. We still find the D&D asymmetrical stat bonus approach across the
3-18 scale.
Characteristic follow the AD&D style modified to match the computer game
(dropping a couple that the designer felt were unneeded). Characteristics
are rolled (classic D&D, 4d6 drop lowest die) although there is one
indication that a different method was/is planned.
But it is a heavy modified version tweaked by the designer to avoid what
were no doubt seen as problem areas in the original D&D design.
There are of course the extensive changes required for using firearms in
place of magic. We have rules for skills grafted onto the system (not unlike
_Rolemaster_ or _Age of Heroes_, but in a much simpler method not unlike an
expanded AD&D proficiency subsection).
AC was split between armor and evasion, but the total is the same in effect
with minor weapon modifiers tossing some difference in the two. Hit Point
and Weapon damage are inflated over straight D&D.
There are other changes, but I think we have the flow of it now.
--
Rule Comments
What can I say? It's modified D&D. Not my taste by a long shot, but it is
still the most popular (has it dropped below WW yet?) system on the market.
In a way, the system choice is a natural. Most computer games default to
this system even today, let alone when Wasteland was release. A classic
system to go with a classic computer game. To really capture the crpg as it
was played, there can be no other choice.
Firearms and other tech replace magic. This can be a real problem as part of
the charm of D&D is the large number of spells and magic items. The number
of firearm types just doesn't compare.
The equipment and monster sections are far from finished. The monster
section in fact has only one listing. Given the large number of critters
was a draw in the original Wastelands as well as D&D, this area needs major
work.
--
Closing Comments
If you hate D&D, this isn't going to be any better. The modifications
address subsections, not core system concepts.
If however the D&D system appeals to you, consider giving _Badlands_ a look.
Here are a number of modification concepts that could help you with a
nagging problem or two.
--
Brian Gleichman
gleichman@mindspring.com
Age of Heroes: http://gleichman.home.mindspring.com/