@~I had two letters through this issue on a similar subject so @~decided to combine the two into one article. I hope that if any @~of you can help Antony or Dawn you will contact them and also @~copy the info to me for printing in the magazine as other people @~will find the advice useful. ... Sue RPGs - Advice Needed -------------------- @~First, from Antony Bartlett If I may introduce myself, my name's Antony, and I've just subscribed to SynTax. As well as being interested in adventure games, I like table-top RPGs (AD&D etc). When I first wrote to Sue, I asked her if she knew of any software designed to help games masters. She kindly suggested two pieces (not including map designers): Fantasy Tools, and SSI's Dungeon Master's Assistant, but also recommended that I repeat the question here. I'd be particularly interested in anything designed to be used while the game is in progress. Keeping track of all the rules (especially combat) is a pain. It's like Sue said in her recent review of Magic The Gathering (issue 48): > With the computer taking control of these aspects of the game, > you don't have to concern yourself about them, and can just > enjoy the game itself. I'm a PC user, but most of the people whose houses I role-play at have Amigas. I suppose, failing anything suitable being available, I could always write something myself. I guess that in an ideal world some software in JAVA might be nice - not only is it platform independent, but in theory scenarios could be written in html and the software tools hyper-linked right where they're needed. Unfortunately I'm more of a C++ person, but at least that can be compiled to run on most platforms. Comments from fellow role-players upon any of this would be most welcome. Info about software. Have you ever used a computer in a role-play game? How would you like to be able to use one? I'd love to hear from you. Thanks. I will be reading SynTax, but can be contacted directly at: Antony Bartlett 25 Paynels, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 5QN. 106560.1631@compuserve.com (You can also e-mail me if you'd like a game of Lore of Conquest.) ------------------------------------------------------------------ @~Second, from Dawn Tilbrook I am a traditional AD&D player who, with a group of four friends, play both the precreated and our own creations of AD&D. Our Dungeon Master unfortunately is very busy studying at present. When we couldn't get the whole group together to play a proper created game, we used to play games on an Amiga 500+, such as Eye of the Beholder 1 and 2 and Dungeon Master. These games were enjoyed, loved and played again and again, and rapidly became an obsession in their own right. Usually we would all gather at one house and either play separately or as a team, all suggesting ideas and taking turns to be the one on the machine. Unfortunately our Amiga died, so we are currently (at weekends) using a borrowed Toshiba laptop with a CD drive and mouse. Also we have access to two old 386s with 3 1/2" disk drives but no CD capability and none planned. We are creating a computer to our own specification with a 486 processor, 2 GB memory .. @~I think Dawn means HD space ... Sue ... 16 speed CD drive, normal 3 1/2" drive etc which will take a little time, with another planned. Unfortunately we now have a major problem, we have no idea what games are available for us to play. We have managed to obtain copies of EOB 1, 2 and 3 which we are at various stages on (well, there are 4 of us playing separately). We also have Stonekeep (brilliant) and Dungeon Master 2, that I am currently playing and desperately trying to remember the spells and potion symbol creation. We would really appreciate some helpful suggestions of either similar games, no matter how old, to track down, or some suppliers in our area who may be able to help us. So far some of the places I have contacted locally have been either not interested or rude about this style of game, and I am getting slightly put off. We have tried Ishar, years ago when the Amiga worked, we found it annoying because characters would vanish without reason and we had very little clue what we were doing. We have also recently played Discworld which we again loved, probably because we are Terry Pratchett fans, so if there are other, (like facing view) RPG or AD&D games we would be grateful to be guided to them. If anyone can help our little band, we would be extremely glad. Our group includes: Dawn - enjoys all AD&D games, especially real time games and ones where characters can be transferred on to the next game, just like a proper AD&D game setting. Except where characters are seen from above in 3D view and just cannot co-ordinate game, and gives up in frustration. Heidi - enjoys playing EOB and Discworld, new and enthusiastic AD&D player. Graham - our Dungeon Master, wants us to get better at team playing and understanding of different world scenarios, Rusty - enjoys original Star Trek and the Amiga game Captive, and likes playing Dwarves in our AD&D games. Loves Dungeon Master the original, desperate for copy for PC. Ed - enjoys Discworld, slowly being converted to AD&D, likes logic puzzles and sharp wit. As you can see, we are a very mixed group in both likes and also ages, the youngest being 25, the oldest 42, so no silly shoot-'em-up kid games for us. Please help us as I don't know what we'll do when we finish Dungeon Master 2. Yours hopefully, Dawn Tilbrook, 'Tilmore' 20 Misty's Field, Walton on Thames, Surrey KT12 2BG - o -