From: cleggp@aix.rpi.edu (Paul Jason Clegg)
Subject: Re: Sci-Fi Suggestions
Keywords: battlelords
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 01:19:26 GMT

In article <BuC5C1.F39@acsu.buffalo.edu> v057qkmm@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (BABBLING SAGE) writes:
>In article <tb5yc+b@rpi.edu>, cleggp@aix.rpi.edu (Paul Jason Clegg) writes...
>>In article <BuBo9r.4o9@acsu.buffalo.edu> v076jy2p@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Cosmo Of The Cosmos) writes:
>>Mazian:  Blind and water-based?  What the hell kind of roleplaying are youg
>>     going to do with a blob like that?  Sure, they can look like humans,
>>     but if they <can't read> (something their sonar doesn't compensate for!)
>>     what kind "espionage" duties are they going to be able to form.  I don't
>>     THINK so!
>
>	Their sense of touch is so developed they can read ink with it.

And what futuristic society is going to use ink?  And wouldn't it be obvious
when someone gives the Mazian spy a paper, and he has to run his hand over
everything?

>	They have paws which function as crude hands. 

But not the arm musculature.  Look at their picture; you can't have both types
of musculature.

>>BTW, what's Lock n' Load?  An expansion?  When's it going to be available? Why
>>haven't I been notified?
>
>	Lock n' Load is the largest most complete equipment manual EVER 
>compiled. It contains over 2000 pieces of equipment, only about 1/4 of
>which are weapons or armor. The errors have been corrected, and it will be
>available within a few weeks at stores.
>

If it's not out, how am I supposed to read it?  Why wasn't I told of the
release?

>>PS>  What gets me is that Simms was pushing his game when I bought it as being
>>a really cool game, that doesn't concentrate on combat ("Look, only 4 pages of
>>combat rules!").  Of course, he neglected to include the 25 types of armor, the
>>25 types of helmets, the 75 armor options, the 100 weapons, and the six combat
>>monger character races.  And that's not including the fact that the whole game
>>concept seems to be "find something and kill it good."
>
>	Wrong. if you had ever played the game with Larry, you would know
>that getting into combat should be avoided if at all possible. After all, 
>characters tend to DIE or get MAIMED when they are shot by automatic lasers.
>Its really better to roleplay. And it can be done because the races are 
>so varied.

I did, when I bought the game.  He made sure we were armored to the teeth.
I wanted to roleplay without any armor (we were in the city at the time), 
but he specifically pointed out that it was a bad idea.  I understand that
the combat is lethal (I like it that way), but if you were supposed to 
roleplay, you'd better damn well have some well developed non-combat rules
conventions!  And I still don't see how you can realistically mesh races.
Half of them want to eat the others, and the other half just don't make sense.

>PS the combat system problems have been ironed out too. i suspect you dont
>have the second printing of the third edition. Look for the cover showing
>a full color night battle scene, with an Eridani prominent.

I have the one with the red cover, with a Phentari on it.  I don't want to 
have to put down $20 for another copy of something that probably won't last--
is there a list of corrections?  Like the kind Simms told me he was going to
send to everyone he got signed into his little blue book?  Is he going to 
honor the little "50% off" coupon or whatever I got when I bought my copy?

Let me clear up my position:  I'm not against BattleLords entirely.  I like
the possibilities it has, but I'm really pissed off for several reasons:

I was supposed to have been notified of upcoming releases (I haven't).
I was supposed to be given copies of material to be playtested for
    critique (I haven't).
My copy was supposed to have been the most complete game ever published.
    (I seriously disagree).
It was supposed to promote roleplaying as opposed to hack n' slash.  (It
    doesn't, no matter what you U of Buffalo people say).
It was supposed to have had the most fleshed out races.  (They aren't).
My friend and I both put down $20 for the book, and haven't gotten $20
    worth out of it, let alone the $40 total...

I'll probably be at the Council of Five Nations convention this year, is
Simms going to be there?  

People may think that the way they treat their customers in design consider-
ations is immaterial, but it's not.  I'm very biased now towards anything
Simms wants to sell me, because I've got no reason to believe his claims of
quality.

...Paul