4 replies to this topic

[Krnt2007]

In my view Baldurs Gate 2 and Planescape : Torment,
which I am just playing for the 1st time now,
exceed the best adventures or campaigns
I've GMed, seen or played in ANY system -
including Dungeons and Dragons.

MY QUESTIONS...

1)
Why is this so?

Why is it that the best computer-based campaigns
stand head and shoulders above anything developed for PnP play?

In a world of creative people,
with the occasional Tolkien towering among them,
can we not write / storytell / act
things of equal beauty and impact,
in Real Life, amongst Real People?

2)
I'm enthused
and want to share my ecstatic experience of these titles round
with my best friends / fave players.

I'm scouring the web by Google search etc.
to see if anyone has done the logical timesaving thing
and used the game file resources to convert Baldurs Gate 2 or Planescape : Torment
to PnP (Pen and Paper) campaign adventures in ANY system
(for simple 'heroic' roleplaying, classically D&D's strength, I prefer AD&D 2nd Ed. -
but any conversion to any system would be FANTASTIC...
or any human-friendly documentation
of the dialogue/script resources, plot branchings etc. in these games
that would facilitate conversion to some sort of PnP!)

I would really love to share the humour, beauty and humanity of these games
with people I know well and've played with.

In particular seeing people
"wowed" and stunned by the surprises and philosophical moments of PST
would be tremendous!

I see it as almost 'criminal'
that such great art is not flung far and wide,
known and enjoyed by all.

Further,
I wonder (serendipity being with us)
what golden moments face-to-face roleplaying (at its best) may add -
for example,
true (not just simulated or restricted online)
shared *communal* experience and appreciation,
and even more flexible *creative* and *social* *interactivity*.
Not to mention the intellectual / metaphysical ruminations
around and after the game.

Most face-to-face roleplaying may not hold a candle
to the brilliance of top 'gifted' or 'pro drama, literature or storytelling -
we cannot all do all, as Vergil penned,
but in my view the social and creative storytelling aspects of PnP
are very valuable -
let's face it, it's often not as much about the game as we think;
in a good group, we like to play together,
it's a social experience.

Can you help by sharing links, resources, tips -
or creating such resources yourself?
I'm keen to assist such a project myself,
if it is likely to work and get finished.

(Oh - and BTW, could you pass the chips - cheers.)

-Krnt2007,
Dilettante Philosopher Poet.

Edited by Krnt2007, 05 December 2008 - 01:53 AM.

[vilkacis]

Q: Who can ask for resources?
A: Modders, for mods.

Plz to before posting. Moved to delusions.

Also, attempting to run a real RP using BG2's plot would break it horribly before you even get to Spellhold since BG2 is one big railroad and has like one plot branch that actually matters (but ceases to be relevant like 20 minutes later anyway) and the passage of time pretty much gets ignored. Even if you lifted the entire plot straight from the game, you'd still have to modify it to actually make sense in the light of PCs not being functionally retarded and/or actually having access to any magic not used to blow things up and being willing to use it.

[edit] pretty sure there's a script either at gamefaqs or sorcerers.net, and all dialogues, creature stats and so on can be easily viewed with Infinity Explorer. Everything is already in AD&D format, so most of it could just be lifted straight out if someoe wanted to use Varscona in a p&p campaign.

Edited by vilkacis, 05 December 2008 - 02:44 AM.

[Sammi Somara]

That sound slike a fun thing to do. If you ever get the resources and start a campaign, maybe we can swap stories (I'm currently running a PnP version of BGI with about five other people)

Edited by Sammi Somara, 05 December 2008 - 03:13 PM.

[Krnt2007]

That sound slike a fun thing to do. If you ever get the resources and start a campaign, maybe we can swap stories (I'm currently running a PnP version of BGI with about five other people)

That sounds interesting.
How did you go about converting BG1 to PnP?
Do you have any electronic versions of the resources you don't mind sharing?
Once I have got round to playing BG1
it'd make sense and be more epic for my players
if we started out at the beginning.
(Maybe TOO epic if we also included all of BG2 LOL!!!)

Starting with a 'catch up' explanation
of their Bhaal connection in PnP would seem a bit lame,
ile you're clearly starting halfway thru a commercial series.

(And apologies admin folk for not reading hte FAQ and posting in the 'wrong' thread...)

[Krnt2007]

P.S.

I'm not sure if this is the "script" one replier mentioned above, but this page...

http://www.sorcerers.../BG2/index2.php

...contains links to these resources :

"BG II: SoA & ToB Story (Good Side) by Rhys Hess 572kb TXT or DOC

The author of this story thought it would be worthwhile to recreate the game's story in written form, in the game's own words. All of the dialogue was taken almost unchanged directly from the game itself, as well as some of the other material. In order to create a full story, he did have to invent a lead character, as well as pick a particular path through the game.
He is assuming you have already played the game itself, but you might want to read this to experience the story again, or to hear from characters you chose not to include in your party.

Baldur's Gate II Story (Evil Side) by Rhys Hess 320kb TXT or DOC

The author of this story thought it would be worthwhile to recreate the game's story in written form, in the game's own words. All of the dialogue was taken almost unchanged directly from the game itself, as well as some of the other material. In order to create a full story, he did have to invent a lead character, as well as pick a particular path through the game.
He is assuming you have already played the game itself, but you might want to read this to experience the story again, or to hear from characters you chose not to include in your party."

ENJOY.