Why D&D Tactics For The PSP Needs A True Sequel

Why D&D Tactics For The PSP Needs A True Sequel

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The PSP’s D&D Tactics was the most authentic video game adaptation of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons combat, and it deserves a modern-day sequel.

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Why D&D Tactics For The PSP Needs A True Sequel

The history of video game adaptations of Dungeons & Dragons stretches over more than 30 years, but the PlayStation Portable’s Dungeons & Dragons Tactics stands out for its use of large-scale, grid-based, tactical combat and its faithful representation of the 3.5 edition D&D system. The tactical RPG format showcased epic battle experiences and rules true to the tabletop game. A sequel or spiritual successor to D&D Tactics is long overdue, as tactical RPG gameplay is the ideal way to simulate playing with a map and miniatures.

Released in 2007 for the PSP, D&D Tactics was created by European developer Kuju and published by Atari. The premise was easy to understand: a tactical, turn-based, grid-based RPG, like Disgaea or Final Fantasy Tactics, using the Dungeons & Dragons ruleset. Third edition codified many D&D rules with grid-map play and miniatures as an assumption, including charts for monster sizes and threat areas and area of effect shapes for spells in the core books. Playing D&D with a map allowed for less ambiguity with things like reach weapons and attacks of opportunity, as well as setting up flanking – an important mechanic for Rogues in third edition. This made the tactical RPG format a perfect fit for the ruleset.

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Though the game received a lukewarm reception, it delivered on expectations for fans of the tabletop RPG. D&D Tactics is the most authentic video game representation of 3.5 edition D&D rules in any video game, with movement rates, darkvision, and other D&D combat rules handled identically to the tabletop game. It included all of the races and classes from the Player’s Handbook, as well as a few psychic classes from the D&D Expanded Psionic’s Handbook.

D&D Tactics Adapted All Nearly All Of The TTRPG’s Core Combat Rules

Why D&D Tactics For The PSP Needs A True Sequel

Reviewers complained about Dungeons & Dragons Tactics’ cumbersome interface, but it comes off as cluttered by design in order to provide all of the options available in the tabletop RPG. The game allowed not only for regular movement, as most tactical RPGs do, but also things like a 5-foot step, the withdraw action, and (with the right feats) the spring attack maneuver. Options like charge and bull-rush were present instead of just standard attacks, and the “full attack” sequence of third edition was there for warriors who spent a round focused on offense over movement. Weapon reach, attacks of opportunity, and the tactics of flanking were all accounted for.

Still, D&D Tactics was far from perfect. Another common complaint was its load times, often an issue with PSP games. Given the game loaded massive maps and calculated numerous checks between turns, comparing sensory skills with stealth to determine which opponents could detect each other, it is unsurprising that Sony’s first portable struggled. Tactics was solely released on the PSP’s UMD format and was never made available through the PlayStation Network Store for PSP Go or PlayStation Vita. Despite its adherence to the rules of the tabletop game, there were also a few things it handled incorrectly, either through error or omission, but these were minor edge cases for the most part.

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The Battles Of D&D Tactics Presented Large-Scale Epics

As D&D Tactics provided the most accurate video game adaptation of the tabletop game’s battles, it’s surprising the tactical RPG format hadn’t been used for a D&D video game beforehand – and hasn’t been used since. With map-based gameplay being an integral part of D&D, the leap to tactical, grid-based gameplay seems like an intuitive one.

Exploration in D&D Tactics was limited to clicking on locations on a map, with towns including only vendors and recruitment stations for new heroes. The storyline was also a fairly stereotypical affair, the protagonist’s draconic lineage involving them and their party in the struggle between a good and evil dragon competing for godhood. These tertiary aspects of the game merely serviced its excellent D&D battles, where Dungeons & Dragons Tactics shined. Dungeons & Dragons deserves for another tactical RPG like it, and modern hardware would allow one to excel, instead of struggling against the limitations of the PSP.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/dnd-tactics-best-dungeons-dragons-combat-playstation-game/

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