KOTOR: Does knowing D&D rules help?

[k***@rogers.com]

I like to obsess about my games when I play them. Especially ones
that involve skill/attribute points. But i've never played a D&D
games, so i know nothing about the specific workings. I can
understand the concept of dice rolls and modifiers after the fact but,
like i said, no specifics.

Would understanding the D20 (that's what was mentioned in a previous
post) rules help me? I'm sure the game is playable without knowing
anything about D&D but i said i like to obsess. Reading the 'KOTOR:
Skill points' thread reminded me of a situation in the past. I played
a game in where i needed one more 'level' to be able to use an item.
If i put a skill point into intelligence, the way things rounded out
wouldn't give me an actual increase in overall level. But putting
that skill point into strength did increase my level because of the
calculation formula associated with strength. A situation like this
is where understanding these calculations was to my advantage.

So... will learning some of this help me? If so, is there an online
resource where i can quickly learn the basics? I don't think i want
to attempt to fully understand the D&D system as it sounds rather full
and complicated.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Kevin

[CCF]

Easy answer, no. I mean understand the basic mechanisms of an RPG helps
ease the learning curve but frankly the game is pretty self-evident and
reading a few of the forums about character development will help you as
much as you need.

Try here: http://swforums.bioware.com/index.html?viewcat=11

[Paul]

You know what? I know diddly about DnD rules........I play the game just
fine. I could care less about the number part of DnD...Some like that kind
of stuff, not me. So I refuse to get all anal about it.
What I do, do with RPG's that I like that are based on DnD rules is just go
with my gut and play for fun and let the chips fall where they may. I might
not have the best numbered-character but who cares if I'm having fun?
I played a couple of MMORPG's for a long time and there were those within
the game who got extremely anal over the numbers...I mean, they had
everything worked out to the last digit.....like I said, good for some, not
for me.
And single player games the numbers are even less needed to know than multi
player ones.
As long as your character can progress with some regularity and you're
having fun, does it matter that your off hand weapon has a drop in +defense
by 1 because you're wearing the Anal Protecting Robe of Number Crunching?
nah!!!

Go ahead, have fun.....loose the numbers./

Post by CCF
Easy answer, no. I mean understand the basic mechanisms of an RPG helps
ease the learning curve but frankly the game is pretty self-evident and
reading a few of the forums about character development will help you as
much as you need.
Try here: http://swforums.bioware.com/index.html?viewcat=11

[Lynley James]

Post by k***@rogers.com
I like to obsess about my games when I play them. Especially ones
that involve skill/attribute points. But i've never played a D&D
games, so i know nothing about the specific workings. I can
understand the concept of dice rolls and modifiers after the fact but,
like i said, no specifics.
Would understanding the D20 (that's what was mentioned in a previous
post) rules help me? I'm sure the game is playable without knowing
Skill points' thread reminded me of a situation in the past. I played
a game in where i needed one more 'level' to be able to use an item.
If i put a skill point into intelligence, the way things rounded out
wouldn't give me an actual increase in overall level. But putting
that skill point into strength did increase my level because of the
calculation formula associated with strength. A situation like this
is where understanding these calculations was to my advantage.
So... will learning some of this help me? If so, is there an online
resource where i can quickly learn the basics? I don't think i want
to attempt to fully understand the D&D system as it sounds rather full
and complicated.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Kevin

I haven't played the game yet, but I shouldn't think that it would
hinder you in any way. It may make things somewhat easier to
understand sooner, but the manual ought to be enough. I do not think
that it will make the game incomprehensible or unplayable if you do
not know the d20 rules.

Lynley

[kevins_news]

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 10:18:31 +0200, Lynley James

Post by Lynley James

Post by k***@rogers.com
I like to obsess about my games when I play them. Especially ones
that involve skill/attribute points. But i've never played a D&D
games, so i know nothing about the specific workings. I can
understand the concept of dice rolls and modifiers after the fact but,
like i said, no specifics.
Would understanding the D20 (that's what was mentioned in a previous
post) rules help me? I'm sure the game is playable without knowing
Skill points' thread reminded me of a situation in the past. I played
a game in where i needed one more 'level' to be able to use an item.
If i put a skill point into intelligence, the way things rounded out
wouldn't give me an actual increase in overall level. But putting
that skill point into strength did increase my level because of the
calculation formula associated with strength. A situation like this
is where understanding these calculations was to my advantage.
So... will learning some of this help me? If so, is there an online
resource where i can quickly learn the basics? I don't think i want
to attempt to fully understand the D&D system as it sounds rather full
and complicated.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Kevin

I haven't played the game yet, but I shouldn't think that it would
hinder you in any way. It may make things somewhat easier to
understand sooner, but the manual ought to be enough. I do not think
that it will make the game incomprehensible or unplayable if you do
not know the d20 rules.
Lynley

Thanks to everyone for replying.

In response to Paul, I already said that i *like* to obsess a little
bit about stats and upgrades. If i didn't, I'd just play strict
action games where there is no character/item upgradeability.

Anyway, after posting i went to Gamefaqs and found everything i
needed. I had forgotten that KOTOR has been out for months on the
X-box and that there would already be stuff at gamefaqs. Turns out
some guy put a d20 rules primer up. Exactly what i wanted.

Kevin

[debaser]

Post by k***@rogers.com
I like to obsess about my games when I play them. Especially ones
that involve skill/attribute points. But i've never played a D&D
games, so i know nothing about the specific workings. I can
understand the concept of dice rolls and modifiers after the fact but,
like i said, no specifics.
Would understanding the D20 (that's what was mentioned in a previous
post) rules help me? I'm sure the game is playable without knowing
Skill points' thread reminded me of a situation in the past. I played
a game in where i needed one more 'level' to be able to use an item.
If i put a skill point into intelligence, the way things rounded out
wouldn't give me an actual increase in overall level. But putting
that skill point into strength did increase my level because of the
calculation formula associated with strength. A situation like this
is where understanding these calculations was to my advantage.
So... will learning some of this help me? If so, is there an online
resource where i can quickly learn the basics? I don't think i want
to attempt to fully understand the D&D system as it sounds rather full
and complicated.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Kevin

Yes, it will help. And yes, it can be played without knowing the
rules.

I don't remember if there were any tables in the manual outlining
stats and at what point you get bonuses or not. Maybe it showed
something in-game on the level up screen. You don't have to have a
party of munchkins to win but you could potentially screw them up.

[Joe62]

Post by k***@rogers.com
Would understanding the D20 (that's what was mentioned in a previous
post) rules help me? I'm sure the game is playable without knowing
anything about D&D but i said i like to obsess.

It helps. I don't know them, but was able to make better skill upgrade
choices when my stepson (who knows D&D very well) was around.

[kevins_news]

On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 18:19:43 GMT, Joe62

Post by Joe62

Post by k***@rogers.com
Would understanding the D20 (that's what was mentioned in a previous
post) rules help me? I'm sure the game is playable without knowing
anything about D&D but i said i like to obsess.

It helps. I don't know them, but was able to make better skill upgrade
choices when my stepson (who knows D&D very well) was around.

After reading some of the character building guides on gamespot i've
come to that conclusion too. You can do just fine without knowing the
D&D rules. But understanding them and taking time to really look at
the bonuses/penalties of each upgrade/feat you can tweak out a much
better character than if you only used the general descriptions given
ingame.

It all depends on how much you want to obsess about it. and i like to
obsess.

Kevin