Tactical RPG?

[Gerald Of Rivertown]

Is this like FInal Fantasy tactics as far as gameplay goes? Have a party micromanage their abiliteis and equipment. Move from square to square attacking and flanking your enemies?

[Viscomte Earthcube d'Avrigny]

It's nowhere near as robust as FFT, but yes that is the general model of the game. FFT is one of my all-time favorite games, so I was a little disappointed that there weren't more ability-customization options; BUT this game is ultimately very fun in that same tactical style.
Though there are fewer ability-customization options (in the official campaign, your main character is the only one on whom you can customize abilities), there are more tactical options having to do with the map itself, like using cover to reduce your chance of being hit by gunfire, or standing at intersecting veins of raw magical power to enhance your spells.

As a fellow fan of Final Fantasy Tactics, I would recommend Shadowrun Returns. Just don't expect as as many reaction-abilities or passive-abilities. There still are some, just not as large of a menu to pick from. But then you're not going tp have as many characters on hand either, so there's not as much need to individuate each unit.

As a final note, I think it would be possible, using the content editor that comes free with the game, to create a Final Fantasy Tactics-style user-made DLC, where you collect interesting characters, customize their skills, and move from intense battle to intense battle, with the story moving via in-battle dialogue.

Hm, actually that's a good idea, maybe I should try to do that.

[Gerald Of Rivertown]

Originally posted by Viscomte Herpderp d'Avrigny:

It's nowhere near as robust as FFT, but yes that is the general model of the game. FFT is one of my all-time favorite games, so I was a little disappointed that there weren't more ability-customization options; BUT this game is ultimately very fun in that same tactical style.
Though there are fewer ability-customization options (in the official campaign, your main character is the only one on whom you can customize abilities), there are more tactical options having to do with the map itself, like using cover to reduce your chance of being hit by gunfire, or standing at intersecting veins of raw magical power to enhance your spells.

As a fellow fan of Final Fantasy Tactics, I would recommend Shadowrun Returns. Just don't expect as as many reaction-abilities or passive-abilities. There still are some, just not as large of a menu to pick from. But then you're not going tp have as many characters on hand either, so there's not as much need to individuate each unit.

As a final note, I think it would be possible, using the content editor that comes free with the game, to create a Final Fantasy Tactics-style user-made DLC, where you collect interesting characters, customize their skills, and move from intense battle to intense battle, with the story moving via in-battle dialogue.

Hm, actually that's a good idea, maybe I should try to do that.

FFT I only use to grab peoples attention to what I mean. This looks like it would be similar to Grotesque: Evil Heroes or Maybe Xcom:Enemy Unknown.

[Viscomte Earthcube d'Avrigny]

I've heard a lot of people compare it to Xcom, but I haven't played that, so I wouldn't know for sure. Other people seem to see a similiarity though. Though the visuals may look different, games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Fallout 1 & 2, and Xcom have a lot in common under the skin. Shadowrun Returns belongs to the same genre: Grid-mapped turn-based tactical role-playing game.

[Gerald Of Rivertown]

Originally posted by Viscomte Herpderp d'Avrigny:

I've heard a lot of people compare it to Xcom, but I haven't played that, so I wouldn't know for sure. Other people seem to see a similiarity though. Though the visuals may look different, games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Fallout 1 & 2, and Xcom have a lot in common under the skin. Shadowrun Returns belongs to the same genre: Grid-mapped turn-based tactical role-playing game.

But isn't Fallout 1+2 open world? The rest are just preset maps. .

[Viscomte Earthcube d'Avrigny]

That's true. In that respect, Shadowrun Returns has a LITTLE more in common with Fallout, because you do some walking around and talking to people; a little detective-work. But while Fallout has a freely explorable world map, Shadowrun has a more narrowly defined narrative path, like the other games.
Though now that I think about it, even FFT had a world map you could navigate, whereas the official Shadowrun campaign only has you move from scene to scene, forward through the plot. It's quite linear, like a novel or a comic book. However, many of the user-made storylines are more open to exploration, so it's not a limitation of the game itself. And the developer has promised that the official expansion will be more open to exploration.

[Gerald Of Rivertown]

Originally posted by Viscomte Herpderp d'Avrigny:

That's true. In that respect, Shadowrun Returns has a LITTLE more in common with Fallout, because you do some walking around and talking to people; a little detective-work. But while Fallout has a freely explorable world map, Shadowrun has a more narrowly defined narrative path, like the other games.
Though now that I think about it, even FFT had a world map you could navigate, whereas the official Shadowrun campaign only has you move from scene to scene, forward through the plot. It's quite linear, like a novel or a comic book. However, many of the user-made storylines are more open to exploration, so it's not a limitation of the game itself. And the developer has promised that the official expansion will be more open to exploration.

The world map in FFT was more of just a narritive tool than anything. I'd actually like to avoid a game with a true open world map. I'd prefer a more linear experience.

[Many-Named]

doesnt even come close, not a very good game if you ask me...

[Viscomte Earthcube d'Avrigny]

Originally posted by Mr.Valentine:

The world map in FFT was more of just a narritive tool than anything. I'd actually like to avoid a game with a true open world map. I'd prefer a more linear experience.

Sounds to me like you'd enjoy Shadowrun Returns: Dead Man's Switch, then. (That's the built-in, official storyline.)

I know there are plenty of users who are also making linear stories in the editor. I know I am; I don't have the patience to design a whole open-world thing. I just want to tell a story, maybe with some branching paths for dialogue or other choices, but mostly I'm interested in creating a narrative with momentum and urgency.

[Partycrasher]

Originally posted by Viscomte Herpderp d'Avrigny:

But while Fallout has a freely explorable world map, Shadowrun has a more narrowly defined narrative path, like the other games.

Love the Shadowrun universe, but was hoping for a freely explorable world with random encounters (like Fallout 2). A linear run through a single story doesn't appeal to me so much, as once I create a character I'd want the possibility to develop that character beyond a single storyline.

Is it possible to export your character from the main campaign for other adventures? Irc Neverwinter Nights had that option, where you could export your characters to use in other modules.

[Viscomte Earthcube d'Avrigny]

Originally posted by Partycrasher:

Love the Shadowrun universe, but was hoping for a freely explorable world with random encounters (like Fallout 2). A linear run through a single story doesn't appeal to me so much, as once I create a character I'd want the possibility to develop that character beyond a single storyline.

Is it possible to export your character from the main campaign for other adventures? Irc Neverwinter Nights had that option, where you could export your characters to use in other modules.

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer:
Absolutely. It all depends on what the creator of the story/campaign has in mind. Many of them allow you to import your character, and several are even intended as fan-made continuations, or offshoots of the official storyline. I've taken my Duwamish shaman through two adventures after Dead Man's Switch now, and it's a lot of fun to go on to new runs with the same character, building up a history.

I will warn you though, that by the Dead Man's Switch I was pretty potent on the battlefield, and if I take my main character on too many more campaigns, I'm gonna end up with like, almost every stat maxed-out, which isn't that fun for me. I like working with my limitations, and making up the difference by hiring other 'runners. But it's easy enough and fun enough to make a new character, so it works out for me in the end. What I think would be really cool would be if someone figured out a way to use your other player-character saves as hirable 'runners, so that you could make a team out of your own guys. But I'm getting away from the point.

Yes you can import your character into user-made campaigns/stories. AND, several of the campaigns available in the workshop have a much more Fallout-y exploration-based nonlinear model. The editor is so robust that there's a lot of variety being provided in the user-geneated content, and I think that's very cool.

[Partycrasher]

Originally posted by Viscomte Herpderp d'Avrigny:

Yes you can import your character into user-made campaigns/stories. AND, several of the campaigns available in the workshop have a much more Fallout-y exploration-based nonlinear model. The editor is so robust that there's a lot of variety being provided in the user-geneated content, and I think that's very cool.

Thanks - figured this from browsing through the current workshop offerings (many of which include 'import character' in the description). That and the availability of 'open-world' campaigns (such as Shadowrun Unlimited) convinced me to finally buy the game.

'Dead Man's Switch' is surprisingly enjoyable for a linear campaign, but glad that I'll be able to export my character to a user-made campaign when it's finished.

[Shrapnel]

Originally posted by Mr.Valentine:

FFT I only use to grab peoples attention to what I mean. This looks like it would be similar to Grotesque: Evil Heroes or Maybe Xcom:Enemy Unknown.

Grotesque, yes, Xcom-no.
This game feels like a mobile phone port, barely an inventory system. Think Grotesque Tactics- lite.

[Gerald Of Rivertown]

Originally posted by Shrapnel:

Originally posted by Mr.Valentine:

FFT I only use to grab peoples attention to what I mean. This looks like it would be similar to Grotesque: Evil Heroes or Maybe Xcom:Enemy Unknown.

Grotesque, yes, Xcom-no.
This game feels like a mobile phone port, barely an inventory system. Think Grotesque Tactics- lite.

Eh...I like Grotesque Tactics but even that is an extreamly simple game. To challenge myself my goal was to never let anyone die.

[Moister]

yes, similar to x-com in that it's turn based and simplified item management, but less robust, no meta game, but backed with more story. pretty straightforward attempt of scratching an RTS an shadowrun itch.

[Viscomte Earthcube d'Avrigny]

Originally posted by Shrapnel:

Grotesque, yes, Xcom-no.
This game feels like a mobile phone port, barely an inventory system. Think Grotesque Tactics- lite.

Yeah it's definitely not an inventory management game, the way FFT was. I've never heard of Grotesque, so I can't speak to that, but the Shadowrun Returns inventory is extremely limited.