Blogcoven

The radial menu with the characters powers looks like a nice feature, but it still all comes across a being over the top use of technology when pen-and-paper work fairly well. It does have more of a home with D&D 4th Ed than with other games, I guess, given how much 4th Ed learned from computer games, but this looks awfully like a multiplayer version of Neverwinter Nights, rather than a useful tool for a tabletop game.

Having done more Microsoft Surface design than most (and probably more gaming than most surface designers) I think it’s quite a cool idea.

However there are a few issues. One is that this actually slows down play from what I can see, and it’s not like combat is exactly a speedy process.

Also I think there needs to be more interaction with over the table objects. The models are cool, but removing the visceral experience of rolling dice isn’t good. What would need to be done would be to add domino tags to the dice (or get some custom dice made up) so the surface can read the numbers.

Kinda agree with both points though. It definitely needs to be based on something with figures to get much value. Also it’s not clear what the problem is they’re fixing. One of the things people often like about pen and paper games is that they’re getting away from computer games and those interactions.

This might benefit from a less is more approach. Let it sit in the background. When dice are being rolled it could build tension with subtle music; when combat goes on (and there are lots of rolls) it could add more combatty music.

Could also be an interesting thing for remote play by linking a couple of machines together or having a web view while the GM controls the machine.