Has anyone here played the demo? According to RPG Codex ( http://www.rpgcodex.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=9166 ), it's pretty horrible. Any differing opinions?

That's interesting, since I've seen the demo get a positive response everywhere else. I haven't been able to download it, but I'm currently enjoying the beta.

Well, Codex isn't exactly a neutral site when it comes to anything D&D, but still... it's strange that so few people on SP seem even remotely interested in the title.

Well, I tried to find the demo and it appears to have been taken down from the Atari sight. I found it on fileplanet but as usual it seems that the free download just keeps you waiting. Maybe if I broke down and paid them money it would work but as usual I have been 1 minute to go in the queue for the last six minutes.

Edit: Oh, this is fun, the download speed on free fileplanet is so slow that there is no way that I will be downloading it here.

I tried it. It's... alright. Nothing beyond that. But strategy games really aren't my thing; I had to force myself ti finish the first level, because I got bored. Then I uninstalled.

I was interested in the game, before I played the demo. But it just feels like a generic strategy game. It reminds me of Spellforce mixed with Battle for Middle Earth, both of which qualified as average strategy games.

The graphics are nothing special, the mechanics are nothing special, the lead (female) cleric walks round the icy mountains not wearing very much, and it's all just... rather dull.

I am interested in the title but not enough to play around with demos. Perhaps if I have the time... But it's a given that I'm going to lay my hands on it when it comes out. It looks promising to me, as opposed to Stormreach. The whole innovative thing is bogus, though. Underground is probably ten years old by now and the building system looks much like what Dark Colony had. Heroes have been around since Warcraft III (and they existed back in Warcraft II and the first C&C in some form) and Empire Earth. Regiments and heroes were already in Black Moon Chronicles from Cryo, released ages ago (go buy it at once if you haven't yet, especially as it's probably going to cost a couple of coppers). Perhaps building advanced units off the bat is closer to new, but I suppose someone could come up with an RTS title which already has it.

you can dl it HERE (http://www.atari.com.au/news/details.do?newsId=449) If anyone can't find it.

personally, I'm not too interested as it's not set in a 'traditional' D&D world. But I'll give the demo a go and see how it is.

Before I end up with 390 megs of DRAGON SHard demo all over my computer I'd like to hear from someone who has tried it

Maybe I'm just imagining things but...

WTF? My level 1 character had 300 hp :confused: MANA points?!! WTF? This isn't D&D, it's like a FF rip off. Your HPs regenerate :confused: WTF?! Seems Atari's trying to cater to the new school crowd. They could've at least used SOME of the rules, just because clerics have cure light wounds(of course, it cures 20 points of damage so it's not really CLWs) doesn't make it D&D.

OH ... and you're going to need a high speced system to play it at max detail. IMO, although the graphics were technically good they just came across as looking goofy. Of course, if you like FF you'll probably love the graphics and the game for that matter.

[ August 31, 2005, 08:44: Message edited by: hedron ]

Would you like some TP to clean the Dragon Shard off your system

lmao, thanks, but I need more than just tp. turpentine or something

IMO ... the mods should delete this game from here, because it's not D&D. Or at least, leave a sticky warning people to avoid at all costs.

[ August 31, 2005, 21:32: Message edited by: hedron ]

Oh Whatever, hedron. We finished demolishing your flimsy arguements on the Atari forums, so I'm not going to bother.

Although I was sure a D&D ace like you would notice that Sorcerers start with fireball at "1st" level, so leveling isn't based on any sort of 1 to 1 ratio...

I've been playing Dragonshard since the beginning of beta and have enjoyed it a lot. There is much more to the gameplay than you'd think at first glance. Played against a human opponent, it's a lot of fun.

"your flimsy arguements"

You cannot argue with facts my friend :)

I have been gone for awhile and out of the gaming community. Exactly what is the general consensus on this game? Bad, Good, or Indifferent. Should I spend the money?

It's only come out yesterday, so nothing yet. We'll be posting the reviews of it on our front page once they start pouring in.

I've seen some screenshots and the graphics look alright. Any idea what combat is like through the beta testing or anything about the game play?

There's some general info on SP, check it out if you haven't already.

The demo was great and I can't wait to play the full game - if it is as good as the demo, I'll probably have to take several days off work to enjoy it... :) Especially the graphics are absolutely incredible, best I've seen since Far Cry and it runs smoothly with max details on my 2 yrs old PC.
If you accept the fact that Dragonshard is not "D&D based fantasy RTS", but "only" fantasy RTS set in Eberron, you should enjoy it!

Sir Slayer, what options did you turn on? Even the first Baldur's Gate has a better visual experience that this piece of ****.

The cast is one of the most unoriginal you can imagine, there's a big simple-minded robot, a "witty" thief, some three-quarter-nude chick( Seriously, what is it with nudity in games?! I'll go watch porn if I want to see nudity.) with a big hammer and a painted dwarf with antlers growing out of his *ss, errr I mean shoulders.

The dialogues and voice-acting are awful, for example at the start of the second level the big robot breaks down a wall of ice and the party stumbles upon an ancient elven city.
Yes of course, the party *just* STUMBLES upon an ancient elven capital! And it's only the start of the second level!

The chick asks "What is this place?", whereupon the dwarf immediatly (he didn't even act suprised) answers in the most bored voice you can imagine "Ah yes, this must be the ancient elven city of lululalaland it was known for it's powerful magics..." *yawn*

It ain't D&D, the only thing Dungeons and Dragons I've seen so far is the logo, I mean, I couldn't level her(the chick) up, find out what her stats are. Hell, I didn't even know mana existed in D&D!

The only thing I liked was the fact that you could explore multiple levels, but they ripped that off from Age of Wonders...


Don't buy this game, there are better things to waste money on, like of Pools of Radiance 2.

It's an RTS, for pete's sake... obviously if you go in expecting a CRPG you won't find one. :rolleyes:

THIS GAME SUCKS ... and it sucks hard ...

How about providing some commentary why, if you've even played it?

Tal, I think I'd really love an RTS with lots of CRPG elements, and I thought this would be it.. what a bloody disappointment.

Yes, I too would have loved to see the D&D rules applied in a strategy game, I was much disappointed, although this is not suprising coming from *ahem* atari.

I played this a while back and tried getting into it. I had a Paladin, a Rogue and a Ranger exploring the underground, finding treasure and slaying beasts. Twas fun if you used your imagination.

Then I got to the AI's base, and got "tank rushed". Watching the relatively dull combat take place as my base was owned to the dust was uninspiring at best.

The trio I "levelled up" in the underground were dispatched to save my lovely town from this demonic army of doom. They were all cut to pieces in seconds by boring looking spell effects and naff animations. Unninstalled the demo, don't consider looking back, to be honest.

Well, oddly, I seem to be an exception in liking the setting. But I admit the Dwarf looked plain wrong. I haven't played the demo very long, but it looked entertaining enough, although I think Spellforce looks and feels better. Will need to test it some more, but seeing as some other games are drawing my attention, I don't know if I will get around to it, since I also still have to finish said Spellforce.

I didnt think it could be this boring! seriously Dwarf mages and barbarians? And bugbears that could be beat by telling them that 1+1=2? Not good.