Senior Producer Lawrence Liberty talks about D&D Tactics for the PSP

"D&D Tactics has developed its own style while still rendering a credible 3D world"

Just mention the phrase "D&D" and those in the know will conjure up bright images, full of high-fantasy adventure, a solid ruleset and lots of deaths along the way of a grand journey. The Dungeons & Dragons license is certainly not a new venture when it comes to video games. But with Tactics, D&D is marching onto the PSP handheld, offering up an original story in a turn-based setting.

Originally slated to hit the retail shelves around the holiday season of 2006, Tactics was delayed so that the game (when released this summer) would supply D&D fans the bliss they expect from a licensed product. The result is a vibrant game that adheres to the current ruleset and presents an original story where alignment means so much to the gaming experience.

Other features of the game include:

• Deep and exciting turn-based gameplay that uses the D&D 3.5 rule-set

• All core races and classes are available, plus the addition of Psionics

• Highly customizable characters can be created and traded between players via wireless

• Involving story takes the player to a wide variety of authentic D&D environments

• Battle many different types of monsters from the D&D universe

• Play with your friends wirelessly in both cooperative and adversarial game modes

• Extend the gameplay experience with downloadable content

GameZone had the opportunity to chat with the title's senior producer, Lawrence Liberty.

What makes the PSP and this turn-based version of D&D such a perfect fit?

Lawrence: The combination of the PSP and the D&D universe is perfect. With the PSP we finally have a handheld that can do the subject matter justice in terms of visuals and depth. You can play the single-player campaign in small chunks and enjoy the experience or settle down with a few friends for a multiplayer battle. It will fill a noticeable void in the PSP lineup.

When creating a D&D game, are you bound to its rulesets (like the 3.5 ruleset this title uses), or are you given some latitude when it comes to the ruleset and video-game mechanics?

Lawrence: Our goal with any game that is based on the D&D license is to adhere to the current ruleset as much as possible (3.5 in the case of DDT). Inevitably, there are going to be some minor compromises along the way, but by and large we have done a great job with Tactics.

Will this title have any multiplayer elements or is this all about facing off against AI?

Lawrence: There is more to the game than just a single-player campaign. Up to 4 people can join a multiplayer game. There are two MP modes in D&D Tactics: Dungeon Bash, a cooperative mode, and Deathmatch, which is naturally player-versus-player. There are three types of Deathmatch contests: Gladiator (where you fight against other players and NPC monsters), Last Man Standing (where you face off against other human opponents), and Dragon Kill (a mode where you can choose to work together to kill the dragon in the center of the dungeon or attempt to kill both the dragon and your human opponents).

How does this game differ graphically from other recent D&D-based games?

Lawrence: D&D Tactics has developed its own style while still rendering a credible 3D world. The lighting in particular is well done. While it might not quite be a match for the latest Neverwinter Nights, it is very nice for a handheld.

What do you think makes the D&D style of play so compelling/popular and why do you think it translates well to the video-game market?

Lawrence: People enjoy role-playing and good story-telling. D&D is synonymous with adventure, set in a fantastic world full of amazing creatures; it never fails to ensnare a dedicated following. D&D Tactics takes the ideas that make D&D great and makes it portable and easy to get into.

How many hours of gameplay are there in this game? How many different environments are there and how many characters are available to play?

Lawrence: The core campaign should take roughly 40 hours to play through. You can also play through with an alignment shift if you were really dedicated and wanted to see how the story plays out if you change sides. As to environments, there are eight archetypal sets and they can be reused to create the many environments you’ll see in both the campaign and multiplayer modes. There are 26 pre-generated characters in the game. You can also create your own.

How much audio is integrated into the game and how important a role does it play in setting game tempo or mood?

Lawrence: There are 14 base music tracks for the game. The music is well done and does help establish a mood, matching the art direction and game design beautifully.

Are there elements of the D&D universe that are unique to the PSP title?

Lawrence: The Psion and Psychic Warrior classes are the biggest unique features of this title versus other D&D games. They represent two very interesting and powerful classes. We’ll be releasing more info about these classes a bit closer to the game’s release.

What sets this game apart from the anime turn-based title?

Lawrence: The real difference is thematic: the subject matter, art direction, music, and design sensibility is uniquely western. It is also more mature – there is a great deal of depth to the campaign adventure, something I always find to be a bit light in “cartoony” tactical games.

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