Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity [BETA RELEASED, GO TO THE NEW THREAD]

Finally found the bit where Obsidian say you will gain access to the Stronghold at the end of "Chapter 1". The reason I couldn't find it is because it's not Chapter 1, it's Act 1.

And it's stated in the actual update about Strongholds, of all places - lol! I was looking everywhere but.

So it looks like in PE, Acts replace Chapters and that probably means there are less of them. They could even be literally story acts - such as Introduction, Confrontation, Resolution. Also less narration VO required .

 

I love narration VOs.

 

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/66226-update-80-pushed-until-0528/

 

A discussion about the new Wolfenstein

None of this absurdity in Josh-games.

 

Paul Kirsch talks about his visit at Obsidian

http://paul-kirsch.com

 

I'm not sure if I'm suppose to be leaking this, but if you zoom in on the wall in photoshop, you can see design specifications for Pillars of Eternity.

 

Josh answered some questions on Something Awful today:

Dropping Penetration makes sense as it is essentially an overlap with raw damage. However Perception is a bit problematic as it is essentially 'dumpable' by some classes. Priests really don't need it as they have few offensive spells and Firearms have a low interrupt (dunno about Crossbows). Druids and Wizards also probably don't need it.

If you look at Pallegina's stats from Update 70 she has

13, 14, 9, 12, 15, 16 base at Level 8 (which may have a +1 from a level up). A Priest really needs: Intellect (AoEs, Durations), Dexterity (Accuracy), Constitution (HP) and Resolve (Concentration) a lot more than Might (Damage/Healing) and Perception (Interrupt). The reason these are low is if you look at the Priest spell list, most of the spells are allied buffs, there are few enemy debuffs and even fewer damaging spells. Why waste points on Interrupt when you'll be doing defensive casting most of the time?

Of course, I haven't played the game and there may be ways of making "Battle Priests" and stuff who are melee characters where Interrupt would be more useful, but I'm just not seeing it.

It's a shame because all of the other attributes are very good, and pretty useful for every class, this is the only one that isn't quite there. Still a good attribute system, just a shame it didn't quite get there in terms of all attributes being equally viable.

 

VO for Priest spells is placeholder

Ability animations and Melee Engagement movement

On casting animations

SA people have short memories

Dagger/Rapier Interrupts

 

Extra attribute from leveling? I think Infinitron[?] said there will not be any additional stats from leveling or something.

 

They do

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/64712-attribute-theory/page-4#entry1400415

Thus, you get some points. Probably one every 5th level.

 

Well there were some complaints on SA and on the Eternity forums about Priests not being great in melee. Apparently they have don't have a great deflection and aren't terribly durable HP (Health/Stamina) wise. The stock role is designed to be played as a ranged character.

It seems like a waste to bump Perception for a Priest, I mean sure you could do it, it just probably wouldn't be great. We haven't seen the talent system yet though.

By the way, here's what I think the 8 companions will be [Infinitron warning: speculation]:

Edér (confirmed)
Pallegina (confirmed)
Kana Rua - portrait from the Chanter update
Aloth - New portrait as seen here: http://i.imgur.com/yAcbMj9.jpg
Sagani - Too cool of a concept to drop. Josh mentioned on the Eternity forums about the type of animal companion she would have a while ago
Cadegund - Has been somewhat developed. I think her character will be one of the first characters you meet in the game due to her being a Priestess of Magan (the goddess most followed in the Dyrwood) which allows her to be logically met in the Dyrford (which has a Temple, probably to Magran).
Orlan Cipher (confirmed by Chris Avellone)
The Devil of Caroc (Fighter) - as mentioned in the last update

edit: Aloth, Sagani, Cadegund and the Devil of Caroc are all shown in this screen

There might be more than 8 but there will be at least 8. I think Josh is writing Edér along with Pallegina as well.

 

i really think the companions are still too early to tell. i think we'll all just be surprised with that.

 

Is the Devil of Caroc the obligatory 'whacky' (non-human) partymember?

You mean a dwarf who isn't a male warrior-type and comic relief? That's actually pretty novel, although that says more about the sad state of video game writing and high fantasy.

 

i was assumin he killed a whole bunch of people at a place called Caroc

cf the butcher of the somme

 

though actually seeing as The Devil of Caroc has the most time in the party, it might well be the in-game name for the PC, similar to child of bhaal/grey warden/etc

nope there's a damn great <PLAYERNAME> at the top of the screen nm

 

Sagani... is that the weird Eskimo female dwarf? I look forward to telling her to get back to the hearth and act like a proper dwarf.

 

GROW A BEARD WOMAN.

 

I wonder if there's an off the bat joke about Pallegina's name, being a female paladin and all. Probably not though. Josh doesn't have that sense of humor

 

Priests and offensive spells (I've been pressing my concern about Priests and Perception)

So I guess you can constantly spam offensive Priest spells for interrupts.

Creatures and DT

 

Pally vagina jokes were made here months ago already.

 

Josh checks Something Awful before (probably at) work.

Prometheus and I were having a discussion about the armor system, since it has changed quite a bit over time. I said that Crush was the best damage type vs. plate ... but it turns out that's actually not the case anymore. Estocs are the best weapon vs plate armor.

This bit is old info

On Mace DT negation (which I think is new info as it's not on the wiki)

And Maces absolutely rape Mail armor