Preview Bard's Tale IV Kickstarter Update #35: Combat System Video, Designer Commentary Edition

[Infinitron]

Tags: Bard's Tale IV; David Rogers; InXile Entertainment

For the new Bard's Tale IV Kickstarter update, inXile have put together a commentary version of February's combat system video, featuring the narration of systems designer David Rogers. I would have preferred something entirely new, but it's definitely nice to have. The combat system is more complex than it looks, with multiple damage types and defenses, with the ability to damage armor or penetrate an opponent's mental focus to shut down his current action. That said, in response to some people's concerns about pacing, David makes it clear that not all battles in the game will be as lengthy or elaborate as the one in the video.

​

The update also announces that inXile have hired a sound designer for Bard's Tale IV - one Brian DiDomenico, who has worked on a variety of games. Makes me wonder what stage of development the game is at now.

 

[grimace]

Looks great! Proud of inXile.

 

[Ulfhednar]

'Developer' commentary - A convenient way to hide your lack of any meaningful progress since the last update...

 

[flushfire]

Wow, those dancing portraits look ridiculously stupid and cheap. Static ones with simple highlights would be better, would take less work too.

 

[Tyrion8338]

Wow, those dancing portraits look ridiculously stupid and cheap. Static ones with simple highlights would be better, would take less work too.

It`s temporary, the game looks quite atmospheric but I`m not that intrested in it tbh, seems a bit childish and this combat mechanics aren`t my thing.

 

[nikolokolus]

Goddamn. Learn how to pronounce Fachan.

 

[Wonderdog]

Seems like a weird/silly system. The graphics are great, though.

 

[Drowed]

It does looks good. But will it play as good as it looks?

 

[Taskityo]

Wow, those dancing portraits look ridiculously stupid and cheap. Static ones with simple highlights would be better, would take less work too.

That is addressed in the commentary. Did you listen to it?

 

[Excidium II]

It does looks good. But will it play as good as it looks?

Can't be worse than tworment.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

What is it with so many games using 'This is a Unity Game' Blue all over the fucking place.

 

[Excidium II]

What is it with so many games using 'This is a Unity Game' Blue all over the fucking place.

what did he mean by this

 

[flushfire]

That is addressed in the commentary. Did you listen to it?

The comment I heard was only about the portrait bounce during party banter.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

What is it with so many games using 'This is a Unity Game' Blue all over the fucking place.

what did he mean by this

In the past few years there have been many unity games that use the same blue in their interfaces. I am guessing it is a preset UI color selection.

 

[Pentagon]

I hope the game lives up to the potential shown in the video, because then it could be quite enjoyable to play!

 

[Excidium II]

What is it with so many games using 'This is a Unity Game' Blue all over the fucking place.

what did he mean by this

In the past few years there have been many unity games that use the same blue in their interfaces. I am guessing it is a preset UI color selection.

I think people just like blue. This is an UE4 game anyway

 

[Wonderdog]

What is it with so many games using 'This is a Unity Game' Blue all over the fucking place.

what did he mean by this

In the past few years there have been many unity games that use the same blue in their interfaces. I am guessing it is a preset UI color selection.

I think people just like blue. This is an UE4 game anyway

You can tell because it doesn't look like garbage and run in slow motion.

 

[Hyperion]

Game is gorgeous for a blobber. Shame the same can't be said of the character portraits. They're absolutely hideous. Not sure how I feel about Opportunity Points, though. Little reminiscent of Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, which at least wasn't even a communal pool of points. Turns are going to be extremely restrictive with a full party of 6.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

Wiz8 style portraits are awesome, they should emulate those.

 

[Sacred82]

at least InXile goes out with a bang.

 

[GloomFrost]

To everyone who backed torment 3 years ago I hope you enjoyed this video and commentary coz this is where some of your money went to.

 

[you know what time it is]

That actually looks decent, sure you can fuck up pretty much anything given enough ineptitude, but blobbers are extremely limited in scope to begin with, so there's a good chance inExile could actually produce a Good Game for a change.

 

[Ulfhednar]

To everyone who backed torment 3 4 years ago I hope you enjoyed this video and commentary coz this is where some of your money went to.

The rest went to Lawyers, Coke and Wymyn... and fixed it for ya!

 

[cvv]

Game looks gorgeous. BT4 must succeed, for the greater good of all blobberdom.

 

[Darkzone]

It does looks good. But will it play as good as it looks?

Depends on your expectations, interests and computer.

And as always: I still think that BTW 4 will redeem inXile as blobber makers.