Interview Gavin Carter talks about Oblivion

[Vault Dweller]

Tags: Bethesda Softworks; Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion; Gavin Carter

<a href=http://www.consolegold.com>ConsoleGold</a> has posted a very informative <a href=http://www.consolegold.com/Articles/articles.php?artID=67>interview</a> with Gavin Carter about <a href=http://www.theelderscrolls.com/home/home.htm>Oblivion</a>.
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<blockquote><b>I like to decimate my enemies with fire from my fingertips – make an old wizard happy…tell us a little bit about spell creation and spellcasting.</b>
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It’s tough to know where to start, there are so many changes. The biggest one is probably the removal of the “magic mode” from Morrowind. No more running around with your hands up in front of you, unable to defend yourself from melee opponents. Now you can cast magic any time you choose, even using a sword and shield.
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We’ve gone over the spells themselves and taken out some of the more useless ones and added in a number of new ones. So you’ll see quite a few new effects like Reanimate, an effect that allows you to resurrect a dead NPC and gain him as a follower.</blockquote>
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So, is that what "now you can play as teh wizard" fuss was all about? You can cast Diablo-like spells while using a sword and a shield? How very innovative.
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*waits for MSFD to clear up the confusion
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Spotted at: <A HREF="http://www.rpgdot.com">RPG Dot</A>

 

[MrSmileyFaceDude]

Why is it that whenever anyone talks about a feature of the game, especially one that's different from the previous game, some people respond with a sarcastic "how innovative?" :D

I mean honestly, Gavin didn't say "For the first time ever, we have invented this brand new concept that nobody has ever even dreamed of before, which allows you to cast spells even though your hands are full -- the innovation knows no bounds!!"

Anyway, yeah, all he's saying is that you don't have to "ready" your hands like you did in Morrowind. Instead of a "ready magic" control that puts your weapon away and brings your hands up to casting position, and then casting spells using the "attack" control , in Oblivion there's a "cast" control in addition to the "attack" control. When you press "cast", your currently selected spell is cast right away, and the animation adjusts depending on what's in your hands.

There's a lot more about the magic system that we haven't talked about yet, some of which does indeed get more into the "now you can play as teh wizard" stuff than this does.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Why is it that whenever anyone talks about a feature of the game, especially one that's different from the previous game, some people respond with a sarcastic "how innovative?" :D

You, sir, are obviously not a journalist!

Well, it's been mentioned many, MANY times that the magic system was completely changed and it was hinted that the change was for the better. Naturally, we expect to see something interesting and if the first thing revealed is "now you can fight AND cast spells", it's kinda lame. No?

 

[MrSmileyFaceDude]

Actually I mentioned that a few months ago in a "team diary" article on the main site. Gavin's mention of the Reanimate spell is new, though. As we get closer to release, I'm sure more details will be revealed about the magic system. I'd tell you more if I could

 

[Vault Dweller]

Gavin's mention of the Reanimate spell is new, though.

Hardly exciting though, is it?

As we get closer to release, I'm sure more details will be revealed about the magic system. I'd tell you more if I could

Isn't that what anonymous hotmail accounts are for? :wink: Anyway, I'll take your word for it and continue to believe that the new magic system is like totally awesome.

 

[Naked_Lunch]

I think we all know what the really important question is here:

Can you set your dog on fire while you have a sword and shield in your hands?

 

[Vault Dweller]

 

[Gwendo]

I just hope it's an inovative and never before seen dog.

 

[Crazy Tuvok]

I like the sound of many of the changes: I think the fact that an NPC's reaction to seeing you steal something is determined by who they are is nifty as hell, and the stealth and combat mechanics sound vastly improved they do sound mostly iterative as opposed to TEH REVOOLOTION!!

Still, no specifics on dialogue; oh yeah except Patrick Stewart does some. Either interviewers aren't asking about it or nothing new is forthcoming. Either way makes me wonder. That screen from a coupla months ago from that Czech site didn't exactly wow me. In fact I kind of hated it.

 

[Vykromond]

MSFD, I think you missed (or, at least, you didn't really seem to respond to) the broader thrust of what VD said. He's completely right that as you release more information about the game, especially about features that up until a certain interview and/or press release were entirely "under wraps," you should start with the major stuff or not start at all until you have a more comprehensive look at it available.

And Gavin did say "The biggest [change] is probably the removal of the “magic mode” from Morrowind"...

 

[Claw]

I like lockpicking minigames.

 

[kathode]

Hardly exciting though, is it?

The fans are pretty nuts over it on our boards, not that you'd care. Honestly is there anything we could say that would excite you about it other than announcing it will be totally turn-based and feature reams upon reams of delicious dialog trees?

 

[Claw]

Your fans are pretty nuts. Tell us something new.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Your fans are pretty nuts. Tell us something new.

Fuck, that was the first thing I thought when I saw "the fans are pretty nuts over it...". You walked into this one, kathode. :wink:

The fans are pretty nuts over it on our boards, not that you'd care. Honestly is there anything we could say that would excite you about it other than announcing it will be totally turn-based and feature reams upon reams of delicious dialog trees?

Sure. There are many people who liked Daggerfall (I'm a big fan) and Gothic, so there is no need for that TB comment. The spell is hardly original and kinda boring. Basically, it's another way to summon things. I'm sure it will look spectacular, but it doesn't ADD anything new to the already existing gameplay. I hope there are better and more interesting spells, but, sadly, you didn't mention them in the interview.

The cast while you fight thing is simply lame. Once again, I hope that there are more interesting tweaks to the system.

 

[Vykromond]

I actually hate the "cast while fighting" a little. It never annoyed me in MW; it made sense. A battle-axe is not a wand.

 

[geminito]

People at RPG Codex don't like any games except Fallout 1. Actually, that's not true... they also like KOTOR because it has dialog trees.

Having to hold your hands out for a manicure in Morrowind sure was annoying! I like the idea that your character animation will handle the "ready your hands" thing automatically.

Hold your sword and shield in one hand and cast with the other? Hold your 2-handed weapon in one hand while casting?

That sounds better than putting your sword in its scabbard and strapping your shield on your back before casting.

Who cares as long as it makes the game more fun?

 

[Drakron]

Hardly exciting though, is it?

The fans are pretty nuts over it on our boards, not that you'd care. Honestly is there anything we could say that would excite you about it other than announcing it will be totally turn-based and feature reams upon reams of delicious dialog trees?

You right ... we DONT.

I mean serious, I been in your forums as well other companies forums and the large majority of their members are nothing a buch of fanboys.

Oblivion looks more and more "dumb down for the masses" ... I used to have respect for Bethsoft but after this ...

 

[Atrokkus]

FFS, what's with those "wand for casting" cliche?
An experienced mage can cast even the most highlevel spells being absolutely naked.


By the way, Kathode, what really interests me and many others about magic is its actual potency. I mean, hell, in Morrowind the only mages that were really effective are Battle mages. The whole enchantment thing is totally imbalanced, allowing even a moronic barbarian cast powerful spells, like he was some fucking archmage! The concept of enchantment may be pretty fun and itneresting, but it toally kills the pure mage class.
Plus, there was a huge issue of mana insufficiency. A pure mage (no combatskills) was a sack of shit without special plugins that fixed the mana pools.

How are you going to reform that?

 

[Vykromond]

FFS, what's with those "wand for casting" cliche?

You're always complaining on this board about how people take your statements "too literally," and then you say moronic stuff like this. No, you don't need a wand for casting, but you do need to do something. If you're swinging a battleaxe, you shouldn't be able to cast spells: your hands aren't free, and even assuming your spell was solely a spoken incantation, you wouldn't be able to say it properly with the physical exertion of holding a battleaxe and fighting with it.

The whole enchantment thing is totally imbalanced, allowing even a moronic barbarian cast powerful spells, like he was some fucking archmage!

Well, fucken exactly! And in Oblivion, said moronic barbarian won't even have to stop hacking faces if he wants to cast Tier VII Fireball: he can do it with his ebony hand axe and tower shield still equipped!

 

[Vault Dweller]

An experienced mage can cast even the most highlevel spells being absolutely naked.

I hate to admit it but I'm not an experienced mage myself, so I'd have to take your word for it.

 

[MrSmileyFaceDude]

Well, fucken exactly! And in Oblivion, said moronic barbarian won't even have to stop hacking faces if he wants to cast Tier VII Fireball: he can do it with his ebony hand axe and tower shield still equipped!

It's doubtful said barbarian would even have Tier VII Fireball available to him, let alone be able to cast it, weapon in hand or not. There's a lot more to magic than we've talked about so far. Have patience, all will be revealed in time.

 

[Whipporowill]

I understand why they'd remove having your hands free for spellcasting - it's just some fantasy cliché damn it! In pnp it was usually based around balancing - a mage not being able to use metal armor and useful weapons doesn't really matter in a singleplayer game after all.

 

[Drakron]

... Have patience, all will be revealed in time.

Yes, AFTER we brought the game.

 

[Vykromond]

I understand why they'd remove having your hands free for spellcasting - it's just some fantasy cliché damn it! In pnp it was usually based around balancing - a mage not being able to use metal armor and useful weapons doesn't really matter in a singleplayer game after all.

Um, what? Balance matters in single-player games.

 

[Whipporowill]

True, but it's not as important as in a mp environment (be it online or pnp). In an sp game there's usually a lot more to focus your energy on - and less powergaming. That said, I don't believe Beth'd be stupid enough to have an überpath?