Eternity Avowed - Obsidian's first person action-RPG in the Pillars of Eternity setting - coming February 18th

[Non-Edgy Gamer]

You see people impaled by spears BUT spears seems unable to be used in the game. Why? There is any type of weapon more hated in "fantasy" than spears?

Lizards use em. But yeah, lame.

6:08 -: Creating a mini black hole. Interesting

No, it's not interesting. It's just another Mass Effect gravity spell.

 

[Wesp5]

6:08 -: Creating a mini black hole. Interesting

No, it's not interesting. It's just another Mass Effect gravity spell.

The first time I saw this effect was in Unreal 2, years before Mass Effect.

 

[Jenkem]

RPG CODEX GOTY 2024

 

[Kaidanovsky]

I'm actually still pretty optimistic about Avowed. It reminds me of 2001 when Torn was announced. Initially, everything about it seemed generic and dull. The more they revealed, the more bored I became. However, after several amazing titles in a row, I couldn't help but trust BIS.

In the end, it turns out I had no reason to worry.

 

[Modron]

Read the rest of this Kaidanovsky guy's posts, he's a decent troll.

 

[Kaidanovsky]

Read the rest of this Kaidanovsky guy's posts, he's a decent troll.

Just trying to reach 5 posts in order to gain access to GD. No access yet, but I have a feeling I'm getting close.

 

[Spukrian]

Just trying to reach 5 posts in order to gain access to GD. No access yet, but I have a feeling I'm getting close.

I think you also need to have been a member for a year...

 

[AwesomeButton]

Just trying to reach 5 posts in order to gain access to GD. No access yet, but I have a feeling I'm getting close.

I think you also need to have been a member for a year...

Or become a patron to earn the privilige of being allowed to share your profound views on contemporary politics with all the other luminaries of GD.

 

[Kaidanovsky]

Just trying to reach 5 posts in order to gain access to GD. No access yet, but I have a feeling I'm getting close.

I think you also need to have been a member for a year...

Or become a patron to earn the privilige of being allowed to share your profound views on contemporary politics with all the other luminaries of GD.

Judging by how proud members seem to be of the outcome of the GOTY poll, I'm expecting some real appreciation for the democratic process. I'll consider it.

 

[Lyric Suite]

Is there any realistic possibility this isn't going to be shit?

I don't know much about Obsidian this days, but i do remember a lot of key people aren't there anymore and the last game of theirs i looked at seemed total shit.

 

[Perkel]

Is there any realistic possibility this isn't going to be shit?

No. Everything i have seen so far looks like B tier game that is placed in place which specifically has barely any npcs to talk with.

Now that wouldn't be a bad thing if Obsidian could make good real time gameplay but what they have shown so far looks like C tier action combat.

IMHO Obsidian is stuck in this weird place where they can't scale down and do those POE like projects anymore and they can't scale up which means they can't do those Skyrim like RPGs.

Another issue is that they simply don't have technology to deliver complex gameplay mechanics. Creating PnP rules is fairly straightforward but creating action gameplay that interacts with physics, animations has side effects etc. is entirely different ball that requires a lot of experience that Obsidian simply doesn't have.

The only game they managed to do it was FNV but that was build on Betsheda engine and their vast amount of experience with creating open worlds, animations etc.

 

[Nikanuur]

No. Everything i have seen so far looks like B tier game that is placed in place which specifically has barely any npcs to talk with.

Now that wouldn't be a bad thing if Obsidian could make good real time gameplay but what they have shown so far looks like C tier action combat.

IMHO Obsidian is stuck in this weird place where they can't scale down and do those POE like projects anymore and they can't scale up which means they can't do those Skyrim like RPGs.

Another issue is that they simply don't have technology to deliver complex gameplay mechanics. Creating PnP rules is fairly straightforward but creating action gameplay that interacts with physics, animations has side effects etc. is entirely different ball that requires a lot of experience that Obsidian simply doesn't have.

The only game they managed to do it was FNV but that was build on Betsheda engine and their vast amount of experience with creating open worlds, animations etc.

There's seldom something worse and more stereotyped in gaming development than stuff like AAA-tier graphics but E-tier environment traversing. Cminus-tier gameplay, but almost a B-tier kind of story. D-tier mash-button combat, much less exploration, etc.
I mean, we all gladly play AA, B, or even C-tier games if they know their place; all their aspects, price included, middling around their respective, clearly communicated 'mark'.
But, hey, what else is new since the 2000s.

 

[Perkel]

There's seldom something worse and more stereotyped in gaming development than stuff like AAA-tier graphics but E-tier environment traversing. Cminus-tier gameplay, but almost a B-tier kind of story. D-tier mash-button combat, much less exploration, etc.
I mean, we all gladly play AA, B, or even C-tier games if they know their place; all their aspects, price included, middling around their respective, clearly communicated 'mark'.
But, hey, what else is new since the 2000s.

Can i expect from Obsidian for Avowed to be Skyrim/The Witcher 3 size ? To include 100s of spells ? 20 weapon types with 100s of weapons to pick ? 100 monster types ? 1000 npcs with their own day schedule ? Any avenue where they can say. Yep we are the best !?

You know what ? Let's forget about chasing AAA.

Do you think Avowed will be the size of at least Kingdom Come Deliverence aka kickstarter game made on shoestring budget by some czech madlads ? Because i think it won't be even half of KCD.

So when I say B-tier i fully expect Awoved to be small game with very limited gameplay and interaction. Much like Other Worlds.

Obsidian reported in 2019, 200 employees so now maybe they are at 300. That includes everyone not just developers. And they work on multiple projects at the same time. So out of those maybe 250 people who are real developers, take half that works on Avowed. That's barely 125 people. That's nothing now even for A or AA games let alone AAAs.

Now it would not be a problem if they would sit down on those POE like projects. Small ambitious projects that don't require much developers.

But no, they want to make those big games. Without people, technology or experience.

 

[Child of Malkav]

It will be Tow in the past. With reptiles.

 

[Cat Headed Eagle]

There's seldom something worse and more stereotyped in gaming development than stuff like AAA-tier graphics but E-tier environment traversing. Cminus-tier gameplay, but almost a B-tier kind of story. D-tier mash-button combat, much less exploration, etc.
I mean, we all gladly play AA, B, or even C-tier games if they know their place; all their aspects, price included, middling around their respective, clearly communicated 'mark'.
But, hey, what else is new since the 2000s.

Can i expect from Obsidian for Avowed to be Skyrim/The Witcher 3 size ? To include 100s of spells ? 20 weapon types with 100s of weapons to pick ? 100 monster types ? 1000 npcs with their own day schedule ? Any avenue where they can say. Yep we are the best !?

 

[Yosharian]

It's not about the ability to 'scale up', it's about talent. Time and time again small, talented indie devs prove that with hard work and skill, you can create incredible games that are very complex, 2D or 3D.

What Obsidian are lacking is talent. Because it left.

 

[Cat Headed Eagle]

It's not about the ability to 'scale up', it's about talent. Time and time again small, talented indie devs prove that with hard work and skill, you can create incredible games that are very complex, 2D or 3D.

What Obsidian are lacking is talent. Because it left.

And you won't get it. If you go to any programming course, the amount of gamers is decreasing. In a class of 50 it's likely that only two or three are actually on this because they want to make games. The image of the supernerd is going away now that anything IT related is basically a normal job now. Plus you have years of bad press against gaming dev being a shit place to work in, and it's public knowledge that gaming is the worst paying branch of software development. Who would want to work there?

 

[Shaki]

It's not about the ability to 'scale up', it's about talent. Time and time again small, talented indie devs prove that with hard work and skill, you can create incredible games that are very complex, 2D or 3D.

What Obsidian are lacking is talent. Because it left.

And you won't get it. If you go to any programming course, the amount of gamers is decreasing. In a class of 50 it's likely that only two or three are actually on this because they want to make games. The image of the supernerd is going away now that anything IT related is basically a normal job now. Plus you have years of bad press against gaming dev being a shit place to work in, and it's public knowledge that gaming is the worst paying branch of software development. Who would want to work there?

Fortunately it doesn't matter, because in a decade all these "developers" will be replaced by an AI anyway, and every Codexer will be able to easily generate his own perfect RPG in a basement. I'll tell the computer to make me 100 sequels to Arcanum, then I'll just keep playing them until I die.

 

[Hagashager]

It's not about the ability to 'scale up', it's about talent. Time and time again small, talented indie devs prove that with hard work and skill, you can create incredible games that are very complex, 2D or 3D.

What Obsidian are lacking is talent. Because it left.

And you won't get it. If you go to any programming course, the amount of gamers is decreasing. In a class of 50 it's likely that only two or three are actually on this because they want to make games. The image of the supernerd is going away now that anything IT related is basically a normal job now. Plus you have years of bad press against gaming dev being a shit place to work in, and it's public knowledge that gaming is the worst paying branch of software development. Who would want to work there?

Fortunately it doesn't matter, because in a decade all these "developers" will be replaced by an AI anyway, and every Codexer will be able to easily generate his own perfect RPG in a basement. I'll tell the computer to make me 100 sequels to Arcanum, then I'll just keep playing them until I die.

The heavily censored AI you're allowed to use will produce 100 sequels where you can only play a dark skinned Orc, female, mage and all plots revolve around you exclusively killing (and only ever killing) White, human, male, factory owners.

have fun.

 

[NaturallyCarnivorousSheep]

Is there any realistic possibility this isn't going to be shit?

No and reminder I've learned to love PoE so it's not coming from a complete detractor PoV.
It had a sliver of chance to sell decently because it didn't seem like it's going to have competition in late 2024 other than DA4, but now that you have KCD2 it's over for Avowed, wouldn't be surprised if they announced delay to early 2025.

 

[v1c70r14]

No and reminder I've learned to love PoE

My condolences for your sanity. Before you go to the next step, which is considering Canadian healthcare, let me prescribe you some therapy: at least 100 hours of Grimoire, doctor's orders. If blobbers don't get along with your current medication, then consider the prescription free alternative; Icewind Dale.

 

[Tyranicon]

Is there any realistic possibility this isn't going to be shit?

I don't know much about Obsidian this days, but i do remember a lot of key people aren't there anymore and the last game of theirs i looked at seemed total shit.

Expecting a competently-made video game, much less good, in 2024 and beyond is just asking for disappointment.

 

[Cryomancer]

Will this game have cipher abilities?

Wizard spell I found just very nerfed versions of D&D spells and din't liked, now, being able to take control over enemies in a very low lethality game was op. In a skyrim-esque game, cipher abilities allow NPC trolling.

 

[ropetight]

Is there any realistic possibility this isn't going to be shit?

I don't know much about Obsidian this days, but i do remember a lot of key people aren't there anymore and the last game of theirs i looked at seemed total shit.

Expecting a competently-made video game, much less good, in 2024 and beyond is just asking for disappointment.

It is kind of sad that we will probably never see game developers of Meier, Carmack, Abrash, Garriott and other legends genius level.
Not needed anymore, it seems.

 

[Tyranicon]

It is kind of sad that we will probably never see game developers of Meier, Carmack, Abrash, Garriott and other legends genius level.
Not needed anymore, it seems.

There will probably still be great game makers as long as the medium is alive, just like how the occasional good TV show or movie still crops up.

But it will probably be smaller, niche projects rather than AAA or even higher end AA stuff. So, expect more stuff like Battle Brothers if you want good games.