Game News Blackguards 2 Announced

[Dorateen]

I will add another voice in support for full party customization.

And if they remain obstinant on this point, it will raise questions about the moral character of these developers.

 

[Grunker]

Anything else, though?

lol, tons. But I guess you've got me because without actually getting the text files and presenting you with every bit of incoherence, it's just going to be your word versus mine, isn't it?

However I already mentioned from memory you damning slavery as evil and later praising the arena and the people who made you fight. Or saving the slaves and bringing a new gladiator as a slave later. Fuck, the game isn't even ABOUT you being a blackguard. You're NOT. You were FALSELY accused. You're not actually a criminal. You were the victim of a fucking judicial murder. Your character is fundamentally a well-behaved upperclass archaeologist student. The dwarf has thrown one hissy-fit. The gladiator is a silent warrior whose sole sin was that he was a slave. The wizard is just a womanizer. The only one who - with some comfort - can claim to be Blackguard-like is the elf. The only one I acknowledged as an interesting character... oh, and she disappears from the story early on. Nice.

Aurelia is a mysterious and morally dubious witch... except she's not, she's actually the whitest of them all since she's sacrificed everything to save everyone. Even the initial villain is self-sacrificing in reality. The world the party exists in is actually fairly grimy - a 1930s perception of Arabia with all the cloak and dagger stuff, and evil politicians and corrupt merchants. Next to that world the characters in your party are actual gosh-darn saints.

Most of the quests can be divided into two categories: you are helping someone for very minor pay or because you're just a sweetheart, or you are doing typical "what's the reward?" adventure-type stuff. If you want to do something interesting with the concept, isn't the idea to NOT having you helping people out of the goodness of your heart? If not, what exactly is the difference between this and any other adventure party story? The only difference is a) they say that you're criminal (you're not) and outcast (you are, but only from the starting area) and b) there are a few, scant quests that normal adventure parties wouldn't do. Quests that are in every other RPG as well but are just optional as token "neutral/evil" quests in those.

The vibe I got was that your characters were "down on their luck dirtbags"

How is the main character a dirtbag? Do you contest that you do some quests solely out of the goodness of your heart? And that you ultimately put everything on the line to save everyone else?

 

[Infinitron]

I really don't feel like arguing about this, Grunker.

Yes, the main character is less of a dirtbag than the rest, but it's clear that he's seen as an indolent fool by the people who know him. But you're focusing too much on the main character. It's the rest of your guys who set the tone for the game.

Second, as I said, the name of the game probably isn't a reference to the evilly-evil D&D prestige class of the same name (a Dark Eye game giving a fuck about D&D? not likely), but to the dictionary definition of blackguard which is basically "scoundrel".

Finally, you need to consider that the name of the game is partly ironic, or meant to be understood from a different perspective. That is, your character may not necessarily actually be a "blackguard", but that's what the people of the world see him as as he flees the law, and this is what the title is a reference to.

 

[80Maxwell08]

I remember when everyone in the beta forums was happy with the game, then they showed it to the press and decided to dumb it down horribly because none of the journos could get past it...

Stop right there criminal scum.

You are conveniently forgetting that guy who couldn't beat Takate after trying 50 times in the beta forum

I saw someone on twitter saying the game was crap because he couldn't beat the first fight.

 

[Grunker]

I really don't feel like arguing about this, Grunker.

Then don't?

But you're focusing too much on the main character. It's the rest of your guys who set the tone for the game.

Alarm bells should be ringing right about here.

Also, as I said, the name of the game isn't a reference to the evilly-evil D&D prestige class of the same name (a Dark Eye game giving a fuck about D&D?), but to the dictionary definition of Blackguards which is basically "scoundrel".

Errrr, I know? What made you think otherwise? I'm asking why the game isn't about a bunch of misfits and "chaotic neutral" style characters instead of a band of fundamentally heartwarming bros with some slight character flaws?

you need to consider that the name of the game is partly ironic

The promotion material was not "ironic", it was very clear: "you will be playing criminals, outcasts, misfits, scum." You know, people of shady character. The self-interested kind. The kind that are selfish (so not Lawful Good) but don't eat little kids (so not Chaotic Evil).

 

[Infinitron]

Let's summon the developer of another game that's promising a "blackguard"-like character to play.

Blackthorne How do you intend to characterize Mr. Roehm? Is he villainous, a jerk, or just kinda scummy?

 

[Grunker]

Let's switch the subject

bro, it's ok

you're not beholden to finish discussions on the codex if you don't wanna

 

[Darth Roxor]

you're not beholden to finish discussions on the codex if you don't wanna

PREPOSTEROUS

 

[Infinitron]

Let's switch the subject

bro, it's ok

you're not beholden to finish discussions on the codex if you don't wanna

There's no need for sarcasm. I'm not ashamed of the fact that I'm switching the subject, especially when I switch it to something more interesting.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

What Roxor said. How does the inclusion of "faction-based" gameplay and implied "conquest of territories" tell you the game is going to be more of a linear adventure game or JRPG? Seems like the opposite to me. Looks like everybody sees what they want to see.

Ok, let me put it differently.

If someone asked me what I'd like to see in BG2, it would be a game that kept the battle mechanics of the first one, and gave you full freedom to create your own party which would then be free to roam in a Darklands type world (which would work well with the static screens for towns and stuff, combined with say mini-CYOA style text stuff to segue into combat at various locations around the world).

That sounds like Darklands with boss TB combat. Yes please.

 

[Grunker]

Let's switch the subject

bro, it's ok

you're not beholden to finish discussions on the codex if you don't wanna

There's no need for sarcasm. I'm not ashamed of the fact that I'm switching the subject, especially when I switch it to something more interesting.

It wasn't sarcasm dude. And I don't think the new discussion is more interesting.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

Really they should keep the setting and completely re-roll the story and characters. I don;t give a shit about any of them other than the dead elf

 

[Excidium]

Looks more like a standalone expansion than a sequel

 

[Loriac]

Really they should keep the setting and completely re-roll the story and characters. I don;t give a shit about any of them other than the dead elf

Her line about ponies always cracked me up

 

[Maculo]

I enjoyed Blackguards, but this news has me cautious. I was hoping that they would expand the party selection, but this sounds like they reduced it.

 

[Dr Schultz]

just finished the first one. Even if I'm not a huge fan of The Dark Eye, I really enjoyed the experience. After all I'm not a huge fan of D&D either, but I loved Knights of the Chalice.

Looking forward to this second chapter.

 

[Yuri Gagarin]

I think the biggest implication is that Blackguards 2 sold well enough to warrant a sequel, proving there is still a market for hardcore CRPG's.

Blackguards 2 was just announced, how is it that it sold well enough? Dumbass.

 

[deuxhero]

I see, so to you playing the main characters of Blackguards, who were a pair of lazy young aristocrats, a violent arsonist dwarf, a lecherous mage on the run, and a deadly tribal from the jungle, was just like playing a Lawful Good party in Baldur's Gate with a paladin, gotcha

Here's the problem: Literally the only indication he did anything more than property damage is the manual where he is wanted for "murder by arson". There are many conversations about the fire, but no one mentions the death(s) that resulted.

 

[Infinitron]

I see, so to you playing the main characters of Blackguards, who were a pair of lazy young aristocrats, a violent arsonist dwarf, a lecherous mage on the run, and a deadly tribal from the jungle, was just like playing a Lawful Good party in Baldur's Gate with a paladin, gotcha

Here's the problem: Literally the only indication he did anything more than property damage is the manual where he is wanted for "murder by arson". There are many conversations about the fire, but no one mentions the death(s) that resulted.

He's violent and he's an arsonist, I did not mean to imply that the two were related.

 

[Angelo85]

In the epic Grunker vs Infinitron battle I have to side with Grunker. From all the PR hype stuff I expected to play the kind of evil that kicks pregnant women in the stomach. I was quite surprised at the goody 2 shoe nature of some quests / your party member's behavior and the "save the world" overarching story. I expected to steal from the poor and sell to the rich ;D

Despite that the game turned out good for what it is though.

 

[deuxhero]

Didn't necessarily mean you did, just that for thieving balladeers/a gang of cutthroat mugs they gloss over their worse parts.

They dont need to twirl the mustache or anything, just have people complain about more than the pub serving good beer.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Blackguards was good, still playing it.
Do NOT simplify please.

Edit: I would have liked to see expansions, mods, etc of the original game as well.
Is there a modding community for this game?

 

[Roguey]

I wonder if this one will be any good or if it's going to take another 2 or 3 sequels for them to finally make something I'd consider worth playing.

Sadly, at some point in RPG history, standard party size went from 6 to 4

Kotor.

... had a maximum party size of three, so no.

 

[Excidium]

What a mongoloid post to begin with. "standard party size" crockshit

 

[Morality Games]

I wonder if this one will be any good or if it's going to take another 2 or 3 sequels for them to finally make something I'd consider worth playing.

Sadly, at some point in RPG history, standard party size went from 6 to 4

Kotor.

... had a maximum party size of three, so no.

That's true. Wonder why the number four sticks out to me. Maybe its because for some reason I tend to equate the NWN2 party system with the Kotor 2 party system.