The Dark Eye Blackguards - turn-based tactical RPG set in The Dark Eye world

[Stabwound]

It does look rather basic and boring judging by these videos, but it's not a bad thing that there are enough good-looking games coming out that something like this looks shitty in comparison.

 

[sser]

I think it's too hard to judge from a video where the players got no skills or equipment, and are fighting a guard or two. They should have shown something more, I dunno, exciting? Seems like basic marketing 101 to go for the gusto when displaying your product.

 

[mondblut]

The game is imho only combat, with some static town screens in between.

yes I just saw that. I guess this will be fun for the toee combat-fags, but not so fun for the rest of us.

TOEE combat-fags like to choose their battles at their leisure and on their own conditions. This will obviously be fun for the final fantasy railroad-fags.

A bunch of preset battles with puzzles. I am officially disinterested.

[Perception] Pft, no proper RPG ever bothers to recognize how many "battlemaps" it has and whether they are "unique" at all. Railroaded SJRPG detected

Hah. I warned from the start.

 

[MicoSelva]

With every preview this game reminds me more of Icarus: Sanctuary of the Gods, but than one had (barely) explorable cities.
- preset battles, check
- preset characters, check
- non-interactive dialogues, check

I know there are probably more well known tactic/RPG hybrids than Icarus, but I haven't played any of them (or if I did, I don't remember).

 

[Infinitron]

http://www.gameinformer.com/games/b...ional-strategy-with-an-interactive-twist.aspx

When a princess is mysteriously slain by a dark beast, a band of criminals must uncover the source of these darkspawn and purify the land.

Daedalic Entertainment is a German software developer that has released a number of point-and-click adventure games. The company is hoping to break out of this mold with an upcoming turn-based strategy title based on The Dark Eye pen-and-paper roleplaying rule set that is much loved in Europe.

As the game opens, you watch your childhood friend and longtime crush, the princess Elenore, get brutally murdered by a large black werewolf. You try to save her, but before you can subdue the beast, it runs off. By the time authorities arrive, Elenore is dead. You’re covered in blood, and no one believes your story about a crazed wolf.

You are quickly carted off to a local prison where you are found guilty for Elenore’s murder. However, the day before you’re set for execution, a gruff dwarf comes to your rescue. This dwarf isn’t interested in helping you out of the kindness of his heart; he’s actually a fellow prisoner and he just needs your help to escape.

As these two vagabonds begin their escape, they run across a couple guards and have to enter battle. The strategy battles in Blackguards play out across hex-filled maps. Players can move across the map and unleash a variety of attacks and magical spells similar to a number of other strategy titles, but what separates Blackguards from most other strategy games is what Daedalic calls, “the interactive element.”

Spread across each map is a series of interactive props that players are able to use to their advantage. You can throw objects like chairs and crates at your opponents, and that is only the beginning of the Blackguard’s interactive strategy elements. On one map we cut a cord and watched a chandelier fall on two guards, killing them instantly. On another we cast a wall spell that trapped a few enemies on one side. Then we released a bunch of prisoners, keeping the guards busy while we made our escape out a back door. You won’t always have to beat every enemy on the field; often some other objectives are worth your focus. Unfortunately, enemies can also make use of the interactive elements. During one mission, we had to rescue a woman from the executioner’s block, and a group of guards knocked over some boxes, blocking our path, making us fail to get to her before the noose killed her.

During each battle you also earn adventure points, which can be spent to upgrade your powers and ability. Some skills increase your hit points or your magic resistance, but other skills allow you to lay traps during battle, heal your friends, or get a glimpse into enemy stats.

After a journey of several hours through Blackguard’s lands, our motley crew finally gets to the place where Elenore’s body is stored. They hope that exhuming her corpse will give them some clues as to who’s behind the mysterious influx of ghastly creatures that now roam the land. Unfortunately, the only thing our heroes find is an empty coffin.

Blackguards still looks a little rough around the edges, but we’re interested to see what really happened to Elenore and explore more of its interactive maps. You can uncover Blackguard’s mysteries yourself when the game releases this November.

In retrospect, in terms of game mechanics, it's kind of like a more self-aware fantasy version of Shadowrun Returns.

 

[Shadenuat]

Couldn't see anything on the screenshots because bloomhdrnextgen, but hexes told me everything I needed to know. So
but cautiously

 

[InspectorRumpole]

Great level design!

 

[Cyberarmy]

Yoshimitsu, is that you?!? Where is your hat -_-

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Kinda looks like a fantasy version of .

 

[Grunker]

In retrospect, in terms of game mechanics, it's kind of like a more self-aware fantasy version of Shadowrun Returns.

That's what I've been saying all along. It was my belief that Shadowrun would have been much better with completely HUB-MISSION based gameplay, focusing exlusively on depth in missions and systems.

If that's what this does, I'll be more than satisfied.

 

[oscar]

I don't see panels for non-combat as decline. If anything, it's much closer to the P&P experience of having the GM describe things to you while you have to react.

 

[Excidium]

Great level design!

Haha what the fuck is this

 

[Severian Silk]

Looks like a cool game.

+1

 

[InspectorRumpole]

Haha what the fuck is this

Looks like a paintball field.

 

[evdk]

The maps need some elevation.

 

[Kem0sabe]

Bloom + DoF =

 

[XenomorphII]

Haha what the fuck is this

Looks like a paintball field.

Looks like an arena floor to me.

 

[Excidium]

Either way, it's p. lazily put together

 

[abnaxus]

Great level design!

Is the environment breakable?

 

[Grunker]

^ We don't know, but we do know that environmental interaction is supposed to play a rather large role according to the devs.

 

[Bizarro Jimmy Olsen]

The town screens bring to mind Darklands. How can the bros of the Codex be hating town screens?

It's got hex maps, turn-based combat and it was made by a bunch of Germans. Big brofist from me.

 

[Grunker]

How can the [...] Codex be hating

I think you just answered your own question.

 

[Bubbles]

ToEE would have been better with town screens.

 

[Grunker]

haha, true

This game will be exposition - encounter - exposition - encounter so it's not really comparable with ToEE.

 

[Dexter]

Apparently Blackguards is looking for Beta testers: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/127345-Blackguards-Needs-Beta-Testers
Could be an opportunity for people to spread some Codex love and tell them their systems all suck.

http://www.bluesnews.com/s/144713/blackguards-closed-beta

Players from all over the world will get the chance to play-test the sinister RPG which centers around a party of criminal „heroes“, way before the actual release in November 2013, and to influence the development with their feedback.
All players need to do to be part of the open beta test phase, is sending an email to betatest@daedalic.de, and mentioning why they want to be chosen, and what their gaming experience is. Participation slots are limited, chosen participants will receive more details from Daedalic Entertainment. The closed beta test runs from September 04th until October 02nd, 2013, participants need to be at least 16 years of age. Participants will also see their name appearing in the creadits of the final game.