Incline Chris Avellone Appreciation Station

[PulsatingBrain]

Well, Chris is totally hire-able.

The question we should ask ourselves is: what do we need to do to hire him to produce something the codex digs?

Let's be real here, he'd have to be nuts to take that contract

Why?

I'm assuming it would be a matter many of us chipping in some cash, in which case he could never possibly please us all. He's already said he dislikes people above him interfering with his work, imagine the headaches he'd have from the mountain of differing opinions. He'd never do it

 

[Fairfax]

Don't remember this problem being mentioned before. I wonder where this interference came from? Perhaps WOTC itself?

I think very few people on this forum know anything about the Dark Alliance games. A hole in our education; sometimes playing one of Black Isle's more obscure titles can yield dividends: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/descent-to-undermountain-looks-pretty-good.83774/

Could they be emulated, I wonder?

"The variety of NPCs and dialogue and quest options is pretty cool and you can tell immediately that this is a Chris Avellone game."



But yeah, a lot of people seem surprised that Descent to Undermountain is fun.

 

[vortex]

Well, Chris is totally hire-able.

The question we should ask ourselves is: what do we need to do to hire him to produce something the codex digs?

Dark fantasy RPG. Isometric, FP,TP... doesn't matter.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

Well, Chris is totally hire-able.

The question we should ask ourselves is: what do we need to do to hire him to produce something the codex digs?

Let's be real here, he'd have to be nuts to take that contract

Why?

I'm assuming it would be a matter many of us chipping in some cash, in which case he could never possibly please us all. He's already said he dislikes people above him interfering with his work, imagine the headaches he'd have from the mountain of differing opinions. He'd never do it

It is easy to think of reasons why things won't work. The trick is in thinking of reasons why things would work. Bonus points if you can think of reasons why it would work really well.

 

[PulsatingBrain]

It is easy to think of reasons why things won't work. The trick is in thinking of reasons why things would work. Bonus points if you can think of reasons why it would work really well.

I guess that's a better way to look at it, but I just honestly can't imagine he'd agree to it

 

[SymbolicFrank]

It is easy to think of reasons why things won't work. The trick is in thinking of reasons why things would work. Bonus points if you can think of reasons why it would work really well.

I guess that's a better way to look at it, but I just honestly can't imagine he'd agree to it

That's where you would score the bonus points

 

[Lyric Suite]

Well, Chris is totally hire-able.

The question we should ask ourselves is: what do we need to do to hire him to produce something the codex digs?

Let's be real here, he'd have to be nuts to take that contract

Why?

I'm assuming it would be a matter many of us chipping in some cash, in which case he could never possibly please us all. He's already said he dislikes people above him interfering with his work, imagine the headaches he'd have from the mountain of differing opinions. He'd never do it

All he has to do is make Torment 2.0. Who gives a fuck about pleasing the entire Codex.

 

[cherry blossom]

Chris needs to play Underrail. That is what I make of his talk the most. Chris, seriously for fuck's sake, go play Underrail NOW!

 

[Roguey]

The Chris Avellone Underrail experience would probably be even more painful than Arcanum.

Arcanum has a map.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Arcanum has a map.

Which he never used so it's all even.

 

[Ninjerk]

Couldn't find it on the UI.

 

[jiujitsu]

"Your perspectives narrow when you're continually in that same environment";
"As much as you might make assumptions about them, they certainly starts to make assumptions about you";
"You know, Chris could never make interface design, Chris could never explore systems, [deepens voice] what Chris does is...we want Chris to write, and if Chris starts talking, Chris should probably just write some more! [laughs] eventually you kind of just get tired of it, and I just wanted to do new things"

So, MCA was basically thrown into the writing room and ignored. That was probably pretty annoying.

 

[PulsatingBrain]

Yea, it sounds like he has a lot of resentment. I'm half really glad he's finally getting to publicly vent about it all, and half just loving the juicy cattyness of it all

 

[Alienman]

Soon he will hit critical state and all will be revealed! All the glorious details will be almost too much.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

I don't think "pleasing the Codex" is an idea that exists inside his head.

Then again, "making the best game ever", probably does exists as an active thought in his head. Just like "making lots of money".

 

[vortex]

Is he working with Larian studio on another project or with someone else ?

 

[PulsatingBrain]

You mean after DOS 2?

 

[vortex]

You mean after DOS 2?

Yes, something secret and unannounced.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

I simply disagree with Chris that rolling character stats via RNG is an archaic RPG mechanic.

I think it can still be used very effectively and in interesting situations in modern RPG video games.

I also disagree that class-less character building systems are inherently more interesting than class-based systems. There are many other character development factors to take into consideration that defines an interesting RPG experience.

I think the basic thought that calling any RPG mechanic "archaic" is self-limiting yourself and your pool of ideas to draw from in some ways. History repeats itself, old ideas get revisited and what was once thought of as "archaic" comes back eventually, sometimes in a big way (as evidenced by the recent surge in old-school RPGs, particularly via Kickstarter and Pillars of Eternity).

Just my 2 cents.

 

[dukeofwhales]

Rolling for stats is only interesting if you're expected to choose your class after you've received your stats; something many people don't want to do. If you do do it, you souldn't then be allowed to move points to other stats and the dice should probably be fudged so that the point total is even - no point sitting for forty minutes pressing reroll in BG1 until you get 90+ total stats.

Personally I like the idea for a PnP session if you have a group who's more interested in roleplaying than character building, can't see a scenario where it works better than point buy in a video game because character building is so important to people.

 

[Sensuki]

I liked KotC's method

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

"Better" is subjective.

RNG rolling of stats can be interesting in different applications. I like the approach where you roll 6 times and then apply those numbers to the stats of your choosing. Or, maybe getting a set number of rolls and being able to choose the highest ones. There are many ways you can flip the idea.

You can even combine RNG rolling and point-buy like Elminage Gothic, which means rolling for a total amount of stat points to spend on your choosing.

I can come up with many different ways to flip RNG for a new RPG system. My basic idea is that there aren't any bad RPG ideas, only bad implementations of ideas, and also potentially good ones as well. There is a huge pool to draw from. Don't limit yourselves in the possibilities.

It's not necessarily that there is a true "better" solution, only different applications for different scenarios. RNG can add a slight bit of necessary limitation at times, or have you have to "settle" for a stat that isn't quite optimum. Or, on the flip side, rolling a very high stat and getting an intrinsic starting boost for your character. It can lead to different interesting scenarios.

 

[Infinitron]

Codex interview: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...hris-avellone-at-digital-dragons-2016.109158/

 

[ERYFKRAD]

About goddamn time.

 

[jmt]

I keep seeing these interviews with Avellone alluding to issues at Obsidian. Does anyone know why he wasn't in a more senior position at Obsidian? I mean, he was a co-founder and he was almost certainly the most experienced writer on Pillars. So why wasn't he "Creative Director" or "Lead Narrative Designer"? Why didn't he have more creative control?