Interview More Age of Decadence bullshit at NMA

[LlamaGod]

this is the best thread ever

 

[Balor]

Hmm...
Is it me, or House Crassus sounds suspciously close to 'Cthulhu Ftagn'?

 

[Elwro]

@Ratty: OK, you win. Internet dictionaries seem to have different opinions than the "physical" one I used.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Do the other factions have similar takes on things from the beginning, or do some of them come into play later?

Later. Once it becomes clear what road you've chosen and how it would affect them. The merchants, for example, want neither a civil war nor a living god. So, sticking with either Antidas or Meru will force them to act against you. If you are gainfully employed by the Merchants, they would have a "talk" with you first and show you things from their point of view, trying to persuade you to switch sides.

Are most main quest goals at odds with every other faction, or is it possible to play through and do (nearly) everything for two of the factions - say one House and some guild?

The latter. The other 4 guilds support different Noble Houses or at least support their goals indirectly.

 

[7th Circle]

"anyone's backing you up" is 100% correct.
As is:
"My being a picky bastard" rather than "Me being a picky bastard",
"Vince D. Weller's suckering a news site" rather than "Vince D. Weller suckering a news site"
...

These are different grammatical forms to the one being discussed. For starters, note how they end in nouns unlike "backing you up".

It's possessive. The "backing you up" is owned by "anyone" - that forms the connection between the two.

Yeah, I know that. My point was that, to my eyes, the possessive was malformed. In English, one possesses nouns (or noun phrases). For instance, "my running" and "my run" work but "my ran" doesn't. "Backing" is a noun - this is why I suggested "anyone's backing". "Backing you up" is a verb phrase.

 

[POOPERSCOOPER]

But Backing is the verb in the phrase. Backing is a verb that people sometimes mistakingly use as a noun. A wise women once taught me that anything with ING at the end is a verb or something powerful.

 

[Claw]

I ain't sure, are those gerunds or present participles now? I am sure however that 7th Circle is confusing one of those with nouns.

 

[galsiah]

These are different grammatical forms to the one being discussed. For starters, note how they end in nouns unlike "backing you up".

The relevant part is the same. The possessive isn't just used with simple nouns.

The following are all correct (when used in the place of a noun):
"my backing away"
"my backing you up"
"my tying you up"
"my backing you into a corner"
"my being tall"
etc. etc.

The important aspect is that the phrase is being used as a "noun".
Compare:
Yes. It will be hard though, without {potatoes}.
Yes. It will be hard though, without {anyone's backing you up}.

"anyone backing you up" cannot take the place of a noun.
"anyone's backing you up" can.

 

[MacBone]

Must you guys spend all this time scrutinizing grammar? If you really love this, I know a guy who knows a guy that can get you all the essays you'll ever want to proofread.

 

[galsiah]

Personally I think the interview is good. It's just that there's not too much that's new which makes me want to ask (non-grammar) questions. The most interesting part is the new dialogue screens - which I like -, but finding out where all that goes / comes from is largely what the game is about. Asking too many follow-up questions on that would probably spoil many of the game's surprises.

I guess the combat stuff is mostly new though:

* Strength affects the damage (melee and ranged), ranging from -2 at Str 4 to 4 at Str 10.
* Dexterity determines your Action Points pool, ranging from 6 to 12 (DEX+2)
* Constitution determines your Hit Points, ranging from 25 to 50. HPs are static and can NOT be increased further in the game.
* Perception affects accuracy for all weapons, ranging from -10 to 20 and range-related accuracy modifiers.

That seems pretty sensible on the whole.
It'd be helpful to have an idea of weapon damage ranges too.

Some thoughts on that:
It seems that it won't take very many hits to knock out the PC (presumably NPCs too?). That's probably good, since combat is less likely to be a grind.

Strength damage bonus for a crossbow?! Still stupid, but does it matter? (removing this could be fairly simply balanced by relating crossbow loading time to strength - over-complicated?).

Damage bonus adds rather than multiplies. Does that make fast, low damage weapons very good for high strength types? If so, is that sensible / desirable? This'll be less true for armoured opponents I guess (damage reduction). Good thing?

Does HP increase linearly with Con? - it seems to be something like HP = 4xCon + 10, but that works out with Con 4 = 26 HP. Is it HP = (25/6)xCon + 10 [with rounded answers], or is it non-linear?

Given that perception governs weapon accuracy, would it not make more sense to call Dexterity Agility (or perhaps even Speed)? The first thing I think when I read "Dexterity" is hand-eye coordination - somewhat misleading if it has nothing to do with accuracy.


Also, it's nice to see that skills vary more significantly with attributes than they did in Fallout(1). E.g. STRx2 + DEXx2 rather than e.g. 15 + STR + DEX.

One question prompted by the "huge" world - will important main quest stuff often depend on time limits, or is that reserved for side quests? I don't think there's any water-chip equivalent (right?), but will significant events start to move along by themselves as the game progresses, or is it all player led?

 

[Grog]

The important aspect is that the phrase is being used as a "noun".
Compare:
Yes. It will be hard though, without {potatoes}.
Yes. It will be hard though, without {anyone's backing you up}.

"anyone backing you up" cannot take the place of a noun.
"anyone's backing you up" can.

Alternatively, the pronoun "anyone" can be the object of the preposition instead of the phrase "backing you up." However, in that case it would make a lot more sense to say, "Yes. It will be hard though, without anyone to back you up."

 

[Vault Dweller]

It seems that it won't take very many hits to knock out the PC (presumably NPCs too?).

No, it won't.

Strength damage bonus for a crossbow?! Still stupid, but does it matter?

Not to me.

Damage bonus adds rather than multiplies. Does that make fast, low damage weapons very good for high strength types?

Depends on the bonus, weapon speed, your AP, attack type, opponent's armor. The usual answer :wink:

Does HP increase linearly with Con? - it seems to be something like HP = 4xCon + 10, but that works out with Con 4 = 26 HP. Is it HP = (25/6)xCon + 10 [with rounded answers], or is it non-linear?

No, not linearly.

Given that perception governs weapon accuracy, would it not make more sense to call Dexterity Agility (or perhaps even Speed)? The first thing I think when I read "Dexterity" is hand-eye coordination - somewhat misleading if it has nothing to do with accuracy.

I simply used the standard DnD attribute names as many people are used to them.

One question prompted by the "huge" world - will important main quest stuff often depend on time limits, or is that reserved for side quests?

For side quests only.

...but will significant events start to move along by themselves as the game progresses, or is it all player led?

Depends on your choices. For example, if you kill Antidas Gaelius' forces will be there the next day no matter what, even if you didn't do it for him.

 

[kingcomrade]

Damage bonus adds rather than multiplies. Does that make fast, low damage weapons very good for high strength types?

I remember in Diablo 2, I usually played a Frost Aura Paladin and since my aura damage far outweighed my item damage, it really paid to get a Very Fast weapon rather than a Slow But Deadly weapon, and that Zeal was probably the best other skill to invest in.

It really depends on how he has his combat mechanics set up. If the damage bonus is significant, you could see barbarians (or whatever) fighting with daggers as their primary weapon because it boosts their DPS above what they might get from a more powerful, but slower sword.

 

[LlamaGod]

I'd say it depends on how high strength can go and how high of a bonus you can get from it.

A signifigant bonus should only be like +5 or something and you'd have to be really strong for that.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Max bonus is 4, and that (Str 10) will require a huge sacrifice elsewhere. You may gain 4 points, but lose an extra attack, for example, so it's kinda balanced.

 

[galsiah]

...because it boosts their DPS...

DPT I hope - unless you're planning to button mash a turn-based game .

VD - I'm not suggesting that high strength is unbalanced, just that it might lead to odd character builds. For instance, as KC points out, this type of bonus can (depending on weapon damage) lead to barbarian-with-a-dagger being a common character build.

That's not a problem really - it probably makes sense that a really strong guy can do serious damage with a dagger against an unarmoured opponent. It just might seem a little odd.

Damage reduction will make this less of a problem in any case (if it is a "problem").

 

[kingcomrade]

Er, it was a figure of speech

 

[Lumpy]

You haven't seen my face in your dreams, by any chance, have you?

Is this really in the game? I thought it was supposed to be easter egg free.

Also, so far, in your interviews, you've been portraying the game as a Fallout clone, from mechanics and setting to interface. Do you really think this is a good idea?

 

[Kraszu]

Max bonus is 4, and that (Str 10) will require a huge sacrifice elsewhere. You may gain 4 points, but lose an extra attack, for example, so it's kinda balanced.

Why not make it % based?

 

[Vault Dweller]

You haven't seen my face in your dreams, by any chance, have you?

Is this really in the game?

This what? A simple line that fits the situation without any mentioning of Oblivion? Yes.

Also, so far, in your interviews, you've been portraying the game as a Fallout clone, from mechanics and setting to interface. Do you really think this is a good idea?

What mechanics? Armor? Individual weapon skills with synergies? Disguise? Etiquette? Crafting & Alchemy? No followers? Focus on factions? Dynamic world? The setting is very different too, even ignoring the time period.

Why not make it % based?

Why make it % based?

 

[Kraszu]

To make choosing dagger over 2h axe bad option for fighter, it would make more sense also, but if it is balanced then it is ok.

It would be nice if some weapon would be better vs some opponents vs many opononets sword is much better then 2h hammer that on other hand is much bettor to crack armor.

 

[Lumpy]

You haven't seen my face in your dreams, by any chance, have you?

Is this really in the game?

This what? A simple line that fits the situation without any mentioning of Oblivion? Yes.

It seems a little out of place.

Also, so far, in your interviews, you've been portraying the game as a Fallout clone, from mechanics and setting to interface. Do you really think this is a good idea?

What mechanics? Armor? Individual weapon skills with synergies? Disguise? Etiquette? Crafting & Alchemy? No followers? Focus on factions? Dynamic world? The setting is very different too, even ignoring the time period.

Of course, it's not the same. But there are many things. You said Magic was similar to the nuclear bombs in Fallout. The interface is very similar to that in Fallout. And several other minor things.

 

[Vault Dweller]

To make choosing dagger over 2h axe bad option for fighter, it would make more sense also...

I don't like telling people "No, put that dagger down. It's a bad option for you. Trust me, I know". Suffice to say, there are good reasons to use 2H swords, and there are good reasons to use daggers.

 

[Vault Dweller]

You haven't seen my face in your dreams, by any chance, have you?

Is this really in the game?

This what? A simple line that fits the situation without any mentioning of Oblivion? Yes.

It seems a little out of place.

Why out of place? The NPC (Antidas) starts talking about fate and destiny, trying to influence you with "u r teh chosen one. lol" stuff. There is a logical place for a bullshit-cutting line.

Of course, it's not the same. But there are many things. You said Magic was similar to the nuclear bombs in Fallout.

A personal preference that's got nothing to do with Fallout.
http://www.rpgcodex.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3653

The interface is very similar to that in Fallout. And several other minor things.

Well, the interface and "several other minor things" do not make it a clone, do they?

 

[Roqua]

I've been trying to find the post you explained the combat mechanics and why different builds fit different situations better, but I can't. That would answer his question better, if anyone remembers where it is.

Lumpy, was NWN a Diablo clone? Was Fallout a Wasteland clone? If someone thinks FO is a great game, and admits it imfluenced his game design, it doesn't mean its a clone. It just means a great game influenced a game he is trying to make original and great.

It seems to me he trying to surpass the standards the great games of yesterday set, and that the games of today don't deliver on. Obviously that standard isn't graphics, hot action, dumbed down gameplay, a clear good vs. evil, or prescripted linear events. He is taking the ball the great actual crpgs shotguned down the field and that wwas fumbled by big devs and is trying to score a touch down for actual rpg fans. He can do it better than any big game maker so he is doing it better. He isn't doing it the same, or cloning anything.

I'm sure if you were to make an rpg it would have aspects of your favorite rpg(s).