Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity [BETA RELEASED, GO TO THE NEW THREAD]

[Athelas]

How the fuck do those godlikes see with those things covering their eyes?

That wizard's tower looks pretty cool.

The player character portraits are what I expected them to do - one base template with slight variations. Looks nice.

 

[Roguey]

However, before we get to the art, we wanted to officially update everyone that we are looking good to release Eternity by Winter 2014.

They already announced this on the site late last year...? We'll see if that stands once they've hit alpha or beta.

After much discussion and consideration of the poll on our forums we have decided not to pursue any additional stretch goals. Rest assured that the team is working hard on completing the game and including our current stretch goals.

That's weird. Or maybe not so much considering "We don't have a final area count but it's pretty high, comfortably in the IE game range."

Art's looking fine. Glad I know in advance that the next update's going to be snoozeville.

 

[Arkeus]

After much discussion and consideration of the poll on our forums we have decided not to pursue any additional stretch goals. Rest assured that the team is working hard on completing the game and including our current stretch goals.

That's weird. Or maybe not so much considering "We don't have a final area count but it's pretty high, comfortably in the IE game range."

Art's looking fine. Glad I know in advance that the next update's going to be snoozeville.

Not sure whether to be disappointed or not.

Maybe it's because they think early Access may give them enough money? I don't know.

 

[Roguey]

Maybe it's because they think early Access may give them enough money? I don't know.

The early access is going to be a beta, so adding new content that late in the process would be strange. They're not inXile. Maybe the additional sales covered enough of it, Josh said they've received several hundred thousand since the Kickstarter ended.

 

[Athelas]

Maybe it's coming from that Russian mob MMORPG money.

 

[Rake]

Or maybe they thought that adding strech goals at this point will lessen the money they will make in their second kickstarter if it's going to come soon...

 

[Infinitron]

Oh yeah. Expect some sort of impressive looking alpha demo to release shortly before they launch any new Kickstarter.

The early access is going to be a beta, so adding new content that late in the process would be strange. They're not inXile.

Quoting for future use

 

[Ravel myluv]

Damn the left death godlike looks a bit cheap, it almost feels like she's wearing a mask. I like her from behind though , she looks very creepy.

That cat druide looks great in concept art, not so much in the engine.

That mage tower and blacksmith have a nice level of detail.

Overall I like the art and the level of detail, but I wish they were more imaginative in their lore/ areas. These screenshots, plus the RPS preview lead me to think we'll get the boring everlasting archetypes: cemetery, bats, cavern, rats, crypt, skelettons.... Yawn....

 

[Witiko]

I wouldn't mind romanceslike they were in PT or MotB or even some in BG2 (Viconia) - means feeling natural and in correspondence with NPC's presonality.

I don't quite get why they would be limiting their writing like that either. It's not like they need to create personal romance quests or visual sexual intercourse cutscenes, all they need to do is keep the writing believable.

 

[Ravel myluv]

I wouldn't mind romanceslike they were in PT or MotB or even some in BG2 (Viconia) - means feeling natural and in correspondence with NPC's presonality.

I don't quite get why they would be limiting their writing like that either. It's not like they need to create personal romance quests or visual sexual intercourse cutscenes, all they need to do is keep the writing believable.

Well if romance is going to be of quality, it needs to be very well developped. You can't just discover your love for that half-fish-half-woman just after she saved you from a random trash mob... On that note, I don't feel romances in PST were very well done, except the non-romance with Deionarra.

Obsidian probably feel they don't have time for that, or none of the characters would fit well for romance. Not to mention a possible love interest NPC would be included in almost all parties... Tragic unbalance ensues!

 

[Zed]

Death Godlikes look like people wearing wicked helms.
I thought Godlikes were only elemental, but I suppose anything considered a godly domain would make sense considering that's where the blessing comes from.

I don't see how anyone in the world of PoE could considered themselves atheist, agnostic or even god-defying with these people around though. I suppose the Tech vs. Religion stuff is on an institutional and political level.

 

[Infinitron]

Death Godlikes look like people wearing wicked helms.
I thought Godlikes were only elemental, but I suppose anything considered a godly domain would make sense considering that's where the blessing comes from.

They're Planetouched. Death Godlikes = Tieflings, I guess.

 

[tuluse]

Death Godlikes look like people wearing wicked helms.
I thought Godlikes were only elemental, but I suppose anything considered a godly domain would make sense considering that's where the blessing comes from.

I don't see how anyone in the world of PoE could considered themselves atheist, agnostic or even god-defying with these people around though. I suppose the Tech vs. Religion stuff is on an institutional and political level.

They're supposed to be the equivalent of planetouched in DnD.

Also, belief that gods don't exist won't be the non-religious people. They'll be the ones who believe the gods shouldn't be worshiped.

 

[Hormalakh]

sawyer said

"Each type of godlike has its own passive racial benefit. Death godlike have an ability called Death's Usher that increases their damage against enemies with a low percentage of remaining Stamina."

 

[Hormalakh]

so far we have death, hylea, and earth. anybody know of any other ones? i've seen fire, air and water, but i'm not sure if they're being implemented.

 

[Witiko]

Not to mention a possible love interest NPC would be included in almost all parties... Tragic unbalance ensues!

If romances are the only thing that makes your characters interesting outside of combat, then that's poor writing.

 

[hiver]

Death Godlikes look overblown, with those masks and daaark smoke whirling.

Something of that should be cut down, and the cut should be generous. Masks definitely, but that daaaark smoke effects could be toned down too. It looks like some disco masquerade.
Or worse, like some weird JrpG - manga concept.

 

[Ravel myluv]

Not to mention a possible love interest NPC would be included in almost all parties... Tragic unbalance ensues!

If romances are the only thing that makes your characters interesting outside of combat, then that's poor writing.

Well romances are a special thing enough to warrant an automatic place to the NPC in the group in my opinion, regardless of the quality of writting of the other NPCs.
Anyway I was mostly ironic with this statement.

I do like that they're not feeling compelled to add romance. I find it actually pretty hilarious that people would develop romances in between head chopping, shop lifting etc...
I can't think of a RPG romance that acutally felt natural, necessary, and overall contributed to the game quality.

 

[Witiko]

Death Godlikes look overblown, with those masks and daaark smoke whirling.

Something of that should be cut down, and the cut should be generous. Masks definitely, but that daaaark smoke effects could be toned down too. It looks like some disco masquerade.
Or worse, like some weird JrpG - manga concept.

Admittedly, they do look quite overblown, but any facial features are unlikely to be visible from the isometric view at all, so why care? For all intents and purposes, the smoke effects will resemble hair when zoomed out.

I can't think of a RPG romance that acutally felt natural, necessary, and overall contributed to the game quality.

As others have mentioned, romances that tie into the main storyline (P:T, MoTB) would be a good example. But overall I'm not asking for romances explicitly. What I'd like to see are reactive companions with whom you form relationships, who cat leave you at a certain point to pursue other personal goals, who can learn something from you as you can from them, who will open up to you or to one another, who will react to your choices. Romances are but a small facet of this.

 

[deuxhero]

said it on SA, will say it here: it is not possible to write a good video game romance. (non-creepy) romance is contingent on both parties having equal agency. a player interacting with a dialogue tree isn't romance, it's masturbation.

What about the possibility of the PC setting and and encouraging/leading a romance between two NPC party members?

Actually, I'm pretty surprised that outside of Jagged Alliance, we have never really had party members whose relationships with EACHOTHER change. Khelgar and Nesshka kinda did, but it was just linked to the games chapters, rather than actual progression.

 

[Witiko]

said it on SA, will say it here: it is not possible to write a good video game romance. (non-creepy) romance is contingent on both parties having equal agency. a player interacting with a dialogue tree isn't romance, it's masturbation.

What about the possibility of the PC setting and and encouraging/leading a romance between two NPC party members?

Marriage counselling.

 

[Excidium]

Druid form looks p. cool. I hope they don't go too cheap on the models and animations, bear form better have some br00tal mauling.

Not so keen on the death godlikes, but I don't really plan to play any variation of those special snowflakes so whatever.

 

[tuluse]

What about the possibility of the PC setting and and encouraging/leading a romance between two NPC party members?

Actually, I'm pretty surprised that outside of Jagged Alliance, we have never really had party members whose relationships with EACHOTHER change. Khelgar and Nesshka kinda did, but it was just linked to the games chapters, rather than actual progression.

I think you have an effect on how Annah and FFG treat each other.

Also, DA2 companions will treat each other differently depending on your choices.

 

[deuxhero]

I wonder if portrits will be linked to sex/race or you can freely choose. While most are blatantly inappropriate, there are often a few that work for non-standard options

This one from ToEE (which is unrestricted) is grouped with the female elf pic, and while there are some elf features if you look for them, you could use it for a female human easily (and I've played enough partys in it I've had to).

This one is from Dungeons and Dragon's Tactics, which, like BG, locked portrits to sex, but not race. It's only usable by males. Yeah...


Also: While going through this I noticed ToEE and Tactics give you non-white prorits to pick, but don't let you choose your skin color for the tactical view (and in Tactics, everyone has short black hair on the tactical view, but most portrits don't. It's one of the signs the game is really unfinished) while Baldur's gate let you change your skin color on the tactical view, but had only had white/slightly tanned but clearly white from facial features/drow portraits for males (and only one black female portrait). Also BG didn't have any female dwarf or half-orc portrits

 

[Rivmusique]

If I am introduced to a hot female NPC who's not a frigid (or) lesbian (welcome to New Vegas!), then the lack of flirting/romance options at all (meaning in case of any type of character I'm roleplaying) feels as arbitrary and out of place (paradoxically) as does having every single character romancable (another extreme). Long story short, do what makes sense!

I now hope there are dialogue options to attempt to flirt with the characters, only for them to turn you down every time. Push it too far and they leave/attack. Should cause some decent tears.