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

[Captain Shrek]

No.

I have sent a question to Josh on his Formspring expressing my concern over the seemingly twitchy, action-RPG nature of the Rogue abilities. Let's see if he responds.

Moving target. But that I accept is just my opinion. (NOT you, him).

 

[Kirtai]

Ignoring 16:10

Indeed, this has been getting on my nerves recently.

 

[Infinitron]

The aspect ratio doesn't matter. The sheer magnitude of the resolutions is what matters, and those are large enough.

 

[SwiftCrack]

16:10 is for console plebs anyway

 

[Shadenuat]

Stuff seems quite basic. Every one of us could scrap "slashing/piercing/crushing, healing surge and riposte" in 20 minutes. Most important is how these abilities will be used, and what AI and pathfinding would have to do with them. Hope Escape would't be tied to spacebar or something, you know.

 

[Roguey]

Uh, in case you haven't noticed, I just said that the Rogue abilities were twitchy, like an action-RPG.

It seems people would rather get off comparing the game to Dragon Age than notice that it might actually be even less of an RPG than Dragon Age in some ways.

Since there's a combat speed slider and you can pause any time, I don't see anything twitchy about this.

It's also like all you guys have forgotten that armor will also determine your attack speed.

Fighter

• Defender (Mode) - In the Defender mode, fighters' melee attack rates decrease while their melee defenses increase. This is a particularly useful mode to enter when a fighter is blocking a route of attack to protect other party members.

Sure does smell like Dragon Age up in here.

Funny, I don't remember fighters being able to block a route of attack in Dragon Age.

- Inventory management streamlining:

No, this is inventory improvement. I'm playing a game, not an inventory management simulator.

 

[Grunker]

I'm playing a game, not an inventory management simulator.

Calling Baldur's Gate an "inventory management simulator" is hyperbole to an extreme degree. And it perfectly illustrates the problem. Exaggerate the problem, use it as a defense for streamlining, end up with a crappy/simplistic inventory.

 

[Infinitron]

The only difference with the IE games is that you'll be able to send loot items "home". Then you can't get them back.

Also, it's pretty hardcore that you can't play around with your inventory during combat except for the stuff in slots.

 

[Blaine]

Stuff seems quite basic.

It is. I pretty much expected bog-standard generic high fantasy races and classes, not to mention rules no more sophisticated or innovative than any tabletop core rulebook published in the 1990s.

I'm at peace with that, though, and it may even be a positive. IE games were always more than the sum of their parts. When nitpicking individual details as we're doing here, it's easy to lose sight of that.

 

[Captain Shrek]

Funny, I don't remember fighters being able to block a route of attack in Dragon Age.


-

Not exactly.
But here you are. Enjoy.

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Shield_Defense_(Dragon_Age_II)

 

[Shadenuat]

it's pretty hardcore that you can't play around with your inventory during combat except for the stuff in slots

It's good, like in D&D you can only safely access your "belt" (would be a true oldschool trolling if enemies could hit your potions on belt and destroy them, haha). But what of encumbrance?

 

[Roguey]

Calling Baldur's Gate an "inventory management simulator" is hyperbole to an extreme degree. And it perfectly illustrates the problem. Exaggerate the problem, use it as a defense for streamlining, end up with a crappy/simplistic inventory.

Inventory management in BG was shit. I don't want them copying it.

Another thing - how is the sneak attack anything like Dragon Age? I don't see how it's any different from NWN2 where you also get the extra damage if you're attacking from behind while an enemy's preoccupied with another ally.

 

[Roguey]

Not exactly.
But here you are. Enjoy.

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Shield_Defense_(Dragon_Age_II)

Not even remotely the same thing. That's a "take and deal less damage and generate more threat" ability. Also

If PE is Round based too (they are advertising it as RTwP) then attack speed is imply a misnomer. SInce in IE games you were LIMITED to number of attacks by AB.

Eternity won't use rounds, this is old news.

 

[Roguey]

It's good, like in D&D you can only safely access your "belt" (would be a true oldschool trolling if enemies could hit your potions on belt and destroy them, haha). But what of encumbrance?

http://forums.somethingawful.com/sh...=3506352&userid=17931&perpage=40&pagenumber=5 -- several posts where Josh talks about how heavy armor slows down actions for everybody.

 

[Shadenuat]

I am more interested in loot. I feel distributing weight and carrying stuff will be cut by VD/Sawyer universal theorem of "what does running back and forth add to the game?".

 

[evdk]

Gold should have weight. This should be offset by the possibility of storing your wealth in gems / letters of credit. Do it Sawyer, you bastard.

 

[Blaine]

I'm fine with "gold" having weight, but a 50-pound bar of gold is worth approximately $1,350,000 in today's economy. Which is to say that if gold in P:E has weight, then its value in terms of purchasing power should be commensurate as well.

Otherwise, I don't give a fuck. Inflated quantities of devalued gold coins and inflated prices for equipment ruin any realism benefit gleaned from "gold" having weight.

 

[Grunker]

Calling Baldur's Gate an "inventory management simulator" is hyperbole to an extreme degree. And it perfectly illustrates the problem. Exaggerate the problem, use it as a defense for streamlining, end up with a crappy/simplistic inventory.

Inventory management in BG was shit. I don't want them copying it.

Another thing - how is the sneak attack anything like Dragon Age? I don't see how it's any different from NWN2 where you also get the extra damage if you're attacking from behind while an enemy's preoccupied with another ally.

You don't even know the mechanics of a game your precious Sawyer headed? Sneak attack in NWN2 = Another ally attacking the target, you're invisible/hidden or target is flat-footed. No positioning involved - your position in all these cases is irrelevant. And thanks god for that. Positioning mechanics in RtWP is horrifying generally speaking, and it was in DA too, as much as I like the game.

Dragon Age = You attack opponent from behind or the sides.

PE's sneak attack mechanic as he describes it is identical to DA's and far from NWN2's.

 

[sea]

Gold should have weight. This should be offset by the possibility of storing your wealth in gems / letters of credit. Do it Sawyer, you bastard.

Screw gold. Use a barter system. Better for world-building, gives inventory management far more consequence, and deals with the problem of the player having 1 million dollars but nothing to spend it on without relying on stupid gold sinks.

 

[Jaesun]

- Inventory management streamlining:

No, this is inventory improvement. I'm playing a game, not an inventory management simulator.

Actually Grunker is correct. This just sounds like a poorly designed and retarded catering to casuals in OMG!!!!111 I GOTTA KEEP ALL MY LEWT! AND MAGICALY WISK IT AWAY INTO MY MAGIGICAL BOX!!111

Instead of the many times where you need to actually think when your packs are full and what items to keep or not.

But do I really give a shit? No. I'm more worried how far they are going to dumb down the skill system. I'm almost afraid it will be as casual friendly retardation like Dragon Age.

 

[Blaine]

Dumbed-down compared to what? The stats and skills in most IE games were about as simplified as you can possibly get.

Knock on wood, etc.

 

[Jaesun]

Dumbed-down compared to what? The stats and skills in most IE games were about as simplified as you can possibly get.

Knock on wood, etc.

I was more referring to say IWD II skill system. If it is reduced to the retarded levels of DA. Perhaps some middle-ground can be achieved, I guess I'll wait and see until I hear exact specifics.

I still would like to hear an exact explanation of what you can do during an encounter.

 

[Kirtai]

The aspect ratio doesn't matter. The sheer magnitude of the resolutions is what matters, and those are large enough.

I just don't want distorted or letterboxed displays. Or worse, the abomination that is Diablo IIIs handling of it.

16:10 is for console plebs anyway

Er, what? 16:10 is a PC monitor only aspect ratio. Console plebs have to suffer the inferior 16:9

 

[Infinitron]

Tidbits from SA: http://forums.somethingawful.com/sh...rid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=318#post410721578

inb4 butthurt?

 

[evdk]

That's some streamlining.