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

[ghostdog]

Apparently there are players out there who think RPGs are just really dumbed down adventure games with combat: http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60396-how-forgiving-is-your-cup-of-tea-plot-difficulty-thread/

o_O

What does plot/subplot complexity has to do with adventure games ? I've played many adventure games with much simpler plots that those of RPGs. Granted the poll is kinda retarded, what I think he tries to talk about is choices and consequences (mostly long term C&C) and not plot complexity. And I definitely want long term C&C

 

[octavius]

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60357-stretch-goal-thoughts/

- Regarding party characters, I have one extremely random suggestion. Much like the Space Hamster appeared in the Mass Effect games, I have always viewed Minsc and Boo as these characters who could show up in any game/any setting. Provided you can get a hassle-free allowance from whoever owns the rights to the character, I would love to see Minsc and Boo appear as characters in the game. If you're at all intrigued, it's worth at least a casual inquiry to see what it would take and I think it would make an interesting stretch goal.

There sure are a lot of Minsctards (Bootards?) out there.

Actually I missed Minsc and Boo when fighting The Beast of 1000 Eyes in Wiz 7. I'm sure Boo going for the eyes would have made it less tedious.

 

[Infinitron]

skuphundaku

As we can see from Skyrim's success, there are many explorefags out there that want to take their time to explore.

I sympathize with your point of view (and I personally had no problem with the Spirit Meter mechanic, maybe because I tend not to spam rests like an idiot), but unfortunately this is an audience that cannot be ignored.

Apparently there are players out there who think RPGs are just really dumbed down adventure games with combat:http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60396-how-forgiving-is-your-cup-of-tea-plot-difficulty-thread/

o_O

What does plot/subplot complexity has to do with adventure games ? I've played many adventure games with much simpler plots that those of RPGs. Granted the poll is kinda retarded, what I thinks he tries to talk about is choices and consequences (mostly long term C&C) and not plot complexity. And I definitely want long term C&C

"Long-term C&C" doesn't give you a game over in RPGs. He's talking about missing the item from Chapter 2 and therefore being stuck in Chapter 5.

 

[skuphundaku]

skuphundaku

As we can see from Skyrim's success, there are many explorefags out there that want to take their time to explore.

I sympathize with your point of view (and I personally had no problem with the Spirit Meter mechanic, maybe because I tend not to spam rests like an idiot), but unfortunately this is an audience that cannot be ignored.

I know, I know. I agree with what you're saying. Even more, if you play it right, you could be an explorefag even while having to take into account something like the Spirit Meter, or any other survival mechanic. I think that something like that would make exploration even more interesting. But that requires an IQ in the triple digits, which many modern gamers seem to lack.

I was just venting my anger towards the morons that are dragging our favorite past-time into the ground with their stupidity.

 

[Kane]

 

[ghostdog]

"Long-term C&C" doesn't give you a game over in RPGs. He's talking about missing the item from Chapter 2 and therefore being stuck in Chapter 5.

Well, that's a really bad gameplay mechanic for an adventure game too. A bad choice should either grant you imminent death, or some consequence far ahead in the game, that's not game-stopping. Finding/not finding an item that can help/hinder your playthrough isn't a bad idea, something like the CoTC robes in Fallout.

 

[Infinitron]

"Long-term C&C" doesn't give you a game over in RPGs. He's talking about missing the item from Chapter 2 and therefore being stuck in Chapter 5.

Well, that's a really bad gameplay mechanic for an adventure game too. A bad choice should either grant you imminent death, or some consequence far ahead in the game, that's not game-stopping. Finding/not finding an item that can help/hinder your playthrough isn't a bad idea, something like the CoTC robes in Fallout.

In RPGs usually the problem isn't finding the item, but rather thinking of taking it with you and using it.

 

[Infinitron]

Another stupid poll, but I do wonder what the results will be: http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60401-lets-talk-about-quest-design/

 

[Darth Roxor]

 

[Kane]

that is param anand: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Param/Anand

 

[IDtenT]

But why should they cater to morons who can't reach a high enough level of understanding of the game system so that they can "cheat" it? What he's saying is that he would do the same thing that the present-day popamole developers do, which is that when players discover unintended mechanics and take advantage of them, they swoop in and ban people. With people like these around, awesome emergent mechanics like the rocket-jump of old, or Tribes' skiing would have never existed. I am disappoint of Greg Ziets.

Gamist spotted.

 

[Cosmo]

that is param anand: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Param/Anand

He's a Sikh, isn't he ?

 

[Roguey]

Well, as I see, there are two possible problems with this. One, is that since a few players will respecify the companions to something completely different from the usual, they won't consider the default configuration as important.

Since respeccing will have a "nontrivial" cost I doubt you'll be able to give all 5-8 companions complete makeovers. It's an extreme solution for extreme mistakes.

It won't be something that is, for example, mentioned during the game, since different players will have chosen different abilities for their companions.

You won't be able to change class or race which are far more important than what they can do. It's also possible you wouldn't be able to change their default abilities.

 

[evdk]

The trans thread is full of LARPers. Why???

 

[octavius]

The trans thread is full of LARPers. Why???

Maybe they have been live action role playing little bunnies?

 

[evdk]

octavius That went right over my head. Sorry, what?

 

[octavius]

octavius That went right over my head. Sorry, what?

They are breeding like rabbits and now they are everywhere.

 

[Infinitron]

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60321-weapon-balancing/

This is important to me and I will do my best to pursue it. To me, the realistic purpose/function of a weapon in the real world (assuming it exists) is the foundation for determining its place among peers, but realism should not dictate a weapon's overall value. I don't believe in designing "junk" weapons just for the sake of having them. I like the idea of having types of weapons with distinct strengths and weaknesses that the player can analyze for tactical application. If a player looks at a type of weapon and instantly realizes it will never have a place in his or her arsenal, I feel that's a failure on my part.

This also applies to weapon upgrades within "type". A longsword +2 is universally superior to a longsword +1. I think things get more interesting when an upgraded weapon is slightly inferior to its antecedent in one way. The more the player stops and makes a consideration of the pros and cons of using one weapon or another, the more he or she is problem solving and engaged in what's going on. If choices ever become no-brainers, they aren't really choices, and I think that can detract from the enjoyment of the game.

 

[Data4]

Alright, I've joined the fray. Probably going to get banned from my first post, but I couldn't let that transgender thread go by without saying something.

 

[skuphundaku]

But why should they cater to morons who can't reach a high enough level of understanding of the game system so that they can "cheat" it? What he's saying is that he would do the same thing that the present-day popamole developers do, which is that when players discover unintended mechanics and take advantage of them, they swoop in and ban people. With people like these around, awesome emergent mechanics like the rocket-jump of old, or Tribes' skiing would have never existed. I am disappoint of Greg Ziets.

Gamist spotted.

This is the first time I hear of this term. I looked it up and I agree with your assessment: I'm a gamist, because narrativists and simulationists are, essentially, LARPers, and, most definitely, I'm not a LARPer.

And, in case it didn't come through clearly enough, I consider the people that fight tooth and nail against emergent gameplay a bunch of inferiority complex-ridden dickless fags that can't accept that different people act in different ways and, in their intrepid endeavors, these people they may discover new and awesome things that will put them head and shoulders above the rest. The anti-emergence fags feel the need to control everything in order to keep their feelings of inferiority in check and to that I say: Fuck those losers!

 

[Keshik]

I take it Jaesun is not into "fag hags".

EDIT: OH FOR GOD'S SAKE http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60398-will-there-be-a-transgender-option/

It's a BSN invasion, or something. That forum is super cluttered now.

 

[Untermensch]

I must have missed it but, what is the problem some people have with the spirit meter?

I explored almost the whole game world without any problems on my first playthrough, and I don't consider myself a veteran CRPG player, nor do I have a IQ of 180.
Oh sure, my stats were a bit lover because the meter was most of the time on 70%, but I had companions to back me up.

 

[Infinitron]

The only thing I remember about the spirit meter is that it got a bit uncomfortably high until the Tree God thing reset it. After that it was smooth sailing to the endgame.

I really need to replay. This is one of the games I remember the least well, for some reason.

 

[Jarpie]

At least there are people who are Fighting The Good Fight.

 

[J_C]

Unfortunately the pledge rate slowed down considerably today, around 2500/hour. It's a little surprising since we had an update yesterday. I hope it is only temporary. Although even at this rate, they will have 3,5 million at the end, not counting the big rush at the end.