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

[Infinitron]

Did P:E have some Private backers? I only heard rumors, wasn't aware if it was true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_successful_crowdfunding_projects

Fantasy role-playing video game. Succeeded Double Fine Adventure as the highest funded Kickstarter video game. Was succeeded by Torment: Tides of Numenera in April 2013. Including private backers, the project raised over $4.5M.

They probably mean Slacker Backers, though I've no idea where the exact figure is from. Roguey?

 

[Sensuki]

Obsidian stated 4.3, I wonder if the author of that article just guesstimated it.

 

[Rake]

Obsidian stated 4.3, I wonder if the author of that article just guesstimated it.

If you read above it he says the same for Numenera. So propably slacker backers. Sure, he coule mean Fargo's and Obsidian's own money on top, but i can't see how he could know if Obsidian put and what amound

 

[Sensuki]

Well they don't have a citation with info stating over 4.5

I hope it's true, I'll try and confirm it by posting on SA.

 

[Athelas]

The PC is not from the Dyrwood or Eir Glanfath. My assumption is that you will probably 'arrive' at Defiance Bay first (perhaps by boat lol? IWD2?), though I hope I am wrong because I do like starting out in a village or whatever first because then arriving at a city is more spectacular because of the difference in physical and content size.

Well, they could let you arrive at some seaside village or have your blimp crash in some remote area. I've always liked the stranger in a new land approach - it's the only good way (besides amnesia, but that can easily come across as hackneyed) to let the character discover the new land/lore/etc. alongside the player.

 

[coffeetable]

Well, the New World setting screams for a new-immigrant origin. It's a good one too, as it can support most any backstory you care for (explorer? hoping for a better life? running from trouble?) and justifies every daft question the player cares to ask.

That said, I don't think they'll dump you in Defiance Bay. The PC needs to witness whatever event it is that sets the game in motion before they can be given control, and if the event happens on a ship full of blank-slate immigrants then there's nothing that sets the PC apart. Most likely in my mind is a shipwreck, even though SoZ has already done it.

 

[Sensuki]

My original envisioning of it was while traveling along the countryside (when Josh first described it) but yeah coming by sea just appears to be what's going to happen.

 

[Infinitron]

You guys are forgetting that the player will be able to select his ethnicity in this game, and one of them might be a native Dyrwood ethnicity (Glanfathan elves and feral orlans)

 

[Sensuki]

Nope you can't be either of those.

No. The player can't be a native Glanfathan or Dyrwoodan. We want your character to be as unfamiliar with this area as the player is.

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/63672-update-50-so-project-eternity/page-4#entry1324337

 

[coffeetable]

My original envisioning of it was while traveling along the countryside (when Josh first described it) but yeah coming by sea just appears to be what's going to happen.

Yeah, mine was too. Reading this

The Set-Up
The player witnesses an extraordinary and horrific supernatural event that thrusts them into a unique and difficult circumstance. Burdened with the consequences of this event, the player has to investigate what has happened in order to free themselves from the restless forces that follow and haunt them wherever they go.

and knowing the core of the game is Eir Glanfath, I figured the event was some variant of

biamhac - The most feared phenomenon of Eír Glanfath, biamhacs are "spirit winds" that rise up in cursed ruins, shearing souls away from the bodies of their owners. They appear suddenly and without warning, leaving victims little hope of escape. Strong-souled people are not harmed by biamhacs, but affected individuals are instantly reduced to a catatonic state. The discovery of numerous biamhacs in Eír Glanfath during its early exploration resulted in thousands of Aedyr deaths.

as that's the only supernatural event that was detailed so early in development. But first, it seems to be a bit of a stretch for the PC to first be shipwrecked and then waltz into another rare event, and second there's no reason for a new immigrant to begin the game in the middle of the Eir Glanfath. Also, thinking about it, surviving because of your "strong soul" feels more Chosen One than Victim of Circumstance.

 

[Sensuki]

I also thought something along those lines.

 

[Sensuki]

Also remember the player ends up being a "Watcher" or something.

 

[Infinitron]

Also remember the player ends up being a "Watcher" or something.

whut

That's from the pre-Kickstarter hype quotes, right? They wrote that before the game even had a storyline.

 

[Sensuki]

yeah but I am guessing it has something to do with the "supernatural event" though. I don't think that has changed, but the theme of the main storyline has.

It sounds kinda gay though, so I hope it was changed.

 

[Hormalakh]

I actually liked the watcher. It sort of reminded me of Watchmen for some reason. It's more of a burden to be a "watcher" than a privilege. It seems like a timeless burdne placed upon something or someone. And it also seemed like the PC doesn't become a watcher but just meets someone/thing that is.

 

[Sensuki]

It reminded me of Dragon Age and/or A Song of Ice and Fire

 

[Rake]

http://spring.me/JESawyer/q/507731853134808043

 

[Zed]

http://spring.me/JESawyer/q/507731853134808043

oh fuck yeah :kwanzania:

 

[Jim the Dinosaur]

all the people who read the books in BG1 & 2 rejoice.

 

[Lancehead]

As long as they're not just lore dumps as they were in BGs.

 

[Lady_Error]

Speaking of: are there good books in games...

 

[Rod Rodderson]

Morrowind. Other TES games, too, but Morrowind remains the best (also, the lessons).

 

[Ninjerk]

As long as they're not just lore dumps as they were in BGs.

As opposed to...?

 

[Lancehead]

As opposed to lore that's relevant to the game's story and gameplay.

 

[Mantic]

As opposed to lore that's relevant to the game's story and gameplay.

That's a bad idea. Things would start feeling mighty artificial if the only lore in the game is narrowly related to the plot or the gameplay. Morrowind did it right because of so many books that really had nothing to do with the story or the gameplay, but they added to the game because they made it feel like a real world. Verisimilitude man, not every book an adventurer comes across is going to be useful or relevant to them. Flavor and all that.