Pillars of Eternity Beta Discussion [GAME RELEASED, GO TO NEW THREAD]

[Shevek]

When I sent off my interview in June this year I asked a question about new mechanics in future installments, it was not answered.

We do know that more complicated spells will be looked into for the expansion, so that's something.

I really think spell sequencers, contingencies, etc would go a LONG way in making the wizard feel more wizardly.

 

[Infinitron]

I find the Metamagic concept of 3E to be much more useful in practice than that stuff. You can use the Quicken Metamagic feat to approximate what sequencers do.

 

[Shevek]

I do like metamagic too. Either of those solutions would add some much needed distinction to how the wizard plays.

 

[Seari]

Hell no, metamagic is shit.

 

[tuluse]

I find the Metamagic concept of 3E to be much more useful in practice than that stuff. You can use the Quicken Metamagic feat to approximate what sequencers do.

There is something very satisfying about clicking one button and having 3 spells shoot out.

 

[Shevek]

Both would be nice. Imagine sequencing metamagicked spells. That sounds pretty wizardly.

 

[Abu Antar]

I find the Metamagic concept of 3E to be much more useful in practice than that stuff. You can use the Quicken Metamagic feat to approximate what sequencers do.

There is something very satisfying about clicking one button and having 3 spells shoot out.

Press "A" for awesome.

 

[Nihiliste]

I don't find the sequencers to be particularly important to my experience but the idea of contingencies/still spells kind of make sense to me as a powerful wizard should reasonably be able to prepare these types of defences ahead of time. A single contingency seems to be a better solution for that purpose as opposed to a large number of still spells in 3E though.

What I do miss are hard counters and all the utility spells mages had, neither of which seem to be in the cards as long as Josh is in charge of the franchise.

 

[J_C]

I never used contingency ever in the IE games, I also miss hard counters and utility spells.

 

[Sensuki]

Yeah like when you get hit with an affliction in PE, there's like only 3 spells in the game atm (?) that do anything against them. A Paladin spell that suspends them for 15 secs on an ally. A Monk self-buff that suspends them for 10 or 15 sec (?) on himself and a Priest spell that suspends them in a small AoE for 6 seconds base.

6 second suspension just ain't worth it, better off casting an AoE heal.

 

[Athelas]

Yeah like when you get hit with an affliction in PE, there's like only 3 spells in the game atm (?) that do anything against them. A Paladin spell that suspends them for 15 secs on an ally. A Monk self-buff that suspends them for 10 or 15 sec (?) on himself and a Priest spell that suspends them in a small AoE for 6 seconds base.

6 second suspension just ain't worth it, better off casting an AoE heal.

I don't see how. Suspending a poison effect for instance will prevent damage (any damage, if you can finish the fight before the suspension ends), healing stamina means you still take health damage.

EDIT: Oh, you said 6 sec. Yeah, that is indeed way too short.

 

[Weirdstuffinspace]

At leas

I am happy that the skill system will be revamped. Complaining helps.

Spoiler

I don't care if he came to the conclusion on his own and he has most probably not even seen my thread about this subject. I will pretend it was all me.

I am also happy that we will get IE style loot drops from enemies.

Baby steps in the right direction.

Josh should have a look at the IE games for inspiration. Plenty of mechanics there that would benefit a rtwp game like PoE.

 

[Sensuki]

I have a feeling that they're doing things based on memories of the IE games. Memories aren't always accurate.

 

[Sensuki]

More fun with Disengagement abuse, this time with 3 Rogues and a Druid



No less than 7 disengagement attacks scored by the 3 Rogues, lol.

 

[Sensuki]

Yeah the Ranger, because his health is linked to the Boar Companion's. If one dies they both die (and yes it's a fail of a mechanic).

 

[Seari]

Eh, how about they add a health threshold(1/4 or whatever), so the ranger doesn't die. This way you still don't use the companion as cannon fodder, which is why they added the health link in the first place.

Side-note: WTF! I was sure Durance was a dwarf judging by the portrait and VO. He's actually human?

 

[Ninjerk]

http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/frequently-asked-questions-wild-pigs/

Depending on a variety of these factors, plus disease, vehicle collisions etc., average lifespan is probably between 4 and 8 years of age.

Who would ever become a ranger in this universe?

 

[Sensuki]

I was making a test post and accidentally pressed Post Thread, so I had to release my thread early: http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/69602-stop-right-now-thankyou-very-much/

 

[Chaotic_Heretic]

Just popping in to say this game is still shitty RTwP abomination of Sawerist balance. i have not forgotten about it!

Spoiler

Yeah been a bit busy with lords of Xulima

 

[Ninjerk]

I was making a test post and accidentally pressed Post Thread, so I had to release my thread early: http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/69602-stop-right-now-thankyou-very-much/

This game development is hilarious. Their idea's implementation is short-sighted and/or poorly designed, but clearly the problem is that you can't see well enough how it works!!

 

[mastroego]

I really think spell sequencers, contingencies, etc would go a LONG way in making the wizard feel more wizardly.

True.
Contingencies in particular really felt like magic.
I mean, arcane power discharged when some conditions are met!

I used to have a Fighter/Mage with a "panic mode" setting for contingencies and triggers. Contingencies would fire Protection From Magical Energy, Mislead, Stoneskin, or some other wide-range combination of defensive spells.
Spell Trigger would fire Tenser's Transformation, Improved Haste, Improved Invisibility (or something), to become an instant-killing machine.

It was glorious.

 

[Arkadin]

What’s more I think that the Melee Engagement system is detrimental to the gameplay and removes many of the tactical elements from combat after the opening and contributes to making combat less fun than the Infinity Engine games. Some elements of tactical play that the Melee Engagement system heavily penalizes or prevents are re-shuffling formations mid-melee to take advantage of the terrain, tactical retreating and switching aggro. The lack of tactical movement in combat after has begun puts a large emphasis on the strategical aspect - the combat opening, while removing the tactical aspect - reactive play.

Thanks for your effort, but this to me is more interesting than the issues you've highlighted in the videos. It might hold more weight with Sawyer, I'm not sure.

These strike me as what he would say are ways to build effective characters and not so much exploits, if the game were already balanced better:

• Attack Resolution system – I can ensure that I have very high accuracy for my disengagement attacks by maxing Perception, using items that give bonus accuracy and casting accuracy buffs with a short cast time (such as Dire Blessing) on my party before enemies get in range so that I score many critical hits on disengagement attacks
• Two Handed Weapons – Two Handed Weapons do the highest damage, and since disengagement attacks are free of recovery time, equipping two handed weapons ensures maximum damage on disengagement attacks

Anyway, you've definitely expressed your ideas and preferences effectively.

 

[Seari]

Kjaamor is such an annoying brony piece of shit.

 

[Sensuki]

Thanks for your effort, but this to me is more interesting than the issues you've highlighted in the videos. It might hold more weight with Sawyer, I'm not sure.

I was going to do a larger point on the fun gameplay Melee Engagement removes, I'll do it in the next thread.

edit: this is a bit I cut

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/69602-stop-right-now-thankyou-very-much/#entry1543448

 

[Sensuki]

Thread seen by Matt Sheets, wonder if it will garner a reply *shrug*