Eternity Pillars of Eternity + The White March Expansion Thread

[Tigranes]

I don't, thank God. I do know you made an entirely incorrect conclusion that anybody who has a decent grasp of the rules would not.

 

[One-and-a-half-Ivan]

So... when should we expect a new kickstarter update with proper information on the expansion and 1.07 patch?

 

[AwesomeButton]

All criticism of PoE aside, if the overall quality of the area and encounter design in the expansion is that of PoE's starting dungeon (the area they said they did last, so they were at their most experienced), I'll be very pleased. Just hoping that the combat will pose some challenge to a full party.

 

[Roguey]

Better scale those levels then (unless you enter with a level 5-6 party).

So... when should we expect a new kickstarter update with proper information on the expansion and 1.07 patch?

They said it'd be this week.

 

[Roguey]

And the exciting premise of a level 1 adventure

Durgan steel is the Eternity equivalent of Hanzo steel, no level 1 adventurer is gonna acquire that.

And maybe also being a linear dungeon crawl, intersected with short wilderness sections. This is my main concern (snow and ice are actually quite fine).

It should be out within three months, if Josh says it isn't a dungeon crawl or even a mini-dungeon crawl, it likely isn't.

 

[Abu Antar]

Give me improved combat encounter designs and ability/skill/spell tweaks and I can roll my custom party and add the new companions on top of that.

I still haven't tried the rogue or barbarian. I need to have two tanks in the party for shits and giggles.

 

[ArchAngel]

I don't, thank God. I do know you made an entirely incorrect conclusion that anybody who has a decent grasp of the rules would not.

Talk is cheap. All you shown is your fanboyism.

 

[Abu Antar]

I don't, thank God. I do know you made an entirely incorrect conclusion that anybody who has a decent grasp of the rules would not.

Talk is cheap. All you shown is your fanboyism.

The game has a lot of faults, but if you can't properly use a wizard in PoE that does make him a fanboy. Aloth doesn't even have great stats, yet he proved useful the entire game. Granted, I only played it on hard and not PotD.

 

[ArchAngel]

I don't, thank God. I do know you made an entirely incorrect conclusion that anybody who has a decent grasp of the rules would not.

Talk is cheap. All you shown is your fanboyism.

The game has a lot of faults, but if you can't properly use a wizard in PoE that does make him a fanboy. Aloth doesn't even have great stats, yet he proved useful the entire game. Granted, I only played it on hard and not PotD.

I have not talked about proper use of a wizard, but that they are worse or less fun than other classes and much worse than in IE games. None of the classes are useless, but wizard is still less useful and less fun.

 

[Abu Antar]

I don't, thank God. I do know you made an entirely incorrect conclusion that anybody who has a decent grasp of the rules would not.

Talk is cheap. All you shown is your fanboyism.

The game has a lot of faults, but if you can't properly use a wizard in PoE that does make him a fanboy. Aloth doesn't even have great stats, yet he proved useful the entire game. Granted, I only played it on hard and not PotD.

I have not talked about proper use of a wizard, but that they are worse or less fun than other classes and much worse than in IE games. None of the classes are useless, but wizard is still less useful and less fun.

That's a subjective thing. Wizards are more fun in the IE games. I still maintain that a wizard was very useful in PoE. I personally dumped the chanter after a while because I felt they weren't fun until the late game. The Paladin was also not fun at all. The Druid was solid and the Ranger was crap and boring as fuck.

 

[Zed]

(Grieving Mother is kicked out by JES same way MCA was)

lol

 

[Tigranes]

I don't, thank God. I do know you made an entirely incorrect conclusion that anybody who has a decent grasp of the rules would not.

Talk is cheap. All you shown is your fanboyism.

The game has a lot of faults, but if you can't properly use a wizard in PoE that does make him a fanboy. Aloth doesn't even have great stats, yet he proved useful the entire game. Granted, I only played it on hard and not PotD.

I have not talked about proper use of a wizard, but that they are worse or less fun than other classes and much worse than in IE games. None of the classes are useless, but wizard is still less useful and less fun.

That's a subjective thing. Wizards are more fun in the IE games. I still maintain that a wizard was very useful in PoE. I personally dumped the chanter after a while because I felt they weren't fun until the late game. The Paladin was also not fun at all. The Druid was solid and the Ranger was crap and boring as fuck.

If you can't figure out how to make wizards not suck shit, that's got nothing to do with my fanboyism. They are not 'less useful', period. If I wanted to just knock POE's classes down, I'd pick all the easy targets, like how stupidly Paladin abilities are designed, so beats me why you'd want to harp on about this.

 

[Florian Gheorghe]

I love the ice/snow setting.

 

[Silly Rabbit]

New screenshots from the addon:

Spoiler

And a small preview from a German PC centric magazine:

http://www.pcgames.de/Pillars-of-Et...rch-in-der-E3-Vorschau-Intelligenz-1-1162833/

 

[Bubbles]

And a small preview from a German PC centric magazine:

http://www.pcgames.de/Pillars-of-Et...rch-in-der-E3-Vorschau-Intelligenz-1-1162833/

level cap raised to 15
Rogue gets a smoke bomb to confuse enemies
Monk summons spirit pet that deals elemental damage
Wizard gets a "magic hammer" spell that hits the enemy multiple times
Barbarian gets "dragon jump" to quickly close distances
Zahua is a drug addict

 

[Irenaeus II]

Roguey gets a smoke bomb to confuse enemies

Great addition.

 

[Infinitron]

More previews: http://www.gamebanshee.com/news/115746-pillars-of-eternity-the-white-march-part-i-previews.html

Saving Content:

There’s two new characters to play as: the Monk and Rogue. Each are new additions, and don’t double up on character classes that already exist. The monk uses elemental powers, and the rogue is a devilish construct. There’s an option to do individual stealth – which is huge, as it allows the rogue character sneak around and do recon.

Another great addition, is that of party AI. Now, you no longer have to micromanage your other party members, as they can do actions on their own. Though, you can direct their actions to be more aggressive or supportive, this is done on a per class basis, and allows you to free up your mind for other tasks.

MMORPG.com:

There are also loads of new monsters in the game, but along with them many of the classes have new higher level abilities to go with the higher level cap (raised by 2). Monks, for example get Dichotomous Soul which enables them to split their soul into a fire and ice embodiment as both go off to fight enemies with fists and feet of frost and flame. Loads of new talents, new spells, and more are all available with the expansion.

One of the other big features of the expansion are Soulbound Weapons. They’re like artifacts you can find throughout the expansion content, which add huge bonuses to your character based on their class, and have some really gorgeous special effects as well. You’ll unlock more powers on the weapons by completing specific achievements, sort of like leveling up the weapons as you play. You can take it all back into the main game, companions, weapons, skills, everything. It’s not just limited to the new areas.

Shacknews:

As Obsidian reps demonstrated the Durgan's Battery area, they had the opportunity to show off some of the improvements set to debut in The White March. First and foremost, those clamoring for more sophisticated AI scripts will get their wish. Companions can now be given specific AI scripts, including ones that will have them act aggressively, as support, and more. The expansion will also introduce the concept of individual stealth, which allows individual party members to practice stealth to either scout areas ahead or practice during combat to help get the drop on foes. These talents will come in handy with the expansion's two new companions: The Devil of Caroc and Zahua the Monk. The Devil of Caroc can use a shield to protect herself while using ranged attacks, while the drug-addled Zahua can summon spirit monks to fight at his side.

Individual stealth!

 

[Bubbles]

More previews: http://www.gamebanshee.com/news/115746-pillars-of-eternity-the-white-march-part-i-previews.html

You’ll unlock more powers on the weapons by completing specific achievements, sort of like leveling up the weapons as you play.

Steam achievements?

Individual stealth!

This changes everything.

 

[Athelas]

Some more details:

Even still, the way that stealth is handled is changing. In 'Pillars,' the party's stealth status was all or nothing, and at first detection, all party members and most AI enemies were drawn into battle. With the expansion, stealth will be handled on a per party member basis, and that means that players can exercise a much larger degree of tactical ability prior to combat, positioning their party members in a way to exploit detection. This may sound too powerful, especially for those players willing to infiltrate and backstab enemy positions, but there is a catch. Enemies will also behave in manner more attune to individual stealth settings.

These changes are being worked back into the main game, and as it turns out, many enemies have grown a bit wiser and a bit tougher as a result. For veteran 'Pillars' players, these features are bound to touch a nerve, but hopefully in a good way.

Next, Obsidian showed off their extended scripted interactions. You will be able to make decisions during these events that can affect their outcome. There’s even times to be able to cast spells from your character pool to help in certain situations.

There are also several non-combat additions to cave exploration, including new scripted interactions that add additional choices based on races, available spells and abilities, and more.

The White North will also introduce soulbound weapons for the first time. These weapons can combine different classic skills, such as one that combines Barbarian and Paladin skills. These are powerful weapons, with St. Ydwen's Redeemer cited as an example of a weapon that grows stronger over time. Soulbound weapons found in the expansion can then be taken into the base game.

While the release date for 'Pillars of Eternity: The White March: Part I' remains elusive, Obsidian has described 'Part I' as aspiring to the size of 'Baldur's Gate: Tales of Sword the Coast.'

 

[Merlkir]

I'd hate to nitpick, but those roofs don't seem like a smart design. Already you can see there are gaps between the planks and they'd warp even more due to moisture and temperature changes. (+ uneven drying in the sun)

 

[Infinitron]

Moar previews:

Polygon: http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/23/88...te-march-part-1-expansion-impressions-e3-2015
High-Def Digest: http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/s...ng-more-than-just-expanding-the-hit-rpg/23880

 

[Bubbles]

The Devil Cleric (rogue) can use her smoke bomb to evade dense combat situations while the drug monk, Zowa can summon fire and ice monks

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/s...ng-more-than-just-expanding-the-hit-rpg/23880

So rogues have been renamed "Devil Clerics" and monks are "Drug Monks". Getting a bit of a PST vibe here, which is never a bad thing.

 

[Sothpaw]

Still haven't had a chance to play Pillars yet (Bloodborne and DOTA2/Heroes of the Storm). At this point I think I'll wait for all the expansions/patches to come out first. Seems like they are going to make some decent improvements to the main game so might as well play the best version possible.

 

[Abu Antar]

Some of the changes should have been in the game from the start. Some will say lack of time or whatever. I won't argue with that, but they could have just delayed the game a little while longer to get at least the gameplay changes in order.

 

[AwesomeButton]

individual stealth

Lawl, I've been demanding this on the Obs forums since I started playing the beta. And silly fanboys rushed to pull arguments out of their asses why group stealth is good. The improvements seem like good news overall.