Eternity Pillars of Eternity + The White March Expansion Thread

[Morality Games]

"PC Gaming" isn't the category today it was during the Commodore 64 days. I like my PC games slow, ponderous, and strategic, but for the majority of PC gamers the appeal of the medium comes in the form of user-made modifications and the prettiest graphics. There's a heavy preference for action and mechanics over tactics and spreadsheets. The primary interest of the demographic is that they get (a) all of the same content as console players and (b) at the same or a far better level of quality in terms of controls, interfaces, and graphics.

MGS5 is the prettiest game ever to run on the PC, pretty much guarantees them the award.

 

[Martius]

So, it doesn't offer the option of just going off spamming your attack and special attack moves while you completely ignore the other characters and not worry about dying because the companion ai healer has you back.

You can do same thing in Origins, I dont remember people calling this game arpg too. DA2 still offers similar system, in theory bit faster thanks to animations but in practices slowed down by amount of enemies in each fight. Few games I gave as example offer something more. If you are good you can dodge attacks or even parry in last moment, combos are more than auto attack and waiting for abilities cooldown timer. Sadly DA2 lacks all these things, its not even Dynasty Warriors or God of War tier.

 

[Maculo]

I started the White March content, with my first stop being the Cragholt Bluffs (however you spell them). The White March encounters feel so much better, especially Concelhaut. Moreover, the enemy groups seem more varied, and have tougher abilities (the exploding constructs, frost/acid pools, doom-like spells). This is what the base PoE encounters should have been. That is not to say White March "fixes" the combat, but it makes it far more tolerable in my opinion.

That being said, the upper level scaling is a little weird. The Elder Stags I encountered seemed to do more damage than the Ogre raiders. I am not sure what to make of it.

 

[Bonerbill]

I started the White March content, with my first stop being the Cragholt Bluffs (however you spell them). The White March encounters feel so much better, especially Concelhaut. Moreover, the enemy groups seem more varied, and have tougher abilities (the exploding constructs, frost/acid pools, doom-like spells). This is what the base PoE encounters should have been. That is not to say White March "fixes" the combat, but it makes it far more tolerable in my opinion.

That being said, the upper level scaling is a little weird. The Elder Stags I encountered seemed to do more damage than the Ogre raiders. I am not sure what to make of it.

The White March is a big improvement over the base game, although a few people here disagree. You can tell that Obsidian learned from some of the mistakes they made on the main game.

 

[Theldaran]

White March comes too late. For me PoE is already ruined and don't even want to touch it. Much like Bioware, I'll check it when they begin a new series and stop pulling shitty Mass Effect \ Dragon Age sequels. It can only become worse.

Enviado desde mi Edison 3 mediante Tapatalk

 

[Infinitron]

Much like Bioware, I'll check it when they begin a new series

lol

 

[Theldaran]

Mass Effect and Dragon Age are completely FUBAR. A new series will probably be shit anyway, but at least it's not more of the same flawed shit. Either Bioware will die a slow death deprived of its credit, or will survive making money off teenagers. If anything, I think going back to glory will be near impossible.

Enviado desde mi Edison 3 mediante Tapatalk

 

[Kem0sabe]

WTF is an Edison 3?

 

[Fry]

WTF is an Edison 3?

A tablet for Spaniards...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZHjRM-Ou-U

 

[Infinitron]

 

[Sranchammer]

You are not a gamer if you dont get this expansion

 

[Roguey]

Josh talks stacking

there are a few different ways to handle stat stacking and i've never really been thrilled with any single solution. +3 and +3 is not that big of a deal but it becomes a bigger deal when it's +2 or +3 on four or five items. PoE attributes are not as influential as A/D&D stats (generally), but they're still influential enough that high (24+) values start to get wild.

the way PoE does it is to use stacking rules, of course. it's similar to D&D in that there are groups of effect types that either do or don't stack with each other. passive ability and talent bonuses always stack. weapon/shield bonuses always stack. actives/modals always use the highest value. non-weapon/shield gear always uses the highest value. it allows for a decent amount of optimization without ranges getting gnarly, but like D&D's stacking rules, it's not intuitive.

you can also have certain stats be slot-restricted and not have stacking rules. in that case, it's the responsibility of designers to constrain the content so only head items give int bonuses, booties give dex, gloves give might, etc. it's easier to understand, but it does limit item design more. it also doesn't address active effects from spells, potions, other items, etc., which is where the really huge bonuses can come from.

for a while i've been wondering about a system where all bonuses stack, but they stack on a geometric progression (triangular or square) that correlates to a linear bonus increase. i like triangular progressions because the values become more interesting to play with even under the assumption that everything is stacking. the power gulf between a player/character that is mildly optimized and heavily optimized can be smaller just because of how the math works out. it also allows generalist characters to be more powerful for the same reason. that said, i think it could also be difficult to communicate even if it's consistent and does away with stacking rules.

Pre-buffing

yeah combat-only spells and stacking rules both helped simplify buffing and make it more about (ideally) opportunity costs than whether or not you had the resources and patience to go through long pre-fight rituals.

Monte Cook's intentional traps

one of the weirdest things about this approach is that even the most well-balanced systems (of any complexity) will still have marginal efficiency trade-offs. you don't need to "design in" bad things for players to powergame around. it also means that certain base types of gear are just inherently worse, so items or class concepts that involve them are worse forever because the designers wanted to create some eureka moment where a player sagely concluded that great clubs are bad based on everything about them being bad.

And a new class-specific dialogue option present in The White March part 2

did you add an "I LOVE GOLD" or "I'LL DO IT FOR A PRICE" option for goldpact paladins in the expansion?

 

[Sannom]

Where did you find all that? I checked his twitter account, his tumble, his instagram, the Obsidian boards and the Something Awful boards, I didn't see any of those.

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Stacking rules are the most infuriating thing in the entire game, usability wise. Early game its not a problem, but eventually you're carrying so many items, that equiping your chars turns into a mini-game where you juggle around everything in your inventory to try to find one thing that will be stacking with the rest.

I don't know how that shit slipped through play-testing, cause otherwise the interface and the controls are great.

 

[Roguey]

Where did you find all that? I checked his twitter account, his tumble, his instagram, the Obsidian boards and the Something Awful boards, I didn't see any of those.

badgame, the secret orb-posting lair.

 

[tdphys]

looking forward to playing both expansions...

 

[Maculo]

I just finished Part 1 of the White March, and I think it has a decent hook at the end. Also, the ending actually has a decent narration in the sense that it foreshadows what is coming for you in Part 2.

Spoiler

I am curious how the mysterious enemy will turn out. I expect a Cthulu-ish enemy.

Now I just need to kill Thaos and wait for Part 2.

 

[Infinitron]

Don't forget to keep a saved game from before you make the big jump.

 

[Maculo]

I think I did. I will have to double check though. Other than Thaos, I had everything else completed, and so I would not miss much from loading a prior save. Thanks for the heads up though.

Also, I attempted Thaos last night before bed, and I regret turning on the high level scaling. The statues have more health than I have patience at this point.

 

[Sizzle]

Release date - February 16th.

 

[Infinitron]

What happened to late January

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.paradoxplaza.com/news/White-March-2-Trailer/

Return to Pillars of Eternity with New Trailer for The White March – Part 2
Epic Adventure in Eora to Resume with Latest Game Expansion on February 16

Published: January 5, 2016 3:01:00 PM CET

IRVINE, Calif. and STOCKHOLM — Jan. 5, 2016 — Obsidian Entertainment and Paradox Interactive announced today that The White March – Part 2, the second expansion to Pillars of Eternity, will release on February 16, 2016. The White March – Part 2 not only adds new content to the Pillars of Eternity universe, but also allows players to experience the conclusion of the stories told in The White March – Part 1, bringing the first epic chapter of Pillars of Eternity to a close. Players will find a variety of new challenges waiting for them in the snowy borderlands of the Eastern Reach, along with new quests, new abilities and a raised level cap, and a new companion: Meneha, the Barbarian.

For a first glimpse at The White March – Part 2, Obsidian and Paradox have released a new game trailer, available here:


Directed by Josh Sawyer, Game Director of Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, The White March - Part 2 brings players through an expertly crafted story from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. A series of new features await fans of the Pillars of Eternity universe, including a new “Story Time” mode, letting players experience the incredible narrative of Pillars of Eternity at a faster pace. Players will discover the answers to questions asked in the prior expansion, and lead companions old and new through new locations such as the Abbey of the Fallen Moon.

Pillars of Eternity, created by role-playing game (RPG) veterans also known for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords and South Park: The Stick of Truth, is a RPG inspired by classic titles such as Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment. Created thanks to over 75,000 crowdfunding backers, Pillars of Eternity has sold over 600,000 units, was released to critical acclaim in March 2015, and is among Metacritic’s 15 Best PC Games of 2015.

For more information on Pillars of Eternity and The White March – Part 2, visit https://www.paradoxplaza.com/pillars-of-eternity-the-white-march-pt2.

 

[Theldaran]

WTF is an Edison 3?

A tablet for Spaniards...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZHjRM-Ou-U

Spaniard made also. Just in case you were thinking that we live in huts in the jungle.

PS: I love the award that I have earned with my deep, thought-provoking, trolling-free comments.

 

[Fry]

WTF is an Edison 3?

A tablet for Spaniards...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZHjRM-Ou-U

Spaniard made also. Just in case you were thinking that we live in huts in the jungle.

Well... huts on the plains. Obviously there isn't any jungle in Spain.

 

[Theldaran]

WTF is an Edison 3?

A tablet for Spaniards...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZHjRM-Ou-U

Spaniard made also. Just in case you were thinking that we live in huts in the jungle.

Well... huts on the plains. Obviously there isn't any jungle in Spain.

If there was any it would've burned away by now. Less trees, more flats = PROFIT.