Spiderweb Queen's Wish 2: The Tormentor - Jeff Vogel's new series continues

[Contagium]

For people who have played this in the tens of hours, how is the game? Is it worth getting if you didn't really like the first game?

It depends on what your expectations are. I didn't really care for the first one, but I enjoy this one more. I think it's because I know it's not Avernum or Geneforge and can play it on its own terms. The story is better (evaluating vassals) and the experience works better. If you didn't HATE the first one, I'd say give it a shot.

 

[Fluent]

Great game, really enjoying it. I completed Queen's Wish 1 a few weeks ago, had a blast with that one and thought it was great, and Queen's Wish 2 really flips the idea on its head and, imo, is a totally different experience. Yes some things are similar, but enough of the game has been tweaked, overhauled and imo upgraded that it makes for a really fresh time playing through it. Jeff is a master, man, beyond what I ever thought him capable of. Guy's games are really special.

 

[Fluent]

This game is *insanely GOOD*. The thing about this series so far, imo, is that if u "get into it" just a little? U will end up being into it A LOT. Jeff's writing and pacing just is shown on an ultra-master-sensei-unreal level in this one, and the first game was very good too, so how can u improve on greatness? He does somehow. But yeah, if u allow yourself to get immersed u will end up FULLY immersed in Queen's Wish 2 because it's just *that* dang compelling. Note - I'm 40 hours in and haven't even seen half the game yet, and every minute has been worthwhile and excellent gaming. Play this!!

Quick note - Play on Veteran, not Normal, if u want a *chef's kiss*, mwah, type of balancing and challenging experience! Perfectly done imo.

 

[Darth Canoli]

Ships full of new art assets heading to the shores of Seattle:

They just unloaded the art assets on the beach, a serious contender for the best looking cRPG for sure...

Spoiler

 

[Contagium]

Ships full of new art assets heading to the shores of Seattle:

They just unloaded the art assets on the beach, a serious contender for the best looking cRPG for sure...

Spoiler

It's definitely a game you need to use your imagination for.

Which is weird because I thought the Geneforge remaster looked really good.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Considering real life current events, you have to wonder if Vogel is a seer in a way (then again there is still the finale).

 

[Fluent]

I mean, not to like "overhype" it (lol, i know, ME? Overhype something??? ) but Jeff is insanely talented, man. Most dev TEAMS would be thrilled if they made a SINGLE Geneforge. This guy made 5 of them, lol. I mean, his graphics are beautiful to my eyes. I love the look of this game and it is so immersive thanks to great descriptive text and subtle graphical placements. There's quite a bit of environmental storytelling here if u don't miss it by just zooming thru the game. But yeah, I'm convinced that this guy is an alien. His games are just amazing to me.

 

[Galdred]

For people who have played this in the tens of hours, how is the game? Is it worth getting if you didn't really like the first game?

It depends on what your expectations are. I didn't really care for the first one, but I enjoy this one more. I think it's because I know it's not Avernum or Geneforge and can play it on its own terms. The story is better (evaluating vassals) and the experience works better. If you didn't HATE the first one, I'd say give it a shot.

Does the whole demesne (vassal/diplomacy/castle management) aspect feel more fleshed out? QW1 felt a lot like: spend money to upgrade castle shopkeeper or get passive income. In a way, castle building felt as "abstract" to meas in Kingmaker (compared to NWN2's Crossorad Keep or even Dragon Age: Awakening fortress).

 

[Iluvcheezcake]

I mean, not to like "overhype" it (lol, i know, ME? Overhype something??? ) but Jeff is insanely talented, man. Most dev TEAMS would be thrilled if they made a SINGLE Geneforge. This guy made 5 of them, lol. I mean, his graphics are beautiful to my eyes. I love the look of this game and it is so immersive thanks to great descriptive text and subtle graphical placements. There's quite a bit of environmental storytelling here if u don't miss it by just zooming thru the game. But yeah, I'm convinced that this guy is an alien. His games are just amazing to me.

You are a grand master level troll, i salute you Sir.

 

[Fluent]

Except I'm not trolling. At all. In fact I never troll. Just me being me. God is good!

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

I rarely judge a game without playing it. Sometimes a video can convey something but everyone plays different and has different tastes. I love to grind just about anything in games. I'm also an alto-holic

 

[Contagium]

For people who have played this in the tens of hours, how is the game? Is it worth getting if you didn't really like the first game?

It depends on what your expectations are. I didn't really care for the first one, but I enjoy this one more. I think it's because I know it's not Avernum or Geneforge and can play it on its own terms. The story is better (evaluating vassals) and the experience works better. If you didn't HATE the first one, I'd say give it a shot.

Does the whole demesne (vassal/diplomacy/castle management) aspect feel more fleshed out? QW1 felt a lot like: spend money to upgrade castle shopkeeper or get passive income. In a way, castle building felt as "abstract" to meas in Kingmaker (compared to NWN2's Crossorad Keep or even Dragon Age: Awakening fortress).

Honestly, the only purpose it serves is to be able to get better armor/weapons . Now you can "dedicate your fort" and gain different bonuses or super special items at a particular anvil at one of the towers. So that's a new twist compared to QW1. Otherwise, the fort building doesn't do anything to affect the story

 

[Fluent]

Dare I say, one will not find a more interesting LOOT/ITEMIZATION system in a CRPG of this nature. Wow. Every magical item, upgrade and stat is just a resounding marvel of pure harmony. Trust me. If you love loot gathering and character customization, this is the goods right here.

 

[Contagium]

There are some awesome skills, like the ones you learn from the Ro. The one with the Vines is awesome.

 

[Fluent]

There are awesome skills indeed. And combat is sublime when you unlock all those nifty Ro skills and such. Leads to some really unique strategies you can employ.

 

[talan]

Finished the game -- overall I liked it.

With the endgame slides of QW1 I was expecting QW2 to focus more on Haven/empire/internal politics with a possible conflict over if you or Sutter would be King.
But this game is more of the same as QW1. You go to a vassal that hasn't received attention in a while and solve their problems with violence and the occasional choice.

Interested to see where QW3 ends up. From the endgame slides of QW2, it sounds like you'll be expanding Haven with a new vassal.

 

[Monkeyfinger]

Portraits are all generic presets , i suppose it was a less costly way to do them like many design choices in his games it's probably a matter of price. Still nothing to rage about really, seen lot worse.

Free procgen tools can now easily make portraits as good as paid artist commissions, the fact that people still use dogshit baffles me.

Which free procgen tool is your favorite?

 

[Tyranicon]

Portraits are all generic presets , i suppose it was a less costly way to do them like many design choices in his games it's probably a matter of price. Still nothing to rage about really, seen lot worse.

Free procgen tools can now easily make portraits as good as paid artist commissions, the fact that people still use dogshit baffles me.

Which free procgen tool is your favorite?

AI. Probably stable diffusion, midjourney or novelai diffusion. I don't actually use any of these though, as I prefer actual artists... for now.

I just generated one on the spot for you (keywords are RPG game, portrait, dwarf):

 

[Gandalf]

just generated one on the spot for you (keywords are RPG game, portrait, dwarf):

Can you make a wizard one?

 

[Tyranicon]

just generated one on the spot for you (keywords are RPG game, portrait, dwarf):

Can you make a wizard one?

Sure, in a couple of different art styles. The AI apparently really, really wants to make them attractive unless you put some kind of ugly keyword in.

These were made with NovelAI if you want to replicate them. It's bad with hair, but you can tinker around with it given enough time.

muscle wizards apaprently

 

[Non-Edgy Gamer]

Which free procgen tool is your favorite?

Artbreader will probably have the most consistent results with the highest quality. Other AI tools tend to have more errors that need to be fixed later. But Artbreader is really mainly suited to human faces and takes more work to get other races.

 

[Luzur]

Could be better if he reworked the settlement building system abit and...i dunno, redo the other stuff. QW1 felt like a watered down Avernum with stuff missing.

Well, been playing the game now for awhile on and off and.. this comment of mine still holds up, everything feels slow, watered down and empty, from the combat to the building system.

Why not make it as a Avernum/Geneforge but with town building added on? those games have more flow and stuff then this.

 

[POOPERSCOOPER]

I still have PTSD from Geneforge bad graphics in like 2003 and haven't been able to play a Vogel game since then.

 

[InD_ImaginE]

I still don't understand why he bother simplifying his combat system at all. Can't he just copy paste it between games? Avernum system was fine.

 

[Lhynn]

felt like a watered down Avernum with stuff missing.

everything feels slow, watered down and empty, from the combat to the building system.

Thats just indicative of the state of vogel himself, he is an old washed up has been that doesnt have a creative bone in his body anymore, recycling old ideas and stealing others is about the only thing the man can reliably do, with very predictable results.