RPG Codex Interview: Chris Avellone on Pillars Cut Content, Game Development Hierarchies and More

[Blakemoreland Hybrid Boss]

Avellone: muthafucka I'm so loaded I never have to work again, can sustain myself for 200 years and can easily fight 300-men corporations in courts if I so please.

All that freelance money.

 

[Grauken]

Sounds like Cleve hacked MCA's account

 

[Korron]

Avellone: muthafucka I'm so loaded I never have to work again, can sustain myself for 200 years and can easily fight 300-men corporations in courts if I so please.

All that freelance money.

Probably easy to ask for a pretty good going rate when the mere invocation of your name visibly disrupts kickstarter funding projection trend lines in kickstarters with 10s of thousands of backers.

But these obs forums cucks talk about good business huh?

 

[Joined on the 4th of July]

So I wonder if the sequence of feargian dickery was this:

Chris asks about finances and why his wife had the equivalent of a political spouse's no show job at a lobbying firm given the financial difficulties of the company.

Feargus goes home and tells wife.

Wife gets enraged that he called a spade a spade and demands Feargus whose the only "real" boss do something.

Feargus, being the timeless schoolyard virgin without a spine and having spent years telling himself he deserves as much recognition as all the other old flags, comes in and does what he does with completely malicious intent.

FU: That Chris Avellone makes me so mad!

MU: De-owner him.... then make him work on Tyranny.

FU: Mwahahahaha *showers her with "Consultant" paychecks

 

[Kleptocratic debt serf]

I posted "as fact" that he was accusing her, not that the accusations are valid.

Infintron, what are you doing? I have a feeling that this turned from reporting the news, to purposfully stirring shit at the Obsidian forums.

The Infinitron crys out in pain as he strikes you...

 

[Chris Avellone]

Speaking of Boyarsky, how come he leaves cozy high level position at fucking Blizzard of all places, and goes to Obsidian if its such a horrible place to work?

Leonard would probably tell you if asked, but I will say that he likely would have more creative voice at Obsidian and for all the company’s problems, they would probably give him more control over his own work. For example, I believe the company specifically asked the Design Director not to interfere (beyond advice) for their project, which I don’t know would be true of every company where you might have many, many people weighing in and changing your work – having a “cozy” job isn’t usually something a real creative wants.

Creative freedom is a powerful motivator. Still, Leonard and Tim did leave Feargus/Black Isle once already and may have concluded over time the experience with Feargus/BIS wasn’t as bad as they remember – although memory can fade over time, and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the issues that led to the initial departure are starting to resurface as they are reminded of practices they had forgotten about, and the closer you get to the top, the more you see.

There was some mention that Leonard’s story for their upcoming game was attacked unfairly by the Obsidian owners as being lacking, when, in fact, PoE2’s story had all the same “problems” that were being raised except at a much higher level - but PoE2 got a pass for it. This kind of disparity can get increasingly frustrating over time because it can come across as favoritism. Me, every design and quest arc I’ve read from Leonard in the past was pretty good, so I’m dubious that there would be anything wrong with his story proposals, and the Obsidian owners are probably the last people I would listen to when it comes to game story critiques.

 

[Maculo]

Obsidian owners are probably the last people I would listen to when it comes to game story critiques.

Damn.

 

[Infinitron]

The impression one gets from these posts is that Obsidian is riddled with Avellonian moles/sleeper agents who are feeding him information and will be ready to strike when he gives the command

 

[Kleptocratic debt serf]

There was some mention that Leonard’s story for their upcoming game was attacked unfairly by the Obsidian owners as being lacking, when, in fact, PoE2’s story had all the same “problems” that were being raised except at a much higher level - but PoE2 got a pass for it. This kind of disparity can get increasingly frustrating over time because it can come across as favoritism. Me, every design and quest arc I’ve read from Leonard in the past was pretty good, so I’m dubious that there would be anything wrong with his story proposals, and the Obsidian owners are probably the last people I would listen to when it comes to game story critiques.

What does Fergie bring to the table, if it has been established he is nepotistic, despotic, preferential and drives away big publishers with lots of money?

Serious question, does he have intangibles or something? IE say a shrill autistic scream that paralyzes his friends and enemies alike or something like dwarf nose but for beautiful nerd girls at comicon?

 

[Rivmusique]

I believe the company specifically asked the Design Director

 

[AwesomeButton]

in fact, PoE2’s story had all the same “problems” that were being raised except at a much higher level - but PoE2 got a pass for it.

This mirrors something I've been thinking last week - FNV's story starts with you being no one of importance, getting hit on the head and setting off in pursuit of the guy who hit you. PoE2's story starts with you being (nominally) somebody of importance, for the first few minutes, then getting hit on the head, and then setting off in pursuit of the guy who hit you, in a land where you are... no one of importance all over again :D

Would you agree?

 

[conan_edw]

For example, I believe the company specifically asked the Design Director not to interfere (beyond advice) for their project

 

[Haba]

The impression one gets from these posts is that Obsidian is riddled with Avellonian moles/sleeper agents who are feeding him information and will be ready to strike when he gives the command

 

[Don Peste]

This is how Chris convinced Tim and Leonard that giving a second chance to Troika was worth (one last) shot.

 

[Flou]

There was some mention that Leonard’s story for their upcoming game was attacked unfairly by the Obsidian owners as being lacking, when, in fact, PoE2’s story had all the same “problems” that were being raised except at a much higher level - but PoE2 got a pass for it. This kind of disparity can get increasingly frustrating over time because it can come across as favoritism. Me, every design and quest arc I’ve read from Leonard in the past was pretty good, so I’m dubious that there would be anything wrong with his story proposals, and the Obsidian owners are probably the last people I would listen to when it comes to game story critiques.

Do the owners, I mean all four of them give critique over storylines or is it just Feargus and Parker? We rarely even hear Jones' name being mentioned and isn't Darren more of a working in the background kinda guy?

 

[ga♥]

MCA, are you still planning to found a studio? You already said (I think in pre-TTON release, but I could be wrong) that you hoped someone would make another game in the Planescape setting. Are you still of the same idea? And if so, would your hypothetical new studio try to explore this avenue?

 

[Molina]

Well, I hope that anyone reading anything I wrote would not accept it blindly. I don't preach, I do want people to question and ask and contradict. And it's fine if they don't agree, and I freely admit I've been wrong countless times.

As for Tim and Leonard (and Jason), I feel that the franchises they created (inc. Bloodlines) resonated with a lot of RPG gamers and shouldn't be ignored, but respected for what this accomplished. That's all I meant - and yes, there might be a large and uncomfortable upfront cost to that, but imo, it would prove itself out over time, and I would support that looking at their work history.

I don't think broken processes always even out at all - but I think there are performers who you should bank on based on their track record because they do things players enjoy.

With all my respect...

Don't forget Arcananum plz. They became Gods with this game.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

This is how Chris convinced Tim and Leonard that giving a second chance to Troika was worth (one last) shot.

Arcanum 2: No Wolves Allowed

 

[AwesomeButton]

This is how Chris convinced Tim and Leonard that giving a second chance to Troika was worth (one last) shot.

Arcanum 2: No Wolves Allowed

Arcanum 2: The Jazz Age FTW

 

[Maculo]

MCA, are you still planning to found a studio? You already said (I think in pre-TTON release, but I could be wrong) that you hoped someone would make another game in the Planescape setting. Are you still of the same idea? And if so, would your hypothetical new studio try to explore this avenue?

No Wolves Entertainment, Inc.

 

[rohand]

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Actually a p badass name for a dev studio too.

 

[Infinitron]

This racofer classic only needs a slight modification:

 

[Fry]

If hypothetically, the game industry is an overall "no" next year, I could relax for 200+ years and not worry about a thing. Even my funeral is paid for.

I don't have many expenses, and I don't need to work anymore - I work because I love writing for games, so I do. Shocking, I know, but... yes, it's the truth.

You went from being in debt in June of 2015 when you left Obsidian, to now being in a position where you have the financial resources to cover 200 years of sitting on your behind?

That's quite a remarkable turnaround, and seems outside the scope of what you'd likely be paid for the work you've done in the past three years.

 

[Alienman]

He is clearly smuggling drugs on the side.