Editorial RPG Codex Report: Gamescom 2016 - Divinity: Original Sin 2

[Niektory]

typo police

Larian's witer

delas low damage

 

[Daedalos]

Good. Good. Double the hype, twice the fall.

 

[J_C]

Good. Good. Double the hype, twice the fall.

Oh come one. :D This is going to be at least as good as DOS, and that's already a good thing. This can't possibly fail, right guys? RIGHT?

 

[---]

Until they will remove the random loot, this is going to be shit anyway.
Sorry, I can't stand that abomination.

On the positive side, the paragraph about the writing is really interesting.

 

[undecaf]

Until they will remove the random loot, this is going to be shit anyway.

If random and set loot are mixed to enough of an extent, I don't see much of a problem.

 

[V_K]

If random and set loot are mixed to enough of an extent, I don't see much of a problem.

The problem isn't randomness per se. The problem is the loot treadmill that has no place in a deep turn-based game. Trash loot is as much of a design failure as trash mobs.

 

[---]

Why did they keep this system?
Is there a serious reason?

 

[Kev Inkline]

Tags: Divinity: Original Sin 2; Gamescom 2016; Larian Studios; Swen Vincke
I can already tell you that our Gamescom report this year is going to break new records. For its first part, though, we'll start small - not with an article covering a dozen different games, but just one very important one.

So, are you saving Fargo's interview for last?

 

[Bubbles]

Tags: Divinity: Original Sin 2; Gamescom 2016; Larian Studios; Swen Vincke
I can already tell you that our Gamescom report this year is going to break new records. For its first part, though, we'll start small - not with an article covering a dozen different games, but just one very important one.

So, are you saving Fargo's interview for last?

I think the days when the Codex talked to inXile employees are over

 

[undecaf]

If random and set loot are mixed to enough of an extent, I don't see much of a problem.

The problem isn't randomness per se. The problem is the loot treadmill that has no place in a deep turn-based game. Trash loot is as much of a design failure as trash mobs.

Yeah, I get that. And I do hope that they've toned down the amount garbage at least to some degree.

I suppose, though, that there's also the matter of approach from the players side; that one doesn't need to pick up and haul every piece of junk he might run into for a few pennies or a possible "further use" (knowing that not everything needs to be valuiable for the character/party at hand).

 

[V_K]

that one doesn't need to pick up and haul every piece of junk he might run into for a few pennies or a possible "further use"

Which would be possible, if most of the items didn't require identification.

 

[mindx2]

Overall this looks very good. As Bubbles said, they seem to know what worked and didn't work last time and will only be fixing the "didn't work" stuff and expanding on what did. I also don't like the random loot stuff and I hope they have more hand-placed unique items than in D:OS. Couldn't care less about crafting as that was never something I go out of my way to use in any cRPG I play unless it is some forced scripted designer thing.

 

[Infinitron]

The audience that's bought OS is very appreciative, and we're, you know, we're at over 1.5 million units or so

Cowboy Moment You can compare with Steamspy to get an idea of well the game has done on consoles: https://steamspy.com/app/373420

(the wildcard is GOG, which also has a share in those extra 400,000 units)

 

[tuluse]

Excellent work Bubbles

I do have one question. In DOS1, you basically got all the elemental combinations by halfway through the game. Any new skills were just better/more powerful versions of the same abilities you already had. Are they doing anything to make sure there are new combinations to learn and/or interesting abilities to get even late in the game?

 

[Sacred82]

If they want people to use the origin stories, they shouldn't make them race and gender specific.

 

[Bubbles]

Excellent work Bubbles

I do have one question. In DOS1, you basically got all the elemental combinations by halfway through the game. Any new skills were just better/more powerful versions of the same abilities you already had. Are they doing anything to make sure there are new combinations to learn and/or interesting abilities to get even late in the game?

From what Swen said, the endgame Source abilities should play an important part in keeping the late gameplay interesting. I have no idea what those abilities actually look like, though. Then there's the spellcrafting and the extra influence of Source abilities on other effects.

 

[Black Angel]

Tier 1 developer

 

[Darth Roxor]

tldr where's my elex preview

 

[Jedi Master Radek]

Swen honesty amazes me. In the interview he, from his own will, have said things that no mainstream and most indie developers would not say if you put a gun to their heads.

 

[twincast]

If they want people to use the origin stories, they shouldn't make them race and gender specific.

Well, I wouldn't mind as long as every combination gets an option...

 

[Kaivokz]

So inXile cancels interview, employee claims interviews only for tier 1 sites so doubtful codex would be given one; Fargo douches it up, hides behind 'big bad' publisher.

Swen ambushes for longer session, shows passion for his team's project, and gives a great interview.


I'm glad I've contributed more to Larian than I have to inXile, props to them, and to Swen particularly.

If they want people to use the origin stories, they shouldn't make them race and gender specific.

I thought this, too. For my first playthrough I will probably just forgo the origin quests and make a custom character... I'll see if the friend I'm playing with wants to take on one of the roles (he might like the dwarf-assassin type guy).

 

[Bubbles]

tldr where's my elex preview

Fair warning, that'll probably be tldr too

 

[Schizophrenic monolog]

Tags: Divinity: Original Sin 2; Gamescom 2016; Larian Studios; Swen Vincke

Bubbles and JarlFrank expected to have just half an hour with Divinity: Original Sin 2. They ended up spending almost three hours with it. Here's some of what they learned:

Dear Codex,

Do us all a favor, and start reporting about all Crpg games out there.

After reading Bubbles & JarlFrank interview, I understand what's the RIGHT WAY to interview someone about his game!

Bubbles & JarlFrank - you did a hell of a job. I bow before you!

 

[veevoir]

If they want people to use the origin stories, they shouldn't make them race and gender specific.

That irks me to no end.

Oh well, we'll all try the undead first anyway

 

[Zorba the Hutt]

After reading Bubbles & JarlFrank interview, I understand what's the RIGHT WAY to interview someone about is game!

Yes, managed to be entertaining to read while covering a lot of ground and delving into some interesting details. Reconfirmed Swen as a bro while getting me hyped for a game for the first time in a while.

I tried a couple of DOS2 previews on tier one sites and they were a joke in comparison