South Park: The Stick of Truth

[Rivmusique]

Witch armor is in areas that require gnome dust IIRC, so: the broken log west of school, the garage that opens halfway next to mr slaves place, a broken fence somewhere next to a house (vague, but it is all I remember), passed a fallen log in the hobo area that's hidden behind a tree, under the seat in front of coffee shop, broken sushi place, storage place main building and a small hole somewhere in sewers. 2 of those should have the bits you need. Jester's hat I don't remember, but am pretty sure it is somewhere in normal south park, so not canada or one of the one-time-only zones.

 

[Dieithrio]

Remember you can look at the map for clues on where you can find gear. Anyway, IIRC, witch gloves should be in front of the coffee shop.

 

[dryan]

Why sad? That's the best part. Like idiots who are still offended by Life of Brian after all those years.

Because people who actaully hold those values begin to think they're acceptable, and you risk becomming a hangout for actual racists/homophobes/holocaust deniers etc. It's how reddit went from ironic/hipster racism to having parts which are basically just another Stormfront hangout.

Fortunately RPG codex is fairly niche and actively avoids marketing to the lowest common denominator, unlike the front page of reddit.

Reddit should be avoided as a general rule, racism or not.

 

[Grimlorn]

Just finished my thief play-through, a lot of people complained about the game's difficulty (i.e. being too easy) but 3-squad dire bears/dire wolves really did give me quite a bit of trouble, as did some boss fights (alien one, al gore, 1-2 more that i can't remember). Most normal encounters do become banal after the first 2 levels though.

Haven't finished the game but I've had some trouble with fights as well. If you screw up the QTE stuff you lose. I'm playing on hardcore though and with a fighter. Had trouble with a random fight at beginning of the game. After losing 3-5 times it just disappeared. Not sure if they did that purposely because I lost so much.

The QTE stuff sucks balls. Here you have all these amazing abilities and you're stuck staring at a white circle around your character instead of watching them. I will never understand why QTEs became so big. You get these cutscenes where your character does something awesome and instead of watching the scene, you're watching the edge of the screen or wherever the keys show up and not watching the scene itself. It makes no sense. Your character can also be covered up so you can't do the QTE properly when attacking because an enemy is in front of them, which is what happened when in the Al Gore fight.

Didn't have much problem with the aliens. The baseball bat skill really helps with them. Although I did die to the boss. If the pilot gets low on hp he promotes the co-pilot to pilot and runs away. The co-pilot then proceeded to get 2 turns in a row and the second turn did a lot of damage killing me. Didn't let that happen a second time but thought it was interesting.

Al Gore was a huge pain in the ass. I had to use a few speed potions to get several turns in a row to defeat him and his secret service. Fight was tough and I kept getting bad rolls with Professor Chaos ability. Plus it was just impossible to block the assault rifle fire. Manbearpig was easy to beat though.

I'm only on the Goth kid quest now. So maybe I was just too weak for the stuff I was doing.

 

[Name]

Just finished my thief play-through, a lot of people complained about the game's difficulty (i.e. being too easy) but 3-squad dire bears/dire wolves really did give me quite a bit of trouble, as did some boss fights (alien one, al gore, 1-2 more that i can't remember). Most normal encounters do become banal after the first 2 levels though.

Haven't finished the game but I've had some trouble with fights as well. If you screw up the QTE stuff you lose. I'm playing on hardcore though and with a fighter. Had trouble with a random fight at beginning of the game. After losing 3-5 times it just disappeared. Not sure if they did that purposely because I lost so much.

The QTE stuff sucks balls. Here you have all these amazing abilities and you're stuck staring at a white circle around your character instead of watching them. I will never understand why QTEs became so big. You get these cutscenes where your character does something awesome and instead of watching the scene, you're watching the edge of the screen or wherever the keys show up and not watching the scene itself. It makes no sense. Your character can also be covered up so you can't do the QTE properly when attacking because an enemy is in front of them, which is what happened when in the Al Gore fight.

Didn't have much problem with the aliens. The baseball bat skill really helps with them. Although I did die to the boss. If the pilot gets low on hp he promotes the co-pilot to pilot and runs away. The co-pilot then proceeded to get 2 turns in a row and the second turn did a lot of damage killing me. Didn't let that happen a second time but thought it was interesting.

Al Gore was a huge pain in the ass. I had to use a few speed potions to get several turns in a row to defeat him and his secret service. Fight was tough and I kept getting bad rolls with Professor Chaos ability. Plus it was just impossible to block the assault rifle fire. Manbearpig was easy to beat though.

I'm only on the Goth kid quest now. So maybe I was just too weak for the stuff I was doing.

The problem I have with QTE is exactly this! Usually I'm too distracted by the awesome cutscenes and when I the button shows up it's already too late to put my fat finger on it.
With regular abilities, it's OK because you can screw up during mook fight, and when you finally get familiar with QTEs, you can finally enjoy the awesome cutscenes. But then there is one-off thing like Boss fight! (Yes, just wait for the final boss fight).

 

[PlanHex]

The '25% damage from aliens' tinfoil helmet you didn't use, because you didn't want to swap the upgrades out and put them back in? It doesn't have any upgrade slots, probably for that reason

Ironically, I didn't use the helmet and ended up losing that fight precisely because I didn't want to take off any one of my clothing upgrades.

 

[Xor]

I didn't use it, but I still beat the fight on my first attempt because mages are OP.

 

[pakoito]

I didn't use it, but I still beat the fight on my first attempt because jews are OP.

FTFY

 

[2house2fly]

Now I'm wondering what changes improvement Ubisoft have made Obsidian to make, because apparently

Someone from Ubisoft is posting on the Stick Of Truth thread on Something Awful and has commented on this: THQ was basically trying to get the game rushed out so they could get a cash injection before going under, and when Ubisoft got it it was a "pile of wet garbage". The guy later clarified that it was in that state because of THQ, not Obsidian. He also made a comment implying that they cut a lot of tedious grindy combat that added nothing.

 

[Xor]

Now I'm wondering what changes improvement Ubisoft have made Obsidian to make, because apparently

Someone from Ubisoft is posting on the Stick Of Truth thread on Something Awful and has commented on this: THQ was basically trying to get the game rushed out so they could get a cash injection before going under, and when Ubisoft got it it was a "pile of wet garbage". The guy later clarified that it was in that state because of THQ, not Obsidian. He also made a comment implying that they cut a lot of tedious grindy combat that added nothing.

Well, good for Ubisoft. A lesser publisher would have probably acquired the game for cheap and pushed it out as quickly as possible hoping to use the South Park name to earn some money off it. Instead Ubisoft gave them time and money to finish the game properly.

I am curious what the game could have been if THQ hadn't been desperate for cash and the game had the resources Ubisoft gave them from the beginning.

 

[HanoverF]

Well there is the practice of pissing on something to make it yours, basically everything is always garbage and the new overlords are compelled to come in and fix things. If it fails they couldn't overcome the mismanagement of the previous team, if it's a success it's due to their hard work. Not saying that's what happened here though.

 

[Azrael the cat]

Someone from Ubisoft is posting on the Stick Of Truth thread on Something Awful and has commented on this: THQ was basically trying to get the game rushed out so they could get a cash injection before going under, and when Ubisoft got it it was a "pile of wet garbage". The guy later clarified that it was in that state because of THQ, not Obsidian. He also made a comment implying that they cut a lot of tedious grindy combat that added nothing.

If so, then good move. The game was refreshingly low on grind - filler combat would have been a nightmare, my hands hurt from the damn QT as it is.

 

[uaciaut]

I didn't use it, but I still beat the fight on my first attempt because mages are OP.

They're really fucking broken, at least when compared to Thiefs.

 

[Dragula]

Or maybe the Germans are still squeamish about poking fun at Nazism seeing as many of the victims of the Nazis are still alive today... I don't agree with censorship, but I can understand why Germans are still sensitive about it.

Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with the Codex? All this golden tinted views of Nazis and the anti-Jewishness, it's fucking ridiculous.

Yeah being squeamish about something after 70 years is still fucking ridiculous though. Oh wait, "UK", the country that just banned violent pornography. I guess you like censorship then.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Or maybe the Germans are still squeamish about poking fun at Nazism seeing as many of the victims of the Nazis are still alive today... I don't agree with censorship, but I can understand why Germans are still sensitive about it.

Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with the Codex? All this golden tinted views of Nazis and the anti-Jewishness, it's fucking ridiculous.

Yeah being squeamish about something after 70 years is still fucking ridiculous though. Oh wait, "UK", the country that just banned violent pornography. I guess you like censorship then.

I said I don't support censorship but I can understand why Germans are sensitive about Nazism. How does that give credence to anything you just said?

 

[Dragula]

Or maybe the Germans are still squeamish about poking fun at Nazism seeing as many of the victims of the Nazis are still alive today... I don't agree with censorship, but I can understand why Germans are still sensitive about it.

Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with the Codex? All this golden tinted views of Nazis and the anti-Jewishness, it's fucking ridiculous.

Yeah being squeamish about something after 70 years is still fucking ridiculous though. Oh wait, "UK", the country that just banned violent pornography. I guess you like censorship then.

I said I don't support censorship but I can understand why Germans are sensitive about Nazism. How does that give credence to anything you just said?

Because being squeamish about something for 70 years is insane. Same as USA being so squeamish about slavery. Non of the perpetrators are alive.

 

[Duraframe300]

Now I'm wondering what changes improvement Ubisoft have made Obsidian to make, because apparently

Someone from Ubisoft is posting on the Stick Of Truth thread on Something Awful and has commented on this: THQ was basically trying to get the game rushed out so they could get a cash injection before going under, and when Ubisoft got it it was a "pile of wet garbage". The guy later clarified that it was in that state because of THQ, not Obsidian. He also made a comment implying that they cut a lot of tedious grindy combat that added nothing.

Wonder if they made combat easier as well though. As I said before the game seems to be scaled down.

 

[Azazel]

Now I'm wondering what changes improvement Ubisoft have made Obsidian to make, because apparently

Someone from Ubisoft is posting on the Stick Of Truth thread on Something Awful and has commented on this: THQ was basically trying to get the game rushed out so they could get a cash injection before going under, and when Ubisoft got it it was a "pile of wet garbage". The guy later clarified that it was in that state because of THQ, not Obsidian. He also made a comment implying that they cut a lot of tedious grindy combat that added nothing.

I'm pretty impressed they managed to salvage it so fast, because goddamn this game is fun. It's like a R-rated version of Paper Mario in so many ways. Between this development and Pillars of Eternity, I guess we'll finally be able to definitively say whether or not Obsidians bad rap is 100% due to constant greedy publisher fuck ups.

 

[Duraframe300]

Now I'm wondering what changes improvement Ubisoft have made Obsidian to make, because apparently

Someone from Ubisoft is posting on the Stick Of Truth thread on Something Awful and has commented on this: THQ was basically trying to get the game rushed out so they could get a cash injection before going under, and when Ubisoft got it it was a "pile of wet garbage". The guy later clarified that it was in that state because of THQ, not Obsidian. He also made a comment implying that they cut a lot of tedious grindy combat that added nothing.

Wonder if they made combat easier as well though. As I said before the game seems to be scaled down.

Revise that statement. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.

The Game's problem ISN'T FUCKING GRINDING. In fact grinding implies that there was content you had to grind FOR.

So, yes. Another publisher has fucked over Obsidian. They just sweettalk it. And no he definitly did not mean *remove trash combat*, because the game's scenes are still full with encounters. It makes even less sense if you consider that the game's level cap is at 15

So, yes. This is a case of *Publishers knows gamedev better than developer*.

FUCK Ubisoft.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Feargus has given an interview to Eurogamer where he talks about the relationship between Obsidian and Matt & Trey.

Sounds like they got on really well.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-12-south-park-it-all-started-with-a-suspected-prank-call

There is one certainty about the future, as far as South Park is concerned, and that's his unwavering enthusiasm to work with Trey Parker and Matt Stone again. "Absolutely," he says, without a moment's hesitation. "Oh absolutely. They're awesome guys! Trey in particular, he plays the games we play, I play, and it's awesome to have a guy who is the licence but also you can talk games with.

"We would absolutely work with them again."

 

[Name]

Feargus has given an interview to Eurogamer where he talks about the relationship between Obsidian and Matt & Trey.

Sounds like they got on really well.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-12-south-park-it-all-started-with-a-suspected-prank-call

Ha from that article:

I remember being concerned that something was very wrong. But what was really going on behind the scenes?

"I..." there's a pause, and Urquhart reluctantly clams shut, telling me he can't talk about it. He tells me nothing he'd say would conflict with "stuff that was coming out about those things, it's just hard to go into any detail".

I press: Did the game change considerably when Ubisoft took over?

"I can't answer that one either. Sorry."

Whatever Ubisoft ordered done, worked - South Park lived up to the licence.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Feargus has given an interview to Eurogamer where he talks about the relationship between Obsidian and Matt & Trey.

Sounds like they got on really well.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-12-south-park-it-all-started-with-a-suspected-prank-call

Ha from that article:

I remember being concerned that something was very wrong. But what was really going on behind the scenes?

"I..." there's a pause, and Urquhart reluctantly clams shut, telling me he can't talk about it. He tells me nothing he'd say would conflict with "stuff that was coming out about those things, it's just hard to go into any detail".

I press: Did the game change considerably when Ubisoft took over?

"I can't answer that one either. Sorry."

Whatever Ubisoft ordered done, worked - South Park lived up to the licence.

I wonder what Ubisoft did. The impressions we got from Obsidian when the THQ shitbomb hit was that the game was pretty much done and they were just polishing it.

I've completed the game twice now (only finding one bug - character sometimes flickers in and out during cutscenes, nothing like the bugs Shitaku and other sites reported) and it does feel like big chunks were taken out.

There were preview screenshots of areas like the gothic graveyard which don't exist in game. There are important places from the show that don't appear (Mephisto's Lab, the school gym, Hells Pass Hospital etc). Look at this page to see all the stuff they could have put in: http://southpark.wikia.com/wiki/Portal:Locations

It could be that Ubisoft wanted stuff to flog as DLC. I wouldn't mind if they were actually expansion sized, but one or two areas just thrown it would be pretty shitty, especially since the game was so short for its price.

 

[Lhynn]

It could be that Ubisoft wanted stuff to flog as DLC. I wouldn't mind if they were actually expansion sized, but one or two areas just thrown it would be pretty shitty, especially since the game was so short for its price.

What do you mean too short for its price?

 

[Azazel]

I've completed the game twice now (only finding one bug - character sometimes flickers in and out during cutscenes, nothing like the bugs Shitaku and other sites reported) and it does feel like big chunks were taken out.

That's the only bug I encountered as well, and can be attributed to the renderer basically being flash and struggling with the variability of the character layer i'd guess.

 

[Duraframe300]

I'm glad I vented at least.

In the end, bad (as well as good) publisher based decision changes happen through the entirty of game development. And since its THEIR money the publisher certainly has the right to influence design, regardless of the outcome.

Thankfully now that we have alternate venues like Kickstarter I can be excited for pillars of eternity showing off Obsidian's chops and just be glad South Park and other games still release and the quality, despite shortcomings, still shines through.