The Broken Hourglass - Death and Stagnation

[Elwro]

Tags: The Broken Hourglass

Don't mourn, the project isn't dead. The authors offer us a new <A HREF="http://www.planewalkergames.com/content/view/109/1/">piece of lore</A>, this time concerning two gods: Arithaan, the god of knowledge and Uulix, the god of undeath and outcasts. Be sure to read the <A HREF="http://www.planewalkergames.com/content/view/109/1/">text</A> as the ideas are interesting:
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<blockquote>
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Now, it is important to understand that before the Sun and Moon began their chase across the sky, there was no time as we understand it. Things did not age, did not decay, did not change without the action of some outside influence. When the chase began, this all changed, and time ripped outward from the world like a wave. The other gods were unable to react before time enveloped them, but Arithaan was different. Perched upon the edge of creation, he was able to sense the disturbance that was the origin of time, and ward himself against it, calling up an impenetrable barrier around his realm.
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There he remained, for nothing could enter and nothing could leave so long as the barriers remained in place.
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</blockquote>
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He FIRST sensed the disturbance and THEN warded himself against it, so he has to have some notion of past and future, and yet (if I understand it) he's said to exist timelessly? Sorry, that's just the heretic in me speaking.
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<blockquote>
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Shortly after the gods were brought into being they were gathered before Fire and Water and asked to select an area of influence, one aspect of the world over which they would have complete dominion. Thieron went first, choosing wisdom, followed by Catho the peacemaker, the healer Lahan, and on and on until all the youngling gods had chosen-- save one. Uulix was last in line, and by the time they got to him there was nothing left to choose-- all that Fire and Water had offered was already taken. (...)
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So he stepped back and gazed upon creation, all that had been wrought both by his own creators and by his brother gods, for by now the Sun and Moon had left the world, and he laughed. For he saw what no one else had seen, what no one else had looked for-- the holes, the flaws, the places between and unintended consequences of the other gods' creation. These he took and gathered to himself.
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</blockquote>
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Spotted at: <A HREF="http://www.rpgwatch.com">RPG Watch</A>

 

[Spectacle]

He FIRST sensed the disturbance and THEN warded himself against it, so he has to have some notion of past and future, and yet (if I understand it) he's said to exist timelessly? Sorry, that's just the heretic in me speaking.

Burn him! Burn the heretic! Buuuurrrn!

Seriously, this project continues to excite me, I'm awaiting the final release with trepidation.

 

[Ismaul]

Meh. All this talk of illusionary gods leaves a bad tate in my mouth. Their stories are always the same, with bland descriptions of a history we really don't care about. The gods are always humanized, since we can't really conceive what it is to be a god, but the humanization is never taken far enough to be interesting, or is never shattered enough to give this sense of transcendance we expect from a god.

In other words, give me character or give me wonder, but don't let me wonder why this writing has no character. I hope the writing isn't as stale in the game.

 

[Sir_Brennus]

Don't mourn, the project isn't dead. The authors offer us a new <A HREF="http://www.planewalkergames.com/content/view/109/1/">piece of lore</A>, this time concerning two gods: Arithaan, the god of knowledge and Uulix, the god of undeath and outcasts. Be sure to read the <A HREF="http://www.planewalkergames.com/content/view/109/1/">text</A> as the ideas are interesting:
<blockquote>
Now, it is important to understand that before the Sun and Moon began their chase across the sky, there was no time as we understand it. Things did not age, did not decay, did not change without the action of some outside influence. When the chase began, this all changed, and time ripped outward from the world like a wave. The other gods were unable to react before time enveloped them, but Arithaan was different. Perched upon the edge of creation, he was able to sense the disturbance that was the origin of time, and ward himself against it, calling up an impenetrable barrier around his realm.

There he remained, for nothing could enter and nothing could leave so long as the barriers remained in place.
</blockquote>
He FIRST sensed the disturbance and THEN warded himself against it, so he has to have some notion of past and future, and yet (if I understand it) he's said to exist timelessly? Sorry, that's just the heretic in me speaking.
<blockquote>
Shortly after the gods were brought into being they were gathered before Fire and Water and asked to select an area of influence, one aspect of the world over which they would have complete dominion. Thieron went first, choosing wisdom, followed by Catho the peacemaker, the healer Lahan, and on and on until all the youngling gods had chosen-- save one. Uulix was last in line, and by the time they got to him there was nothing left to choose-- all that Fire and Water had offered was already taken. (...)

So he stepped back and gazed upon creation, all that had been wrought both by his own creators and by his brother gods, for by now the Sun and Moon had left the world, and he laughed. For he saw what no one else had seen, what no one else had looked for-- the holes, the flaws, the places between and unintended consequences of the other gods' creation. These he took and gathered to himself.
</blockquote>

Spotted at: <A HREF="http://www.rpgwatch.com">RPG Watch</A>

This game sounds so much more promising than most of the Indies, especially tripe like Eschalon. The only Indie game I look forward to (except AoD, of course).

 

[dagorkan]

This game sounds so much more promising than most of the Indies, especially tripe like Eschalon. The only Indie game I look forward to (except AoD, of course).

What's wrong with Eschalon?

Personally this game seems super gay to me for most of the same reasons Baldur's Gate/IE games do. The races, the schlock fantasy writing, the look, the combat.

 

[Serious_Business]

This game is being created by Baldur's Gate modders, isn't?

Technically those guys (Baldur's Gate modders) have done some impressive things because the infinity engine games aren't exactly the most easily modded out there, so I'll give them credit for that, and also for the fact that they are very perseverent so this project will probably come to conclusion.

On the other hand : NPC romances.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

You DARE to question the lore of our pharisees and elders, Elrwo? Poor soul, though there is redemption for your kind, you may find absolution only in death.

 

[aboyd]

This game sounds so much more promising than most of the Indies, especially tripe like Eschalon. The only Indie game I look forward to (except AoD, of course).

While I really do look foward to this game -- I think I wrote the first story about it here on the Codex, a couple of years ago -- I have to admit that I'm getting battle-weary. It has been a long time, and I don't see a firm release date on their site. Nor do they mention it in their interviews. They do lots of talking, lots of bloggy little essays, but no beta, no final candidate, no product in my hands.

Of course, there will be a product at some point. I'm not suggesting it's dead. I'm sure PWG is working hard on it. I just expected things to have progressed much further by now. At least we should have a few new gameplay videos. And with all the other good games getting out the door lately, I can't help but feel that Broken Hourglass is lagging.