Turn-Based Tactics The Lamplighters League - turn-based tactics in pulp 1930s setting from Harebrained Schemes

[deuxhero]

The real problem with the artstyle emerges when looking at the screenshots on the Steam page:

The point of having such exaggerated/stylized characters is so they are identifiable at a glance, regardless of lighting or angle, which is good for gameplay and free camera movement. This fails at that basic part as multiple characters are concealed by long coats or fall into the same "buff" frame. It would be one thing if the cast were dozens, but we've seen only a single digit number and they still blend together.

 

[darkpatriot]

There are not words that can adequately describe how much I despise tactical games with set pre-made characters.

 

[deuxhero]

There are not words that can adequately describe how much I despise tactical games with set pre-made characters.

Maybe could say your feelings about them are Jagged?

 

[darkpatriot]

There are not words that can adequately describe how much I despise tactical games with set pre-made characters.

Maybe could say your feelings about them are Jagged?

That is one reason I have never played those games.

 

[Cross]

The real problem with the artstyle emerges when looking at the screenshots on the Steam page:

The point of having such exaggerated/stylized characters is so they are identifiable at a glance, regardless of lighting or angle, which is good for gameplay and free camera movement. This fails at that basic part as multiple characters are concealed by long coats or fall into the same "buff" frame. It would be one thing if the cast were dozens, but we've seen only a single digit number and they still blend together.

You're assuming their goal was deliberate stylization to serve a gameplay purpose. That particular style of character design - let's call it the Fortnite style - has become a sort of default style for character design used by many games, regardless of whether it fits with the game in question or not.

Speaking of hideous things, that consolized interface looks atrocious.

 

[Silva]

The real problem with the artstyle emerges when looking at the screenshots on the Steam page:

The point of having such exaggerated/stylized characters is so they are identifiable at a glance, regardless of lighting or angle, which is good for gameplay and free camera movement. This fails at that basic part as multiple characters are concealed by long coats or fall into the same "buff" frame. It would be one thing if the cast were dozens, but we've seen only a single digit number and they still blend together.

Now that you mention it, I find the characters pretty easy to distinguish in this artstyle - one is skinny with white jacket, the other is a blondie in blue, another is a buff in brown, etc. So I guess it actually succeeded for me in the goal you explain.

My problem is that I dislike those portraits, as they seem to lack personality.

 

[Wunderbar]

After watching the trailer:

i did not expect 'saturday morning indiana jones xcom' and i can't say i'm entirely uninterested

More like DreamWorks Indiana Jones XCOM, surely: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DreamworksFace

 

[InD_ImaginE]

Eh, I would rather if they take the subject more seriously but this kinda of lighthearted romp is OK. I enjoyed Renowned Explorer (great game btw) and if this can be as fun as that then I am game.

 

[holla_cabezas_de_mierda]

The real problem with the artstyle emerges when looking at the screenshots on the Steam page:

The point of having such exaggerated/stylized characters is so they are identifiable at a glance, regardless of lighting or angle, which is good for gameplay and free camera movement. This fails at that basic part as multiple characters are concealed by long coats or fall into the same "buff" frame. It would be one thing if the cast were dozens, but we've seen only a single digit number and they still blend together.

You're assuming their goal was deliberate stylization to serve a gameplay purpose. That particular style of character design - let's call it the Fortnite style - has become a sort of default style for character design used by many games, regardless of whether it fits with the game in question or not.

Speaking of hideous things, that consolized interface looks atrocious.

its a globohomo art style

 

[Heroic Liberator]

I enjoyed Renowned Explorer (great game btw) and if this can be as fun as that then I am game.

In that case, you might also enjoy


(Also has a sequel, but that one doesn't have the same sort of charm.)

 

[ropetight]

That art style, just why? Why does every new game have that bland, featureless art style that looks like it's deliberately avoiding any sense of originality? Is there a manual for developers somewhere out there that prohibits them from designing good looking games, or is it that all young designers lack the know-how? I'm really curious.

It can't be THAT hard to design something like this (even if 3d).

I guess it is easier and cheaper?
Or maybe it just product of generation that grew up on WoW and CalArt cartoons.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

The overall idea I like a lot, the game looks absolutely horrible.

Seems like a higher budget Pathway, pretty much.

 

[Cyberarmy]

It can't be THAT hard to design something like this (even if 3d).

is dead, we need to accept this truth...

 

[Hellraiser]

Who even trusts these guys to deliver after Battletech?

 

[JarlFrank]

Lol, the diversity of the crew has reached new limits. Looks like you get a tranny in there even.

Nothing screams 1930s pulp adventure like troons

 

[ArchAngel]

I don't know, to me this looks like it might be fun. Kind of reminds me of Wasteland 3 combat which was good enough.

 

[Roguey]

Nothing screams 1930s pulp adventure like troons

Well there is precedent...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_and_the_Pirates#Characters_and_story

Caniff included a number of non-American female antagonists, all of whom referred to themselves in the third person. These included the Dragon Lady and crooks and spies like Sanjak and Rouge. In a rather bold move for a 1940s comic strip, Sanjak was hinted at being a lesbian cross-dresser with designs on Terry's girlfriend April Kane. Caniff purportedly named the character after an island next to the isle of Lesbos.

 

[Alienman]

Lol, the diversity of the crew has reached new limits. Looks like you get a tranny in there even.

Nothing screams 1930s pulp adventure like troons

Since Infinitron "citation needed" me.

I honestly can't tell. Looks like a bearded female, but I guess it could be a male, considering the body. But then you have the hair, it looks like it has the hair in a bun in a typical Asian style. You decide.

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

In the current year it's definitely option #1.

Hard pass.

 

[Infinitron]

Jianyi appears to be a masculine Chinese name.

 

[Ghulgothas]

Their stylization for the characters would be that much more palatable if they just made the eyes smaller.

 

[Delterius]

07/03/2023: its page 3 and the rpg codex has begun the transvestigation of our dreamworks art style. the marketing department was right. everything is going according to plan.

 

[ArchAngel]

Lol, the diversity of the crew has reached new limits. Looks like you get a tranny in there even.

Nothing screams 1930s pulp adventure like troons

Since Infinitron "citation needed" me.

I honestly can't tell. Looks like a bearded female, but I guess it could be a male, considering the body. But then you have the hair, it looks like it has the hair in a bun in a typical Asian style. You decide.

Probably based on modern south Korean males that look more like females.

 

[Zanthia]

That character is obviously a man, I can't believe it's even being discussed.

The setting looks fun but I'd like to see more than 2 seconds of gameplay at a time.

 

[HoboForEternity]

Is it turn based?

It seem to be turn based yay