Tyranny + Bastard's Wound Expansion Thread

[axedice]

Haba Holy red drapes, Fatebinder!

Urthor I was just operating off of their continual description of the game as Bronze Age. For example: "I’ll talk about setting the game at the end of the Bronze Age, and how we reinforced that in our items and lore." Or this one, re: Homeric glory: "Bronze Age warfare was more up-close and brutal." I can't tell whether "It's obviously not Bronze Age" is meant as a defense of the game or as a criticism of it, but I'm quite certain they claimed they were trying to depict the age. It's like if you told me that evil didn't actually win ....

The settings only diffrence from PoE is, there are no slow but heavy hitting guns in the game. So no one-shotting enemies with a band of 6 musketeers. All of that bronze age is bullshit is just an enabler for "iron is a valuable resource, who stole mah iron shipment!" quests. I imagined they would angle the bronze age collapse with mass produced iron vs. hard to get bronze etc, but Kyros is just a god razing anything on xer path so tech/migration/draught etc. play no role at all. Oh and the setting is more socially progressed than pillars too. Womyn serve as army officals everywhere since you know, in Bronze Age™ patriarchy did not exist.

Other than the SJW agenda that really feels out of place at times, the game has decent writing and more replayability than I expected. Companions are not as bland as PoE either. Combat is okayish with a lot less trash, I liked the spell creation system and the story is so far so good (act 2). I'll definitely replay the game with the Vendrien path if act3 is not a total fuck-up.

 

[Ivan]

-3d models in place of portraits suck. sometimes goofy. I would have preferred 2 or 3 portraits that expressed a mood

 

[Israfael]

Your authority comes from those two Archons recognizing Turon, Archon of Justice being a formidable enemy and having backing of Kyros.

It'd be true if it were a sort of feudal system (and it's not, if it's true Antiquity kind of society, a sort of 'legit' despotism). By carrying and reading Kyros' edict, you are effectively HIS representative, regardless with who is your direct boss. You were entrusted with the words (and substantial part of power) of the supreme leader, so they can't disobey, even if your rank is lower than theirs. In Soviet times, 'mere' Front Commissars had more power than Army commanders/Field Marshals whom they could execute at any time for any reason.

 

[ArchAngel]

Your authority comes from those two Archons recognizing Turon, Archon of Justice being a formidable enemy and having backing of Kyros.

It'd be true if it were a sort of feudal system (and it's not, if it's true Antiquity kind of society, a sort of 'legit' despotism). By carrying and reading Kyros' edict, you are effectively HIS representative, regardless with who is your direct boss. You were entrusted with the words (and substantial part of power) of the supreme leader, so they can't disobey, even if your rank is lower than theirs. In Soviet times, 'mere' Front Commissars had more power than Army commanders/Field Marshals whom they could execute at any time for any reason.

Except this is not Soviet or 20th century.

You got that Edict from Turon. You work for Turon while everyone works for Kyros. Or they pretend they do. You will also die from the Edict in Act 1, you are just as expandable as the rest.

 

[Metal Hurlant]

I'm surprised quite a few people are saying the combat is worse than Pillars.

 

[Commissar Draco]

Were not those who collapsed Bronze age Empires and city states just savage and mumerous tribes with Iron weapons like Doric Greeks and Hebrews (Crimson Horus when you think of it)? Now we Have god like powerful Kaisar sorry Kyros with his professional legions, complicated bureaucracy, legal codes and even proto feudal system instead. Tactical Magic Nuke edicts on top of it all are fracking overkill as its explained in game bronze age states could muster armies in hundreds or thousands in best scenario while big K can throw iron clad legion and ten thousands strong hordes at enemy and coordinate them all while his enemies are too stupid to unite.

 

[Delterius]

It's like if you told me that evil didn't actually win ....

Haven't played the game, but I think you just hit the mark there. Consider the initial answer to your question. There's magic in this setting and certain characters have the power to level entire cities. Individuals can trump whole armies in Tyranny, despite the idea that how one raises and equips said armies should matter in this world. From the sound of it, the setting is about as Bronze Age as World of Warcraft. It is as if somebody fell in love with a concept but forgot to consider all the ways it should impact the history and nature of the new world.

 

[Sensuki]

-3d models in place of portraits suck. sometimes goofy. I would have preferred 2 or 3 portraits that expressed a mood

Cost-saving measure.

 

[SausageInYourFace]

Is having several different 3D models really cheaper than having a bunch of additional portraits?

World of Xeen had a whole number of different portraits with several expressions for many character states. Probably different kind of quality from whats expected today, but still. Just having the normal portrait instead of the 3D model still would've sucked less, its a strange disconnect between what the model looks like and what the portraits looks like.

 

[Delterius]

Of course, animating a 3D model is cheaper than a corresponding 2D portrait.

 

[Infinitron]

Considering how much they copied from Planescape: Torment - from the style of player-initiated dialogue, to the detailed descriptions in conversations - I don't think that's it. Rather, I think it's just a lack of experience or skill.

Actually, it's a lack of content. PoE companions don't have huge lore dumps at all (except ironically Avellone's, even with the forced staggering). They don't have a lot to do or say in the game, period. I don't know what "pages and pages of characters talking about themselves" you're talking about.

 

[Lilura]

This is even better than Siege of Dragonspear (hah). Pathfinding is occasionally glitchy and load times can be long without an SSD. Combat is smooth and feels pretty right already, though there are a couple of visual bugs that manifest under certain situations. Itemization is too generous, especially in regard to consumables. Interaction checks are too EZ to meet. I'm playing on Hard and it's a cakewalk so far. But it's fun.

 

[Haba]

§Considering how much they copied from Planescape: Torment - from the style of player-initiated dialogue, to the detailed descriptions in conversations - I don't think that's it. Rather, I think it's just a lack of experience or skill. Anything Avellone wrote had better development, even in Pillars of Eternity, and I'm sure that had his characters not been cut down so much, we'd have seen a complete narrative along the lines of what he did before. The other character writers obviously aren't there yet, and here I'm not talking about basic writing skills, but rather character & story design, which is different from just being skilled at language use.

I will say I lost a lot of faith in the company when Avellone left, but I'm not without hope. However, what I think Obsidian needs to do is to change their direction. Without Avellone or a replacement for him, it doesn't make sense to continue selling your games on how deep the character interactions are. There are styles of CRPG design in which you don't need to have complex characters or development. However, such styles of CRPG design also favor less information dumps. I get very tired of reading pages and pages of characters talking about themselves when they obviously don't have enough to talk about, so they end up repeating the same shit over and over again.

I honestly think that Obsidian is wasting their resources with all the writing. In the end most of it doesn't support the game - and I am doubtful if people even read it.

And why should they? The player is soon conditioned into skimming through the conversation. All of the decisions are predefined, so it doesn't matter how well you understand the background. The game tells you the consequences beforehand, so you min max to get the best reputation gains. Player has no agency, the writing is just fluff to hide the wire-frames.

And it simply isn't possible to make the wrong choice, by design. The player can be completely ignorant, all that matters is that your character has enough athletics/lore/subterfuge to pass the skill check. You don't have to make tough decisions (or you just can't make them in the first place) and consider your options. What you have is what the writers wrote.

It is starting to be pretty clear that Obsidian is trying to make the wrong kind of game. They either don't have the resources or the talent to make this work, or their interest and passion itself isn't here. It kind of seems that they are just making the kind of game that is expected from "Obsidian".

You could streamline Tyranny into a fully realtime hack&slash Diablo clone and not much would change. In fact it would probably be better, at least people wouldn't come in to it with the wrong expectations.

 

[SausageInYourFace]

except ironically Avellone's

I often found it pretty telling that, considering how much Codex hates on loredumps, WOT's and gimmicky and edgy characters, St. MCA is actually the worst offender in PoE when it comes to this. Go figure.

 

[CyberWhale]

Loredumps can be interesting when they are properly integrated into the plot/character and have quality writing. Example: Dak'kon.
Tyranny, unfortunately, doesn't come even close to it.

 

[SausageInYourFace]

The player is soon conditioned into skimming through the conversation. All of the decisions are predefined, so it doesn't matter how well you understand the background. The game tells you the consequences beforehand, so you min max to get the best reputation gains. Player has no agency, the writing is just fluff to hide the wire-frames.

And it simply isn't possible to make the wrong choice, by design. The player can be completely ignorant, all that matters is that your character has enough athletics/lore/subterfuge to pass the skill check. You don't have to make tough decisions (or you just can't make them in the first place) and consider your options.

What the fuck are you even babbling about there, the game is full of branching paths, consequences and different outcomes. Just two pages or so earlier in the thread someone asked how to beat a fight because he had problems since a crucial companion had left his party.

 

[veevoir]

Y'all got really hooked up on the bronze age thing. It is obvious this is as much as bronze age related as something that is "inspired by X". Even judging by dev interviews it is retarded to expect this will be bronze age setting.. or even something remotely close to AoD - except for animated AoD menu screen. Also heavy magic inclusion.

So stop sperging and whining how your fanfic headcanon about game lore and setting is not reality.
Instead get back to properly pointing out how the game is bad.

 

[Haba]

except ironically Avellone's

I often found it pretty telling that, considering how much Codex hates on loredumps, WOT's and gimmicky and edgy characters, St. MCA is actually the worst offender in PoE when it comes to this. Go figure.

Well, both Durance and Grieving Mother made a good first impression that left you wanting to learn more. That alone can carry you far.

What the fuck are you even babbling about there, the game is full of branching paths, consequences and different outcomes. Just two pages or so earlier in the thread someone asked how to beat a fight because he had problems since a crucial companion had left his party.

Sure, you can tell a few of your party NPCs to leave and you can even kill a couple of them. But you can also tell that same NPC to stay and he will stay, no matter what choice you make. He is a literal punching bag that will do whatever you order him to do, even kill his father-figure.

Do a second playthrough or try different choices in general. You'll find that nothing really changes. You still go to the same places and do pretty much the same things. Only the mooks you kill change. There are three linear routes in the story, and you can branch out to a fourth linear route during them. All of them end up in the same place.

Hell, you can max out fear AND loyalty during the same play-through. Nothing you do comes to bite you in the ass later, 'cept gating some rewards. The biggest choice you can make is your character build and the consequence is easier or more tedious fights.

 

[rezaf]

I dunno if it's just me, but compared with PoE, there seem to be pretty few opportunities to change the course of conversations with skill checks, or am I just missing something?
You get the occasional option which will allow you to get 15% of a positive step when the next hardcoded sequence will give you two full negative steps and put you at hostile with the faction.
In a walkthrough I read I was supposed to be able to talk the dude at the crossing into letting me pass if I promised to behave well, but I didn't get the option (maybe because of choices made in the prequel?). By and large, I had almost everyone go to wrath, even if you try to act in "proper" character this can often cause problems.
Then again, I don't understand the reasoning behind being able to become best bro and worst enemy at the same time anyway.

My relation with the Disfavored and their leader was very good, lvl0 wrath until ...

Spoiler

I killed his daughter and the baby.

At least having that choice, especially the latter part, was a surprise.

And all about you complaining about gender equality crap in this game, I hope you play the quest in which you get to see how a same gender marriage inevitably will end... :p

 

[made]

Played a bit over the weekend. Intriguing premise but the combat seems even more tedious than POE. If I wanted to watch cooldowns slowly tick down I'd sit down in front of my washing machine.

 

[Haba]

I dunno if it's just me, but compared with PoE, there seem to be pretty few opportunities to change the course of conversations with skill checks, or am I just missing something?

Some parts are broken as hell and gated due to the conquest choices. You shouldn't be able to go there that early in the game, nor should you be able to enter the oldwalls there that early. But choices are hardcoded and linear. At most you'll be able to avoid some fights.

And all about you complaining about gender equality crap in this game, I hope you play the quest in which you get to see how a same gender marriage inevitably will end... :p

Or the beastwoman who tells that you "smell like an ALPHA" and who wants to mate with you after you beat her up.

 

[Roguey]

Critpath related parts are well-done (especially The Voices of Nerat dialogue) but almost everything else is unbelievably terrible.

Proven-writers Matt MacLean and Paul Kirsch do a good job while Robert Land and Kathryn Starks with all their :incloosive:ness fail? That certainly meets expectations.

 

[Stompa]

Spoiler

Both choices lead to a fight at this point.

 

[veevoir]

They like you, but not that much apparently.

 

[warpig]

I tried playing it, kind of boring. Maybe the game gets more interesting later but I'm really put off by the story and setting. Everything is so "meh" and seems like something made to appeal to a grown up WoW fan manchild who is a big boy now and has the mood for more grimdark, serious stuff xD Same with graphics and music -> basic bitch af.