Game News Tyranny Dev Diary #1: The Vision for Tyranny

[Kaivokz]

It's RTwP which is very bad.

I must be one of the few who really enjoy RTwP (with auto-pause) as a nice blend of real-time tactics and turn-based tactics. Not that I want to see it everywhere; I voted for TToN to be TB, and I love everything from AoD/Underrail/NuShadowrun to Fire Emblem/Langrisser/Shining Force to Wizardy/traditional JRPGs. It's nice to have a bit of variety, though, so I'm glad PoE and Tyranny are using RTwP systems.

Anyway, cautiously optimistic.

What fun is life if you don't let pretty things excite you every now and then? As with all pretty things, just prepare to be jilted.

 

[MRY]

With Tyranny we wanted to create a more nuanced evil.

I will be the dissenting voice and say that this is a step in the wrong direction. When the premise of the story is that you are fighting against evil, then making evil "more nuanced" enriches the story. When the premise of the story is that you are fighting for evil, then making evil "more nuanced" dilutes the story. "It turns out the bad guys just had their own unique belief system and were tired of being systematically slaughtered by the good guys. Was the evil overlord overzealous? Perhaps -- revolutionary leaders are wont to be. But don't forget that the good guys were themselves religious bigots and cultural imperialists -- in the end, they had to be cast down, even if the means here were perhaps a little extreme. But you can temper that by being the moderate and ushering in a golden post-revolutionary era!" Oops, it turns out that playing as the bad guy is just playing as the deconstructionist good guy. :/

 

[Infinitron]

Oops, it turns out that playing as the bad guy is just playing as the deconstructionist good guy. :/

He's probably not that nuanced.

 

[Vault Dweller]

On the contrary, I think the issue is that there are too many details, but not satisfying details.

See, they have to explain how this isn't your typical fantasy RPG. So they drop all these overarching lore details. Kyros, Archons, Fatebinders.

More like these are either extremely vague or pointless details due to the lack of any context, hence the "ruling nations with necromancy" references. I understand it's too early to get into specifics, but they need to *balance* the info a bit. Lore alone doesn't mean shit (see Pillars with rich lore which was presented in the worst possible way in-game).

On one hand, you get to play a prefect, which is a fantastic idea. Bonus points if you get to crucify a local Jesus for shit-disturbing. On the other hand, this:

...which is generic as fuck action RPG. So am I a fucking prefect, a man/woman/tranny who shapes nations, or a generic hero who runs around in the wilderness killing things? Cause these are two very different concepts and if it's the latter, it doesn't matter what your title is. Personally, I hope that this screen has nothing to do with the game and shows special effects and pretty colors. Still, it's there and a dialogue screen isn't (and don't tell they don't have dialogues yet).

 

[MRY]

So am I a fucking prefect, a man/woman/tranny who shapes nations, or a generic hero who runs around in the wilderness killing things?

In the apocryphal Acts of Pilate in the Gospel of Nicodemus, Pontius Pilate shoots fire arrows during the Harrowing of Hell.

 

[Trashos]

With Tyranny we wanted to create a more nuanced evil.

I will be the dissenting voice and say that this is a step in the wrong direction. When the premise of the story is that you are fighting against evil, then making evil "more nuanced" enriches the story. When the premise of the story is that you are fighting for evil, then making evil "more nuanced" dilutes the story. "It turns out the bad guys just had their own unique belief system and were tired of being systematically slaughtered by the good guys. Was the evil overlord overzealous? Perhaps -- revolutionary leaders are wont to be. But don't forget that the good guys were themselves religious bigots and cultural imperialists -- in the end, they had to be cast down, even if the means here were perhaps a little extreme. But you can temper that by being the moderate and ushering in a golden post-revolutionary era!" Oops, it turns out that playing as the bad guy is just playing as the deconstructionist good guy. :/

My understanding (which could well be wrong) is that "evil" is mainly a marketing ploy. At the same time, it communicates the message "hey, don't expect to play a conventional type of hero here", which is probably accurate. Also, the "evil" marketing allows them to dismiss the SJW complaints that were bound to appear otherwise.

On these grounds, I don't mind the "nuanced" part at all.

 

[Roguey]

The big question: will Tyranny be a Roguey Playing Game where you have to decide whether or not to violate the privacy of an unhinged hypocrite?

 

[Trashos]

More like these are either extremely vague or pointless details due to the lack of any context, hence the "ruling nations with necromancy" references. I understand it's too early to get into specifics, but they need to *balance* the info a bit. Lore alone doesn't mean shit (see Pillars with rich lore which was presented in the worst possible way in-game).

On one hand, you get to play a prefect, which is a fantastic idea. Bonus points if you get to crucify a local Jesus for shit-disturbing. On the other hand, this:

...which is generic as fuck action RPG. So am I a fucking prefect, a man/woman/tranny who shapes nations, or a generic hero who runs around in the wilderness killing things? Cause these are two very different concepts and if it's the latter, it doesn't matter what your title is. Personally, I hope that this screen has nothing to do with the game and shows special effects and pretty colors. Still, it's there and a dialogue screen isn't (and don't tell they don't have dialogues yet).

Well, they are a large company and they are probably hoping to improve on PoE numbers. So I don't think there is much chance that they take their material very seriously, even if parts of it sound good on paper.

But you know all that much better than I do.

 

[Infinitron]

On the other hand, this:

...which is generic as fuck action RPG. So am I a fucking prefect, a man/woman/tranny who shapes nations, or a generic hero who runs around in the wilderness killing things?

Yes, I understand that you're stressed out by this combat stuff, but I don't think it explains most people's lack of enthusiasm with this game ATM. Nobody gives a shit about the seven measly screenshots they have on their site. It's all about videos these days, people are waiting for a gameplay video.

But eh, just my opinion, maybe I'm wrong. *shrug*

 

[Trashos]

Yes, I understand that you're stressed out by this combat stuff, but I don't think it explains most people's lack of enthusiasm with this game ATM. Nobody gives a shit about the five measly screenshots they have on their site. It's all about videos these days, people are waiting for a gameplay video.

But eh, just my opinion, maybe I'm wrong. *shrug*

If the advertised "streamlined combat" doesn't justify a Codexer's lack of enthusiasm, nothing will.

 

[MRY]

If the advertised "streamlined combat" doesn't justify a Codexer's lack of enthusiasm, nothing will.

King of Dragon Pass has very streamlined combat!

 

[ZagorTeNej]

PoE still has a ton of bugs.

Best of both worlds then.

 

[Athelas]

Anyway, cautiously optimistic.

Get hyped:

 

[Infinitron]

Somebody should ask MCA if the "companion combos" were his idea/inspired by Chrono Trigger.

 

[badler]

Somebody should ask MCA if the "companion combos" were his idea/inspired by Chrono Trigger.

If I remember correctly they were Brian's idea.

 

[Infinitron]

Somebody should ask MCA if the "companion combos" were his idea/inspired by Chrono Trigger.

If I remember correctly they were Brian's idea.

Hey, Brandon. Is there anything Obsidian at PAX this weekend?

 

[Kron]

 

[Bubbles]

The PAX East exhibitor list is here.

 

[badler]

Somebody should ask MCA if the "companion combos" were his idea/inspired by Chrono Trigger.

If I remember correctly they were Brian's idea.

Hey, Brandon. Is there anything Obsidian at PAX this weekend?

I don't think so. Definitely not anything for Pillars.

 

[CRD]

I'm starting to get excited by those words stating that we will not get punished for choosing the not extremely clear good path that it is obvious the dev want you to choose and if you don't then a punishment comes.

The most ridiculous thing however, is that almost 99% of "good choices", are just retarded choices that no one would do it in that kind of situations on real life and they end breaking all the lore and immersion of the game.

 

[Fairfax]

It's RTwP which is very bad.

RTwP is inherently bad now?

 

[Ellef]

Yes.

 

[Excidium II]

Now?

 

[Ninjerk]

Joined: Jun 17, 2015

 

[xxxCatholicKillahxxx]

We didn’t want you to be the ‘errand girl of Evil’.

Fed-ex witch quest set in a small town in Scandinavia.

In our next update, I’ll provide some details about some of the basic game systems.

Splendid.

But at least that tells us the game definitely isn't coming out until the second half of the year.

Whatever happens November is a good month to release Tyranny.