Tyranny Pre-Release Thread

[One-and-a-half-Ivan]

It doesn't seem like it's going to be diablo-like. Unless they mean 'classic combat' in a very broad sense.
>Challenging, classic RPG combat with modern mechanics and presentation

 

[Dorateen]

Seven Dragon Saga will be better.

 

[Theldaran]

Yeah, I'm also rooting for Seven Dragon Saga. Let new companies test their mettle. Obsidian-Black Isle was once a newbie, too.

 

[Zombra]

I wonder how they're going to explain why you will presumably start out at level 1.

What does "level 1" even mean? I can't imagine you're going to start the game fighting rats and pygmies. It's OK to start an RPG as a bad ass dude fighting other bad ass dudes, and then get even tougher.

Another thing it probably has going for it is that there will have been no fulfilling of kickstarter goals to mess up the schedule

Not to mention the millstone of backer content that hung so heavily around POE's neck.

 

[Excidium II]

I wonder how they're going to explain why you will presumably start out at level 1.

What does "level 1" even mean? I can't imagine you're going to start the game fighting rats and pygmies. It's OK to start an RPG as a bad ass dude fighting other bad ass dudes, and then get even tougher.

But how badass will it be in practice? CRPG devs have a tendency to stick to a 'from zero to hero' model.

It's rather stupid if you're still a dude with one ability and weak starter equipment in the beginning with room to grow exponentially in every mechanical way while also already being portrayed as a major rank guy in the narrative.

 

[Zombra]

Eh. To use an obvious example, my PC felt reasonably strong and interesting at the beginning of POE. I don't see why they couldn't hit that bar again.

 

[vonAchdorf]

You are not the dark lord.

"You are the judge and executioner of Kyros’ law, acting under the watchful eye of the Overlords Archon of Justice, Tunon the Adjudicator"

You are the school bully who collects lunch money from nerds and threatens to beat em if they don't follow

Called Cecil?

 

[Excidium II]

Eh. To use an obvious example, my PC felt reasonably strong and interesting at the beginning of POE. I don't see why they couldn't hit that bar again.

Felt reasonable considering the PC led a very lowkey life up to that point.

 

[Theldaran]

You know, RPGs are founded on the assumption of character growth and development. If they're gonna use a flat growth curve, why make it a RPG in the first place?

 

[Excidium II]

You know, RPGs are founded on the assumption of character growth and development. If they're gonna use a flat growth curve, why make it a RPG in the first place?

Bullshit, lies, also: moran.

 

[Zombra]

You know, RPGs are founded on the assumption of character growth and development. If they're gonna use a flat growth curve, why make it a RPG in the first place?

Who said it would be flat? You might start out punching dissident citizens and end the game riding an exploding dragon into the heart of the father of all gods. We don't know yet.

Eh. To use an obvious example, my PC felt reasonably strong and interesting at the beginning of POE. I don't see why they couldn't hit that bar again.

Felt reasonable considering the PC led a very lowkey life up to that point.

Nah, but I didn't feel like a rat-puncher. I didn't feel like a renowned hero either, but they hit the spot where the PC's power level seemed appropriate to his place in the world. Unless Obsidian's writing gets actively worse, they will be able to do the same thing in Tyranny.

 

[Excidium II]

It won't be flat.

 

[Theldaran]

You think it will be that long, to portray such an advancement in power? Also, consider DLC and after-release tweaking.

 

[Excidium II]

If CRPG players don't hear a level up ding every few hours they get antsy.

 

[Beastro]

That map looks like a shit world, the fact it's small makes it shittier.

I bet it was Sawyer who added the Literacy rating and stuff, all the unimportant information that distracts people from being immersed into a world.

 

[Excidium II]

That map looks like a shit world, the fact it's small makes it shittier.

It looks like

I bet it was Sawyer who added the Literacy rating and stuff, all the unimportant information that distracts people from being immersed into a world.

Sawyer is not in this project.

 

[Zombra]

You think it will be that long, to portray such an advancement in power?

So wait, you're saying if it's a shorter RPG, there won't be enough time for a reasonably steep power curve, so better cancel it? Therefore very long RPGs are the only ones worthwhile to make?

 

[Theldaran]

Yes, yes it does look like DAO's map. But that was hugely successful wasn't it?

 

[Excidium II]

You think it will be that long, to portray such an advancement in power?

So wait, you're saying if it's a shorter RPG, there won't be enough time for a reasonably steep power curve, so better cancel it? Therefore very long RPGs are the only ones worthwhile to make?

I'd say a short CRPG would be a great opportunity to have a flatter power curve. Not that current crop of CRPG devs will ever do it.

 

[Theldaran]

So wait, you're saying if it's a shorter RPG, there won't be enough time for a reasonably steep power curve, so better cancel it? Therefore very long RPGs are the only ones worthwhile to make?

No, I'm tired of making games long for the sake of it.

If it's short, there won't be much progression, but that is that. We still don't know how the PC will be handled, but as with other Obsidian games, it seems like they're biting more that they can chew.

 

[Excidium II]

No, I'm tired of making games long for the sake of it.

It seems developers are too, going by the Fenstermaker's Folly interview. But most players have associated RPGs with 60h+ epic adventures.

 

[Theldaran]

A 60-hour game is only good if you love it. If not, it's near to torture.

 

[Zombra]

No, I'm tired of making games long for the sake of it.

Let me see if I can pull it all together.

* Flat power curves are bad
* Long RPGs are bad
* Short RPGs have flat power curves
= All RPGs are bad.

Welcome to the Codex Theldaran.

 

[Excidium II]

A 60-hour game is only good if you love it. If not, it's near to torture.

Even if you love it, it starts to wear down after some point. I'd rather be left wanting more than being happy it's finally done with.

 

[Infinitron]

Anthony Davis reveals the names of some Tyranny team members:

A few of the programmers rotated off of PoE on to this. Tim Cain, as was already pointed out. Dan Spitzley too.

Brian Heins is the Project Director.
Matt Singh is the Lead Producer.

Matt MacLean is on it - I believe as a senior writer (maybe the lead? not sure).

Constant Gaw is on the team - senior or lead level designer maybe? Not sure.

Brian Menze is the Lead Artist.