Warhammer Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Pre-Release Thread [GAME RELEASED, GO TO NEW THREAD]

[Tyranicon]

Can anyone say more about what's off about the art style? I'm not a 40k guy. My impression of 40k is it's sci-fi but with a mash of gothic, theocratic, fascist-imperialist, and body horror themes, and the feel of the universe is much more tragic than comedic.

Owlcat made no deviations from their standard style (cartoonish, nu Blizzard-esque graphics) to match the grimdark of the 40k setting. There's a grittiness that the smooth, pristine style of Owlcat is impossible to convey. The sense that the setting you live in is old, decaying, that you are merely the latest generation of ag-world peasants striving to serve a humanity more vast than you can imagine.

Even a Rogue Trader, one of the most powerful class of individuals in the Imperium, will feel that insignificance.

Ironically old Blizzard (Diablo I + II especially) had that grittiness.

Take a look at the Rouge Trader screenshots and at something like Dark Tide which imo nails that aesthetic.

And now look at the glorious art:

 

[notpl]

Can anyone say more about what's off about the art style? I'm not a 40k guy. My impression of 40k is it's sci-fi but with a mash of gothic, theocratic, fascist-imperialist, and body horror themes, and the feel of the universe is much more tragic than comedic.

The feel is very much supposed to be black comedy and half the fun is seeing fans miss the point a la villenauve's Starship Troopers

 

[lightbane]

Characters seem to have lots of HP compared to the pnp version where getting up to 20 Wounds was a major achievement (for reference, weapons could do 1d10+5 as an average, thus making armor and Toughness very important). I'm waiting for someone to tell how exactly the space combat is compared to the pnp.

Shame the level-up mechanics are not the same as the pnp, which were simply but functional (you increased your "career" level by unlocking new skills, improving stats, improving current skills, getting Talents/special abilities ala Feats, and someitme sgetting into a new class/career). Here though it seems they're more elaborate.

I'm hoping it also has tons of cybernetics and gear porn as the pnp did (with some game changers such as a bionic that prevented you from being Stunned, which you could theoretically get right at the start of the game).

 

[Sordid MCA/Prosper Hybryd]

I kinda like music.

As for the rest... very conventional. It might turn out good. It might turn out boring.

 

[Johnny Biggums]

Can anyone say more about what's off about the art style? I'm not a 40k guy. My impression of 40k is it's sci-fi but with a mash of gothic, theocratic, fascist-imperialist, and body horror themes, and the feel of the universe is much more tragic than comedic.

The feel is very much supposed to be black comedy and half the fun is seeing fans miss the point a la villenauve's Starship Troopers

I can see an argument that it's so grimdark it crosses over to camp, but this seems separate from whether or not Owlcat is hitting the tone.

 

[hivemind]

Even a Rogue Trader, one of the most powerful class of individuals in the Imperium, will feel that insignificance.

Respectfully disagree.

 

[hivemind]

Characters seem to have lots of HP compared to the pnp version where getting up to 20 Wounds was a major achievement (for reference, weapons could do 1d10+5 as an average, thus making armor and Toughness very important). I'm waiting for someone to tell how exactly the space combat is compared to the pnp.

Shame the level-up mechanics are not the same as the pnp, which were simply but functional (you increased your "career" level by unlocking new skills, improving stats, improving current skills, getting Talents/special abilities ala Feats, and someitme sgetting into a new class/career). Here though it seems they're more elaborate.

I'm hoping it also has tons of cybernetics and gear porn as the pnp did (with some game changers such as a bionic that prevented you from being Stunned, which you could theoretically get right at the start of the game).

We NEEEEEEED the lifepath character creation.

 

[Lorebrok]

They can't fuck this up.

Sure they can

and they will

yeah I have a similiar feeling but my copium levels are increasing. Id be curious to know which Dev team you think would be an appropriate choice for a 40k crpg.

[...]

Solasta ruined the no (or limited) verticality for me. Some might say it's just a gimmick, but after I played with toons flying around and climbing on walls it feels like obvious decline to not have that and be iteratively improving on it within the genre (particularly in the weightless vacuum of outer space). To be fair, there are set pieces in BG3 where vertical ideas and options are well done.

Yes, Solastas verticality was absolutely decline but mostly thanks to it looking like a clusterfuck when everyone is flying and climbing on walls. I admit it was refreshing to see spiders climb walls because so few games actually work with verticality.

Enemies seem to be able to walk away from close combat range with impunity

According to Mortismal there are AoOs?

On a side note, what you guys think about MortismalGaming? Seems to be pretty hardcore and allegedeley 100%ing all his games which is an insane time sink but it also comes with knowledge. Some of his reviews or impressions I find to be too general and unspecific, too nice. Otherwise, great voice and churning out content left and right. Seems to have a good taste mostly aswell.

Can anyone say more about what's off about the art style? I'm not a 40k guy. My impression of 40k is it's sci-fi but with a mash of gothic, theocratic, fascist-imperialist, and body horror themes, and the feel of the universe is much more tragic than comedic.

Owlcat made no deviations from their standard style (cartoonish, nu Blizzard-esque graphics) to match the grimdark of the 40k setting. There's a grittiness that the smooth, pristine style of Owlcat is impossible to convey. The sense that the setting you live in is old, decaying, that you are merely the latest generation of ag-world peasants striving to serve a humanity more vast than you can imagine.

Even a Rogue Trader, one of the most powerful class of individuals in the Imperium, will feel that insignificance.

Ironically old Blizzard (Diablo I + II especially) had that grittiness.

Take a look at the Rouge Trader screenshots and at something like Dark Tide which imo nails that aesthetic.

[...]

Again, Ddrktide really captured a part of the essence and owlcats smooth graphic style cant convey it properly no matter what they do, 100% with you on this, especially the part of blizzards diablo 1 grittiness. I honestly couldnt really nail it down to what makes a game feel that way but when it does, its just pure joy.

 

[Grunker]

Like many other niche youtubers, Mortismal is a good source for detailed information but not for critical views or analysis IMO. Certainly better than Fextralife, lol

 

[Tyranicon]

Even a Rogue Trader, one of the most powerful class of individuals in the Imperium, will feel that insignificance.

Respectfully disagree.

So I suppose what I'm talking about here is that while the Player Character may have an inflated (or in some cases, realistic) view of their significance, the player does not.

This is because old 40k lore and atmosphere absolutely drills in the futility of hope. Humanity's bright and shining future has already turned to dust, the only hope of salvation, the immortal God-Emperor, is enthroned is a sarcophagus that is hinted/outright stated to be near breaking point.

Humanity is doomed, nothing good will ever happen again, and we've lost the ability to make chocolate cookies.

It is in this oppressive atmosphere that a Rogue Trader, one of the few people in the galaxy that can rightly claim to have any degree of freedom, is made. While the PC may have heady dreams of riches, conquest, or simply captain kirking his way through a swathe of sexy alien women, the player knows this is ultimately futile. No matter the heights that the Rogue Trader reaches, they cannot turn back the ultimate doom that awaits their species.

This is 40k, and the roleplaying atmosphere it offers. This is what few games do right, because 40k is a dark, subversive power fantasy.

Unless we're talking first edition, than that's a whole 'nother bag.

 

[luj1]

There's a grittiness that the smooth, pristine style of Owlcat is impossible to convey. The sense that the setting you live in is old, decaying

Bingo

 

[Peachcurl]

While the PC may have heady dreams of riches, conquest, or simply captain kirking his way through a swathe of sexy alien women,

So, completely unrelated question, what do you plan to develop after MoonFall?

 

[Tyranicon]

While the PC may have heady dreams of riches, conquest, or simply captain kirking his way through a swathe of sexy alien women,

So, completely unrelated question, what do you plan to develop after MoonFall?

My vampire game will take at least 3 years, I haven't really thought that far.

 

[hivemind]

Humanity is doomed, nothing good will ever happen again, and we've lost the ability to make chocolate cookies.

why are corpse worshippers such fucking doomers

 

[0sacred]

I like the look of everything I've seen so far and I'm basking in the butthurt of settingfags who have their childhood dreams ruined by it

consider me the anti- Fedora Master for purposes of this thread

 

[Koolz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGOR-_K4vX4

 

[Spectacle]

Even a Rogue Trader, one of the most powerful class of individuals in the Imperium, will feel that insignificance.

Respectfully disagree.

So I suppose what I'm talking about here is that while the Player Character may have an inflated (or in some cases, realistic) view of their significance, the player does not.

This is because old 40k lore and atmosphere absolutely drills in the futility of hope. Humanity's bright and shining future has already turned to dust, the only hope of salvation, the immortal God-Emperor, is enthroned is a sarcophagus that is hinted/outright stated to be near breaking point.

Humanity is doomed, nothing good will ever happen again, and we've lost the ability to make chocolate cookies.

It is in this oppressive atmosphere that a Rogue Trader, one of the few people in the galaxy that can rightly claim to have any degree of freedom, is made. While the PC may have heady dreams of riches, conquest, or simply captain kirking his way through a swathe of sexy alien women, the player knows this is ultimately futile. No matter the heights that the Rogue Trader reaches, they cannot turn back the ultimate doom that awaits their species.

This is 40k, and the roleplaying atmosphere it offers. This is what few games do right, because 40k is a dark, subversive power fantasy.

Unless we're talking first edition, than that's a whole 'nother bag.

<<Poster was executed for heretical preaching and denying Humanity's glorious destiny>>

 

[Fedora Master]

I like the look of everything I've seen so far and I'm basking in the butthurt of settingfags who have their childhood dreams ruined by it

consider me the anti- Fedora Master for purposes of this thread

It's gonna be shit regardless of how Owlcat treats the setting because they are bad developers.

 

[Aarwolf]

Few things after 9 hours in:

- we start in chapter 2, at level 15
- all companions but two are present from the start
- only two of them are in their 20s (or equivalent of), the rest is seasoned and for now act as such
- so far writing is servicable, sometimes good; as far as I can tell the lore is done pretty good
- graphics are ok, but the maps are medium and small
- combats are lethal and meaningfull; I didn't encounter filler combats so far
- Pasqual is combat god, so is psyker woman and navigator chick - they rule from the get go
- I'm not used to playing supporting class (leader class), but it's satisfying for now; giving APs and movement to sister and seneshal really helps them
- first orbital station feels like Omega from Mass Effect, but done right
- overall there are hints to Mass Effect here and there, you also have planet scanning
- no major or gamebreaking bugs, the game runs smoothly; but I was fortunate enough to run Cyberpunk 2077 at day one almost bugfree (today's the anniversary by the way), so maybe I'm not average on that
- no tranny/woke bullshit right now, I can be really lawful servant of the Emperor; I hope the game stays that way

Sadly, I have to stop now and return to game in two weeks, b/c I'm going on holidays with my wife. To make matters worse, our destination is Cyprus, of all places. Maybe I should take my laptop with me...

 

[The_Mask]

To make matters worse, our destination is Cyprus, of all places.

It's a great opportunity to visit the HQ of these amazing Russian Cypriot videogame developers!

 

[Infinitron]

Unless we're talking first edition, than that's a whole 'nother bag.

The first edition, which was called...

 

[Harthwain]

Characters seem to have lots of HP compared to the pnp version where getting up to 20 Wounds was a major achievement (for reference, weapons could do 1d10+5 as an average, thus making armor and Toughness very important).

I have seen two difficulty options: core and normal. Did you see a video of somebody playing on core difficulty or was he just on normal?

 

[Tyranicon]

Unless we're talking first edition, than that's a whole 'nother bag.

The first edition, which was called...

If we're talking 1st edition/Rogue Trader, then Owlcat's creation is even more visually/thematically off-course, as 1st ed was all bombast and colorful, punky edginess, in the same way that 2000AD is.


Honestly, I wouldn't half mind that, but I think modern 40k fans would be confused.

 

[just]

is it time already to open w40k cringe trader compilation thread

 

[luj1]

Can anyone say more about what's off about the art style?

1) It's not depressing

Like others have said, Diablo games are a good example where you felt NPCs cannot leave town or they will be raped to death by demons

Rogue Trader HQ seen in the video looks clean, tidy and not deteriorating (just the opposite of Diablo towns). Where is the lack of supplies? Lack of personnel? Where are injured people without limbs?

2) The palette is too colorful

It looks like the Shadowrun games, at best

People still don't understand what a massive difference a color palette can make. Even just 2-3 properly picked colors (see Perihelion which did miracles with orange + grey)

Spoiler

3) Environments are well-lit

I cannot stress this enough

Look what a difference a light radius can make (light radius should have been the first thing to make in the engine, if one wanted to make an isometric Wh40k game)

Spoiler

This screenshot looks more like Wh40k and its not even the same IP

It's atmospheric and scary and you don't know what's behind the next corner. Hearing monsters before you see them does wonders


_____________________________________________________________________________________-




TLDR its simple basically

The tagline of Wh40k is as follows:

"In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war."

War is pretty shitty and people live miserable lives

Nothing in this game looks miserable

It's not that hard to figure out, but Owlcat are retarded westernised slavs