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Pillars of Eternity Beta - Torment: Tides of the Beetles
- Thread starter Labadal
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Be more worried about the 'ironic' mods that will have you bedding Sawyer himself.
Perish the thought...
This is a pretty good editorial on how Bioware's entertaining romances can have an impact on taking the overall narrative seriously: http://www.thegia.com/2014/12/19/dragon-age-inquisition-performance-review/
I feel that a lot of it also applies to Mass Effect. It's kinda funny how Bioware goes all in on the power fantasy thing, where both their scifi and fantasy RPG franchises right now involve protagonists who are in positions of increasing power, and offer a choice of party members who basically work for you (rather than with you) who you can also bang.
Let's talk sweat composition.
Some interesting points, but I think that gives romances too much credit for the way the overall structure of the games are. Plus the parallels to real world issues of power and influence over others is more than a bit misplaced.
Players want that wish fulfillment in all aspects of the game, that's evident all over gaming, romances or not. I'd certainly be over the moon though if they actually moved away from that and went more towards interesting, if not entirely broken, one sided and tragic, relationships and other dynamics with companions that weren't necessarily about empowering the phasing but rather providing engaging and interesting interactions. But that's just me and most people don't like that kind of stuff.
That said I do think Obsidian could do a great job at some dark and unorthodox romances/relationships. Hers hoping for some in PoE2, can't wait to get an angry/jealous Cipher mind fucking me for not reciprocating their affection.
A lot of what's said about recruiting companions and picking favorites makes no sense. No one important in that game would really give a shit about nepotism, especially given the situation.
That said a lot of what's put forward is interesting but I'm pretty sure the reason consequences on that scale don't ever stem from the romances is because BW enjoys having their cake and eating it too. They're integrated enough to make the fans of that happy, but removed enough so they can still say that it's a small bit of content in the game. Overall this stems from this really self destructive fixation this company has on pleasing every facet of their fanbase but that's a discussion unrelated to this thread.
Romances in Baldurs Gate were more involve and interesting. I think going from that angle is ok. I've actually soured on the whole Avellone "no romances/only tragic romance or unrequited love" stuff. Lets me get some companionate love. The games are gonna be long enough for it lol.
Eh I disagree, but that stuff all started as events to fill time after resting and I'm pretty sure they got that covered.
Enduin said:
This exact plot was done in Young Justice, I really liked it. The way it played out couldn't really work in a game though.
But that's the thing isn't it? No one is saying that it's outright bad, but that it's clearly pandering to the audience first and foremost, before wanting to tell an interesting story. The story can still be interesting, but it is first defined by the pandering requirements. This also applies to most movie blockbusters. There's nothing "wrong" with it as a disposable piece of entertainment, but it's also good to have works which don't fall into that category.
Immortal Technique
Member
PAX swag hype!
PAX swag hype!
Quick, enter 12345 into Steam before somebody else does!
My longing for this game has now reached the stage of having dreams about it. Although in the one I had last night, terrisus was one of my party members, looking like the red spiky-haired character in his avatar. He did a good job of clearing out a room of trolls, so um...well done?
I like that you choose those tow examples, because they are both things I have seen people complain about, and both things I never had any issue with personally. At all. I just don't see the difficulty in hitting the space bar when I want to. It's pretty big.
I'd much rather have an "imperfect" user-controlled system than an imperfect automatic system in both cases. With the former, I can just fix it through making good use of the tools I'm given. With the latter I'm screwed.
I guess RTwP and full camera control suck if you suck
(I'm being not completely serious, but I really never found out what the big deal is with having to use controls to control a game)
I literally woke up 30 minutes ago, all sweaty and stressed as hell dreaming about the game.
I had dreamed about me playing the game. I had been warned that I would be late for work and I said that I would only play 10 more minutes. Then I somehow played another three hours and I came late to work. I woke up and hurried to the nearest clock just to see what time it was and then release a sigh of relief.
This game is doing things to me and it isn't even released yet.
I'm okay with RTwP, but my answer there would be: I don't. I can never get past the first couple of non-tutorial levels in any RTS I've ever played.
Some people like myself just aren't very good at them. I would prefer full party-AI for Pillars of Eternity, but will struggle on through regardless.
Pyros_Eien
Member
You put the game on easy then just click box your entire army and A move through the map. I'm terrible at microing(well I guess not terrible terrible, but terrible enough that I never played a RTS other than solo campaign and I never pick the micro intensive heroes in dota) but never had an issue with RTS campaigns.
Though way different when you can pause anyway.
AntiFacebook
Member
Not me.
Bloodborne seems like fun, but PoE looks like the game I have been waiting for more than a decade.
(also,I don't have a PS4,nor do i plan to get one)
Shake Appeal
Member
I really should read some Mieville.
decoyplatypus
Member
I don't. I play turn-based strategy games (with the exception of EU and CK, I suppose).
I think the argument that you can just pause in a RTwP system to gain the benefits of TB combat somewhat overstate the similarities between the approaches. Simultaneously-executed actions are a rarity among turn-based systems. Divinity:OS and Temple of Elemental Evil, to take two highly-praised turn-based CRPGs, structure combat in a fundamentally different way. So do the tabletop RPGs that inspired the IE games. Even within simultaneous execution systems, designers are likely to organize information differently when they know combat will pause at set intervals. And I imagine the tactics change dramatically when you have to commit to a full round of actions (say, five seconds) without the ability to audible if something changes two seconds in. I don't think I've played a BG-style game (party-based, free-roaming adventure) with that sort of turn-based combat, however, so I'm hesitant to say it would be better or worse than RTwP.
I'm thinking about not playing the game when it release so a few patch come out .
Other reason also is I'm currently playing MH4 and having a blast with it and I think i'm gonna play Bloodborne first .
Still not sure because I waited so long or this game to come out but I want to fully enjoy it .
aaarrggghhhh why do they have to release everything during March ?!
Other reason also is I'm currently playing MH4 and having a blast with it and I think i'm gonna play Bloodborne first .
Still not sure because I waited so long or this game to come out but I want to fully enjoy it .
aaarrggghhhh why do they have to release everything during March ?!
Vincent Grayson
Member
Yeah, if it's anything like BG, different companion combinations will lead to some quality banter and snarky comments. When the BG1/2:EE versions came out, I intentionally ran with parties I hadn't used before, and discovered all kinds of character combinations that were entertaining.
What abomination of an RTS has units, each with a dozen abilities/spells targeted and AOE that also places a huge importance on egagement positoning, flanking, etc?
'Cause it would take at least 4 Koreans to play it right.
terrisus
Member
You were dreaming about me?... >.>
<3
P.S.
That's Crono, from Chrono Trigger for SNES :þ
Yeah, I don't think the comparison with RTS is valid.
But then again, the whole point of RTwP is that pausing is part of the game.
Irobot82
Member
I don't understand what the problem with RTCwP is. In turned based games it always just felt off to me that my characters would just sit there with their thumbs up their butts until it's there turn to swing their sword once. RTCwP just "felt" a little more realistic. There's an ebb and flow to combat, things change on the fly and if the chaos is too much, PAUSE, evaluate your tactics and act accordingly.
Have you seen Starcraft 2 matches?
terrisus
Member
Vincent Grayson
Member
As a player, I prefer turn-based. That said, I think RTwP creates a much better sense of the chaos of a real fight and that can be fun too.
At the end of the day though, it's absolutely a minor thing in this sort of game, because I'm not here for the combat, I'm here for the story, characters, and world.
DeviantBoi
Member
Yes, but to enjoy the story, characters, and world you have to get through the fights.
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
Combat from the last beta I touched (post them fixing it) was incredibly fun. As much as I loved BG2, I mostly tried to avoid combat for not just RP reasons. It had its moments where it shined, but it slogged a bunch. Time will tell on PoE, but it feels...I dunno...right? The correct speed, the impact the visual and audio feedback, the positioning. I'm super stoked to be playing this soon.
Anoregon
The flight plan I just filed with the agency list me, my men, Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you!
This is very good to hear.
AntiFacebook
Member
Wait...there's no way to get by through the game without battles?
I expected more from a bunch of black isle veterans...
Vincent Grayson
Member
Yeah. I'm just saying, the method of doing so, even if it's not my ideal, is fine. Now, if combat just flat out sucks, or is too brutally hard or whatever, that'd be a different issue entirely. Though, thanks to being on PC, that's pretty easy to get past.
Hell, I always thought Torment's combat sucked and was way too frequent, so when I play it now, I mod everyone's stats to max and just ignore combat entirely so I can enjoy the story.
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
Yeah, tbh, I thought I was going to hate this game after the first few hacks at the beta before they pushed the date back and incoporated player feedback. The combat used to straight up suck. It was terrible and nearly unplayable.
Now, it's a ton of fun. I think most fans are going to be super happy with it.
Sometimes you gotta stab a dude. Can't be helped. This is a spiritual successor to BG and IWD, combat is a central part of the experience. There will be plenty of instances where you can use words, guile and subterfuge in order to peacefully resolve or circumvent combat, but there will still be plenty of instances where you're going to have to take some people out.
have... have you played a Black Isle cRPG?
Irobot82
Member
Maybe you're thinking of Ion Storm with Deus Ex and Thief?
AntiFacebook
Member
Irobot82
Member
Word. Well we have Torment: Tides of Numenera for that! Coming Soon! Also it's Turn Based instead of RTCwP (booooo)
J.E Sawyer made it clear pretty early on that they wouldn't design the game with non-combat solutions to everything. And to be fair, it wasn't possible to play neither the BG or IWD games that way, and even Torment had a few unavoidable battles.
Yeah, I don't really think a complete pacifist solution to every quest is part of the "Infinity Engine DNA" which they promised to channel for PoE
What can I say; our joint broccoli-hating, BBW-loving ways must have made you an ideal fit for my band of adventurers.
I have unfortunately never owned Chrono Trigger and the Internet has spoiled the plot(s) for me, making it pointless to do so now.
Anoregon
The flight plan I just filed with the agency list me, my men, Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you!
What can I say; our joint broccoli-hating, BBW-loving ways must have made you an ideal fit for my band of adventurers.
I have unfortunately never owned Chrono Trigger and the Internet has spoiled the plot(s) for me, making it pointless to do so now.
The idea that Chrono Trigger isn't worth playing if you already know the story is straight up nonsense.
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
I mean, you know what Rosebud is, but Citizen Kane is still worth watching.
Its his snowglobe.
terrisus
Member
What can I say; our joint broccoli-hating, BBW-loving ways must have made you an ideal fit for my band of adventurers.
<3
Oh boy...
There is much, much, much, much more to Chrono Trigger than just "the plot."
Go play it - right now!
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
Well, thanks for the spoilers!
"We have a sneak peek of something coming up in just a little while..."
https://twitter.com/Obsidian/status/575337860745691137
https://twitter.com/Obsidian/status/575337860745691137
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