Obsidian's "Pillars of Eternity"

[Merusk]

I doN#t get why so many developers fuck this up. Most of your game emchanics in rpgs/tactical combat sims is combat, so get your initial classes down, get your combat system down, get the itemization down. Then extend. 80% of my gameplay will involve that so it be better good and tight.

Because "more is more" is the mantra of modern business.  How many companies are out there trying to bring all things to their market sector and doing them all half-assed or buggy on some level or another.  That's the mindset of game designers, and even if it's not that's the mindset of their bosses.

Not "do a few things very well," but, "Please everyone to increase marketshare." Instead of doing the smart thing and falling back to the simplicity of old RPG systems, designers or their bosses push to encompass everything.

"Those fuckers are all Melee weapon dudes. We'll call them fighters. They can multi-class to pick-up spell slinging of some type." vs.  "Oh, shit. Someone might not buy this game if we don't have a death knight. Throw them in there.  Oh and a paladin. Oh, and a Knight Templar. Oh and an oriental kite fighter."

It takes a strong will at the top to resist this temptation. Typically that comes from the publisher who says, "No, assholes. This is your budget you have to push the product out in 3 years. GET GOING."

[Rasix]

Was their a tier on their kickstarter for Obsidian to do actual QA this time?

I don't trust them when they start going above and beyond the call of duty.  Obsidian adding complexity scares me.

[HaemishM]

I doN#t get why so many developers fuck this up.

Except when it comes to paying employees. AMIRITE? 

[Ingmar]

This game isn't much more mechanically complex than say IWD2. I'm not sure it is even AS mechanically complex as IWD2. All those dozens of race/background combinations just boil down to minor stat changes.

[Rasix]

Which means I'll just end up making a bunch of plain humans because the trade-offs are often terrible.

[Malakili]

Which means I'll just end up making a bunch of plain humans because the trade-offs are often terrible.

Pfft.  Min maxing.

[Lucas]

Delayed: see ya in "early 2015":

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/68878-pillars-of-eternity-early-2015-beta-feedback-and-game-polish/

Well, guess that means moar fun peeking and lurking in the RPG Codex forums 

[Ingmar]

Honestly, I'm a bit relieved. The upcoming gaming release collision was starting to look like it was going to be kind of overwhelming.

[Zetor]

IMO it was already overwhelming, even just on the cRPG front: Shadowrun Dragonfall DC, Wasteland 2, Elminage Gothic, (maybe) Lords of Xulima... and I still haven't finished D:OS.

[Lucas]

Rise and shine woodchuck chuckers! this comes out in two days, but the latest from Obsidian is that they'll release the steam keys today (maybe together with the manual), and allow pre-loading tomorrow.
---------------


As you might know, the embargo has been lifted earlier for some "Twitch-ers", just like it happened recently with Cities:Skylines and other games, so you can get spoiled all you want right now if you only marginally care about the story.

On the other hand, just before character creation (which is something you might want to take a look at anyway), there is an innocuous text/voice intro (BG/IWD style), so it's sorta safe to watch it. Here's a video ("Arumba" is a decent guy, did some excellent tutorials for CKII and some interesting "let's play" of other games):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Es5KsYdmk

There are various versions of the game, also available on GOG; plus, you can already take a look at the lore for the various races and other stuff on the wikia (front page  points toward most of the lore-related stuff):

http://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Pillars_of_Eternity_Wiki (some entries about character abilities could be quite outdated by now).

anticipationintensifies.jpg

[Merusk]

Anyone else back this on KS and not heard a peep recently? I'd forgotten about it until I saw the preorder on Steam.  Still have it showing on my account on their site but that's it. Odd.

[Lucas]

They've been pretty quiet, yes; some of the developers answered gameplay and generic questions on a couple forums. They updated the "backer beta" version a fair number of times, tho.

Ideally, they spent most of their time working on the game (turns out good or bad, they had a very defined idea about what the wanted to create and the related gameplay mechanics right from the start and all the way to release)  :)

[Ceryse]

Looking forward to this, though I have a few reservations (Obsidian, very few of the companions look interesting -- especially compared to the ones I liked from BG2 and other games this is emulating, and the fact companions are auto-leveled when they join you, instead of letting you getting full control over their leveling direction is annoying). Still, I'm a sucker for games like this that are good and from what I've seen so far in a few streams/videos (Arumba, Quill18 and a stream from an Obsidian dev) it hits a lot of the right notes for me.

Probably my last on release purchase of the year, sadly. Nothing else coming out (that I know of) even look mildly interesting. Maybe I'll finally make a dent in my backlog...

[lamaros]

Pre-loading now. I caved and bought seeing as this didn't have the usual Australia tax and I'd love to play a decent RPG. Hoping it's at least worth the money.

[Sky]

Pre-loading now.

Goddammit. They haven't released keys for KS backers, ffs.

On the other hand, I guess only paying $20 is worth a little wait time.

[Merusk]

Yeah, that's my thought Sky. Can't play until Thursday either way.

[Khaldun]

Wait, this is coming out imminently? Hm.

[sickrubik]

You can redeem keys now for backers. I'm preloading on steam at the moment.

[Lucas]

You can redeem keys now for backers. I'm preloading on steam at the moment.

Finally! Pre-loading my KS Royal Edition  (and can't wait for my boxed Collector's Edition to arrive)

[Comstar]

The lead designer has been posting pretty much every page in the Something Awful thread. I tried playing the Beta but didn't have much success - preloading now.

[Xilren's Twin]

Time to learn a new rpg system then eh?  From the non spoilery parts i've been looking at, it appears they have tried to make stats more broadly applicable so it will be tough to make a truly bad character from the jump.  For example, Might being useful for sword swinging damage, but also can helpful for making magic effects stronger too.
Plus, several new classes that arent in the traditional d&d archetypes.  It's going to make it hard to decide what i want to use for my first play through; i typically start a new rpg system as a more basic fighter type to learns the in's and outs, but that may not appeal in this lore heavy world.  Hrm.

I thought it was interesting in watching a basic first 15 minutes type video on RPS that even the few decisions you get in the early game could change your initial companions .

My rapier is a-quiver with anticipation.

[lamaros]

I suspect the stat system might suck balls, I think D&D-ish Baldur's Gate was the best.

[jakonovski]

This is going to be interesting to follow. Another watershed moment for ks.

[Sky]

I wonder how much crossover there will be between this system and the numenera system Torment will use, since the devs have been pretty tight.

I really hope both games are good and successful and we can have a new era of 1999. I even got an email from Prince yesterday (seriously).

[Merusk]

I suspect the stat system might suck balls, I think D&D-ish Baldur's Gate was the best.

I doubt any game will ever achieve that. 2nd ed D&D was around for so damn long compared to any current game systems you just can't compare them. Just think of how many hours of physical & digital gaming are rolled into that single system. It's staggering.

Although, I think the 'it's the best' might just have more to do with nostalgia and how pervasive it was than anything else.

I really hope both games are good and successful and we can have a new era of 1999. I even got an email from Prince yesterday (seriously).

What, like personal "Hey Cash, how's it going?" or you were wrapped into some marketing/ spam with Prince's name on it?

[Sky]

A Note From Prince

Sorry 2 bother U.

Just wanted 2 send U this
baby picture of Judith Hill with Her 1st piano.

Loox like her parents, who r also musicians- had a plan.
Well, that plan succeeded.

This is Judith Hill's debut album BACK IN TIME.

Please spend some time with this music and then share it with someone U love.

Hah. I keep picturing Fred Armison's shy Prince.

[sickrubik]

what.

[Tannhauser]

Pre-ordered this today, the hype train has left the station and I'm pulling the whistle!  Going in very ignorant about the whole game.  My first character is usually a thief type because you can find meatshields everywhere and I like unlocking cabinets and looking at ladies' knickers.

[Lucas]

Pre-ordered this today, the hype train has left the station and I'm pulling the whistle!  Going in very ignorant about the whole game.  My first character is usually a thief type because you can find meatshields everywhere and I like unlocking cabinets and looking at ladies' knickers.

Sounds naughty  

Regarding the Stats system, one thing I like is the frequent checks for dialogues and events, similar to Arcanum/New Vegas/Bloodlines.  The options menu will allow you to hide the dialogue choices you can't select because you lack the corresponding stat/skill requirement.

One frequent criticism about the Stats system, is that it might be too much on the "balanced"  and dull side.

Anyway:

[Ingmar]

If you're looking to kill some time before the game unlocks here's the manual:

http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/291650/manuals/pe-game-manual.pdf?t=1427302221

[Merusk]

Reminding me that an advantage to having a smartphone is I can once again read game manuals on the shitter.

[Lucas]

Ok, but while you're on the shitter thinking about first world problems, be sure to also read this (manual is outdated):

http://eternity.obsidian.net/game/manual-errata

And also, if constipation is a factor, this is a VERY extensive beginner's guide to PoE, narrated by one of the RPG Codex (and extremely dedicated PoE beta tester, to say the least) fellas:

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/71462-pillars-of-eternity-beginners-guide/  (no spoilers, really)

[lamaros]

When is this unlocking? I'm home sick again and want to make the most of it.

[Xilren's Twin]

I believe it is 9am PST tomorrow according to posts i saw on the steam forums  (though steam itself says approximately 16 hours which would be 8am EST...).

[lamaros]

That's bullshit! It's already the 26th here. Unlocking at 3am on the 27th is bullshit!