Wormerine

What if it’s a completely different new horse, you just keep calling it “Roach” because naming is not one of your strong suits?

No, I don’t. I don’t mind them experimenting - I am not tied to IE nostalgia too much, and I found PoE to work the best when it does its own thing. But PoE holds my interest as a party-based story-driven singleplayer RPG. Make it RTwP or turn based, class based or classless. Obsidian could make an RPG in PoE setting and get my interest... but they might as well do a new IP.

I will give Larian a pass. NWN2 has been one of my fav post IE games RPG. it wasn’t a successor to what NWN was, but it was what I wanted NWN to be. BG3 might not be a successor to BG1&2, and it might not be what I like the most... but as long as it’s good in what it aims to achieve, and doesn’t mess with the original... what’s the harm?

I like the look of Deadfire, but performance and functionality is far behind... as is expected of 2nd focused engine modified from Unity for a game made, by what, 40 people? Verticality, size, easy inside/outside without transitions, supporting units being all over the map at the same time, interactions with the enviroment plus multiplayer support add to that moddability and adventure creator. Quite a bit like Witcher, its an engine built by studio for their specific needs and purposes, and it's and investment and commitment that pays off.

D:OS2 engine and scale is amazing. I just wish they would do something more structured for BG3. I found D:OS2 to be too free-form - you can do anything, anywhere with vague objectives meaning I didn’t care or remember about anything I did. Apparently there are about 350 people working on BG3. It shows. In many ways that’s a kind of game I wished for Bioware to pursue - invest in systems and interactions, rather then presentation. What I didn’t wish was for it to be so multiplayer focused.

Oh well, I guess it didn’t sell afterall. Still, from the resurgence of RPGs it is only PoE that is most likely dead, no? Shame as it was my fav of the bunch. Solasta is also a thing. We will see how it will turn out.

You are preaching to the choir here.

It's really clever multiplayer design. I wonder if they manage to find a way for it to work better when playing single player. The demo felt alright to me.

At some point Swen said that “jump” is enhanced by having the worm-thing in your eye. I imagine same goes for push and move objects. It seems to have some effects, like vampire guy not perishing in sunlight.

I categorise Bioware and Larian games a fundamentally different genres - first being singleplayer high presentation focused, mostly linear, story driven adventures, while the latter are sandbox, system driven coop games. The only issue I have with Baldur's Gate 3, is its connection to BG1&2 while being apples and oranges situation.

Looks... good. And more or less what I expected. Seems they are aiming for newer Bioware conversation view, but with Divinities “vague” dialogue system. I am curious how it will gel together - I feel that silent protagonist works better in top down setting, rather then in your face JadeEmpire/KOTOR/DragonAge set up - in isometric all you do is implied and imagination takes over, while fancy presentations makes unanimated things draw attention to themselves.

What I would like to seperate is quality of writing vs. over-arching narrative. I would agree that "story" of the Deadfire isn't very good - but writing - actual work done by writers under constrains and directions given to them is pretty darn good. You can't blame writers on lack of development, or engaging direction, because it is not something that game supports structually. Deadfire presents the lore and setting in an excellent way - it explores factions role and impact on the Deadfire, explores further God's and their relations with mortals. You get to know and understand Huana culture and history in an engaging way. But none of it is "story". That's I think, the impact of Josh being directly involved in molding overarching narrative. He is a great lead, with a special appreciation for history and culture, which made PoE world detailed, believable and engaging. But Deadfire is a history/culture lesson, rather then a story or adventure.

If it is a bug, write to: support@vsevil.net

Confirmation of the google leak, that BG3 is to be released in 2020. It appears it will start up with Early Access, which is in line with Larians previous titles. https://www.pcgamesn.com/baldurs-gate-3/early-access-leak

Trying to make a dent in the free games Epic has been giving out. Started with Alan Wake. It's... not any good. The beginning was promising - insteresting gimmick, a cheesy Stephen King-ish story with all the subtelty of... well, Stephen King. But after first major chapter it becomes so repetitive and boring.

I wouldn't go that far, but it is Josh's particular sensibilities and interests which made PoE what it is. I would be interested in seeing what PoE under his full control would look like, and I would be interested in seeing what a new lead would do with the game - I did enjoy all three DLCs after all. What I am not terribly interested in, is a non-isometric PoE. The world doesn't have that much appeal to me, to automatically transfer my interest in PoE3 into another genre - it would need to sell me on the concept mostly from the ground up... that being said, being made by Obsidian is, for now, still a good start.

Yas! Can't wait.

In truth this is the announcement of the announcement of the announcement, that was somewhat announced alread, albeit in not such detail. In other news, the most awaited game of 2020 (the most objective and not biased statement) Empire of Sin has been delayed till Autumn. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/02/18/empire-of-sin-pushes-its-prohibition-crime-spree-back-to-autumn/

Installed Turn Based mod and returned to Pathfinder, and I am grinding away on Hard difficulty, at least now I can more or less see what's going on. Not very exciting to watch units miss each other back and forth. This game's time system makes it tempting to play with walkthough to see what areas I have a chance to tackle. I did loose over an hour of progress in the prologue section when I made a lengthy journey to an area for which I didn't have necessary items to deal with. Though as it turned out quest was timed very generously. But how were I to know I was allowed to waste my time?

And so another game rests in my library waiting for a stronger PC to run it.

He also claimed they are not working on Baldur's Gate.

@rjshae Imitation of PoE:D, or the mod that added turn based into Kingmaker?

Baldur’s Gate 3 might be releasing this year, if Stadia’s slip up is to be trusted: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/02/14/baldurs-gate-3-may-be-out-this-year-if-you-believe-this-goof-up-by-google/

The game will also include turn-based mod, and one will be able to switch between the two on the go. Game however is focused and balances around RTwP.

Shovel Knight: King of Cards. What a treat Shovel Knight turned out to be. The final campaign is probably my least favourite one - limitations of the King Knight movement set are interesting, making platforming feel more methidical but I don't find the nearly as fun and any of the three previous knights. On a flip side, there is a mini card game this time around, and it's quite clever. Not something I am into though, when playing a retro 2d platformer.