Wombat

Nice. This might end up with PCs following NPCs' lead but, probably, they'll try not to diminish C&C part. I know your writing team is one of the best when it comes to RPG dialogue writing - so, don't let some minor issues get in. Well, now I wonder if I should make a Charsima Boy/Gal for the PC or pick one as an NPC. Thanks for the update!

Well, I don't believe anyone can build a language totally from thin air... What we could do for an imaginary setting is to take some factors from our own histories/realities and use them to build a world with focused themes. I know this is from 19th century novel on Early Medieval England but I think it's more likely for us to see such language divisions between classes in the PE, considering the info so far. In Late Medieval Europe, there was a transition period of Middle English to Early Modern English but...what made the shift dramatic is, of course, King James' version and the printing press. Chaucer and Shakespeare precedent them, though. Also, I suspect there must be a Latin-like language shared by intellectuals through much wider areas. I wonder what kind of organization is keeping it since there is no Christianity.

Yeah, too much is too much, I guess. Details enough to create interesting game-plays are desirable. Hopefully, the designers will find a sweet spot.

I wrote about this one of the history-related threads but, languages can be huge annoyance if they are not introduced properly. And, I'm yet to know a PC game which did this aspect properly. Also, there is vocabulary issues. For example, Middle English (post-Renaissance English) has many words common with Modern English but I wonder if we can role play with vocaburaries of Old English only. It must be like playing a low INT character. I've already written about INT. However, language skills may play too huge role if the cultural diversity has gone too far. Like in Gloranthan setting, focusing the stage of campeigns within small areas of the world may be needed.

There are quite many clues that he is thinking of colonization as one of the themes in his recent interviews. Also, I've gotten an impression that he likes missionary themed materials. http://shadeheart.com/2012/10/an-interview-with-josh-sawyer/

It's appealing but there is nothing in between to keep the interest going. 500k seems really large..where as 100k/200k seem easier to achieve making it more likely to have people their pledge http://forums.obsidi...80#entry1235579 Just in case you missed the quote. The nearest thing Obsidian/BIS did is probably Barcelona in Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader. I haven't played it by myself but quite many people didn't complain of it although they complained a lot of other things in the game.

Also, most of the money goes to the designers and I think it's a good enough reason even if the strech goal is not met. As for the content, we'v already gotten another designer, too.

I think it's for cultural diversity at the verge of the modernization of Europe. Some thinkers are more accessible from modern mind than Scholar philosophers, too. For example, William of Baskerville in the Name of the Rose implies his influence from Ockham and Holmes (Baskerville rings a bell for the readers). Form An interview with Josh Sawyer@Shadeheart I think there needed for both continental/English thinkers, represented by Thomas Aquinas and Ockham, respectively (I still cannot imagine them without the influence of Christianity, or, at least, the presupposition of universe built in a way which can be logically comprehensible by human beings). Additionally, Matteo Ricci-like thinker may play a role of introducing a distant culture which may be similar to Chinese Confucianism. Monks have more influence from Zen and, as for this, Nietzsche (I know, he himself doesn't fit the setting) route would be good enough, I think. While Zen tend to be more personal philosophy, Confucianism is more of ethics in social context, which Ricci connected with Christianity. Also, while these methodological thinkers are most likely to be in big cities since there must be enough economy to let them engage in their studies, which can be contrasted to those who believe in more simple native religions rooted to daily lives (I think Morrowind did this well with some pilgrim quests). Talking of Morrowind and possible monk-ish characterization, From Interview: Chris Avellone On Project Eternity @1UP

From Kickstarter comment. When I read the 3.5m stretch goal, I immediately thought it's just a bait to raise money but guess I was bit cynical on this. Thinking of it now, considering the reputation system, it would be interesting to see another populated city. Also, Sawyer is still offering mods for FONV. Pledge raised. I don't care if it will end up with just realizing the stronghold, which is unfortunately not my cup of tea (Rather, I'd think I contributed to get Ziets). Good Luck.

Probably, you shouldn't. If you are into history, I'd recommend you waiting for some other works. Sawyer implies that he wasn't able to find enough people who are intrested in making something like Darklands even in Obsidian. Also, none of your material fits 1400-1500 time-line. In any case, personally, I expect PE to have various historical essences for cultural varieties and different views to explore human conditions. Rather, I've gotten an impression that something "surrealistic" can play well with the writing powers of Obsidian.

Maybe, rather than just false or true, how about making the players figure out what happened, letting them talk with characters from different backgrounds and views? For example, in FONV, when the PC comes across with an witness who doesn't know about the military structure of NCR took "Lieutenant" for a proper noun. Even in Lord of the Rings, there are places where different cultures play a certain roles in story. Gandalf's interpretation of the inscription at Moria's entrance took them while for him to finally come up with the right and yet, a simple answer (If you just watched the movie, the story is bit more complex in the novel, reminding the occupation of Tolkien). Also, since Pippin used the second person pronoun which is used only among close relationship to Théoden, the Rhohan thought he must be the prince of Hobbit. These things play as a part of mystery while letting the players immersed in the imaginary world.

As you can see in , it seems to be rare for Sir. Robin himself to fight. Er...sorry, I should have made it clear that I was kidding. It didn't come to me that some people may not know Monty Python classics. I imagine chanter's role is more of "jack of all trades", according to Sawyer's words, and, in and outside combat, I think he should have his plaece. They most likely play a quite important role in gathering information (communication skills) and resources (barter skill), providing practical ways to communicate with people who have different cultural/social backgrounds. I wonder if the players have an option of making the class more like travelling merchants/spies/agents. As a combat unit, in D&D, depending on the build, they can be quite capable. Also, we are yet to know how they make use of soul powers. In any case, I am interested in systems to fit the setting and don't have a slightest interest in any anti-"cirtain class" type arguments from some poeple. That said, my stance to class system itself is neutral since I have come across with good skill systems which made the players feel the characters actually live in the setting. I wonder how much Obsidian can do with D&D-ish class system. Just my opinion.

Actually, who wouldn't as long as they have the spirit of role-player.

One of the important factors (well, at least, for me) is whether they fit the setting or not. From Sawyer's post @ Something Awful With paladins and chanters I sort of went back to the "original" conception of the paladin and bard terms. In the case of the paladin, it comes from Roland and the Twelve Peers. They were Christians fighting Saracens, but they were ultimately elite vassals of Charlemagne. In the Song of Roland they're larger than life figures who are fighting at the rear guard of an army, killing a few thousands dudes and their horses every other paragraph. I didn't think it was necessary for them to be "Lawful Good" or Christianishy in Project Eternity, but I did think that they should have that same level of single-minded purpose and selflessness even if they weren't religious. Mechanically, they may end up feeling somewhat similar to Marshals from 3.5E. "Bard" is a Gaelic/Brythonic term and it didn't seem to fit with the OE and Romance-inspired words we've used. Also, even though bards were originally less (if at all) about music and more about poetry, to many people, bard = music. So the chanter is a step back from that, back to the idea of the magical storyteller. But they still have a similar "jack-of-all trades" flexible role like the A/D&D bard classes have traditionally had. It was important to me to make their magic sound and feel different, both conceptually and mechanically. As for bards, historically, there is a famous bard who accompanied with Sir Robin, of course. However, seriously, there must be someone there who witnessed events and recorded them either in factually or in a more epic way. I think they came up with a reasonable implementation. The comment also implies that the viewpoints of the religious class characters will not be too restrictive.

Null kindly spoiled this a bit but still great news.

Seriously, at first, I thought there would be no paladin. However, when I came to think of the possible stretch goals, there are already ranger/barbarian sub classes and this thread proved that paladins and bards are two popular classes... Well, I thought more highly of Obsidian, though. I guess they are more of bards chaters than paladins. And one bard chanter coming at 2.8m.

It was relatively complex, but not tremendously more complex than the reputation system in Fallout: New Vegas. When designers starting using the F:NV reputation system, it was initially confusing (mostly because it has positive and negative scales), but they adapted to it quickly. Thanks for the replay and, yes, I reckon some of the old ideas in FONV but I wonder if your answer is assuring or not. A. The reactiveness of PE world will be most likely to be as many as those in FONV. B. Even if Obsidian make things more complex, their writers will be able to deal with it. In a nutshell, what I would like to know is how reactive PE world would be.

^^ All Paladin lovers: Join the chat at 10.30am PST and thank Feargus that he saved us a lot of cash. An important announcement a week before the finish? - sure sounds dirty.

It's not really. You HAVE to think now about it to carry choices or plotlines over. Otherwise it feels tacked on or presents too much work. Otherwise you'll end up with Mass Effect 3 and Dragon Age II. Bug aside, the imports impact were minimal, at most cosmetic 99% of the times. Yeah, I guess the devs were warned - which should be enough for the time being...

Considering even what we could glance at, TBH/Jefferson's reputation system was quite complex one - so complex that I wondered if it is even possible to fill it with the content. In fact, according to Sawyer, it made Avellone, who has been more than happy with writing dialogues, "burnt out." Since the last attempt, we haven't seen any dialogue-heavy games on the IE format. I wonder how much Obsidian will be able to do with the new setting and the matured reputation system. Of course, the higher the expectation, the harder it could fall and yet I think it's quite reasonable to expect the game to have much more text-based content compared with their "modern" games. PS The sequels are just hypothetical thinking...too early since the game itself hasn't been released, IMO.

I hope this will be able to be done with possible PE successors, too. Surely quite tricky but if they plan carefully in advance... Yeah, reading earlier posts in these boards, some people don't seem to be aware of what they lose in return for modern graphics and full voice-overs. Considering the restrictions, I think CDPR did quite well but the game was one of the causes which made me aware of the fact that AAA game making process is not suitable to the games I'd like to play.

Again, I could only imagine quite monotheist dominant societies, either Christian or Muslim. I wonder how "deities" play their roles in such a world. I know it's a fantasy setting after all but... It also should be noted that the pleague hit Central Asia terribly due to the expanded economy through the rule of the Mongol Empire and the lack of medical knowlege to prevent them from spleading. The PE world may be composed of relatively isclosed cultures. Then, again, in that case, travelling would be rare and the languages must vary (the PC will often come across with the languages he cannot understand).* I'd like to see some real-world historical influences, too, but have to adimit that a certain things are hard to get together. *Some people tried to do a Gloranthan campeign in which the PC backgrounds are way too various and the GM let the PCs communicate through gestures. I cannot remember the details now but it's one of the hardcore campeigns I've hard of.

IMO, VO should be just enough for characterizations like in IE games. Thanks.

No, you must be mistaken. I think you are making a mistake of mixing our real world politics with that of the imaginary word. I'd like the PE world to have cultural/political variations. It's quite natural for each culture to have their own values in various things (or such values define each culture, in other words) - different viewpoints to men and women are just one possible aspect. I don't deny any aspect of human histories and I'd like to see some of them in the PE world in different shapes. However, at the same time, I'd like the designers to let the players allow to have their own stances. - this may be tough if a certain culture were dominant but, here is the point: the PE world is designed with cultural variations in mind. This is about the basics of role-playing games - building up personalized stories by playing roles, taking stances in imaginary settings. This is why the reputation system by Sawyer caught my attention in the first place. Besides PST, poor Obsidian have been tracked by me since then.

Personally, I agree. I think such cultural melting pot fits the reputation system Obsidian have been maturing suites such world. It would be a fun place for role-playing by having variety of potential themes to be explored. @AW8 Yeah, again, some variations would be nice. In FONV, while the Legion is quite male-centered, NCR have quite many female high ranking officers (not a surprise if you know the lore). Even in the Middle Ages, there were some female rulers but, I wonder how much of it is reflected to the lower classes of the society. Also, as some people mentioned, magic may have a role in male-female political relationship. Obsidian's brainstorming seem to have gone as far as a kind of market of the souls where poor people are forced to sell their souls - literally. I wonder if it comes into the actual game, though. For example, even further, soul stock market or something like that sounds too "modern" and satirical, which can destroy some of mythic feeling around the "soul."