Starwars

https://twitter.com/ChrisAvellone/status/247804807514054656 Apparently the middle-ware is expensive (whatever that means). Bit disappointing I think as the guys would obviously know the engine well and I'd like to see it in action more. But yeah, wonder what engine they'll go for instead.

I recently replayed Dragon Age and while I enjoy that game a lot, I think the camera is painful to work sometimes. Especially when it changes zoom level when you walk underneath something. Don't get me wrong, I get the appeal of "free camera movement" like in NWN2 and DA:O but it brings with it a lot of development trouble and a lot of complaining from people. If you have the locked camera, you also "only" have to make sure that the game looks good from one point of view. That said, I wouldn't be opposed to some minor zooming controls.

I don't want any romances in the game.

In the IE games there were villains who you were up against. Even in Torment, there was a set "end-boss" that you had to overcome. Are you fine with this, or would you rather have it like New Vegas for example where you are free to join whoever you want? Even the "baddies" of the wasteland - Caesar's Legion. I am personally more interested in the New Vegas way of doing things where it is left to the player whom he/she wants to support and go up against in the game.

Very cool of you guys! Thumbs up to Josh for that.

I'm not sure it's within the scope of the budget but I would dearly welcome a "Hardcore mode" ala New Vegas. Obviously it would need to be re-tooled to fit an isometric, fantasy game. But one could certainly apply things to the travelling system for example which some old-school games have done (having to bring rations, possible to catch diseases and so forth). It's not hugely important in the grand scheme of things for me but it would be a welcome addition nonetheless. I think one of the biggest kinks to work out will need to be the resting system though (assuming we're not going the regenerating health route, which I hope we won't). To prevent players from abusing it and so forth. Having to buy food and stuff would help a bit there (though it would not be enough on its own obviously).

Will be interesting to see how far they take the alternate approaches in the game. The IE games were not really great with this all in all (Torment being the one that focused a lot more on non-combat overall). But I would love for them to take a page from Fallout in this and provide many ways to accomplish your objectives.

I'm not really against co-op in games at all, it can be a lot of fun. But this is a project with a limited budget, and I would like all the resources to be put into the single-player portion of the game simply put. Introducing co-op takes away manpower from other things I would like to see more basically. It will also need to be tested properly and so on and so forth.

And besides, how do people even measure these things in RPGs? I don't think I've ever read reports of gameplay hours from any given RPG that actually matches my own playtime in them. Add to that it can vary a *lot*. Just look at New Vegas. You just can't measure the gameplay time accurately because there are so many factors in terms of optional content. So yeah, I'm not sure how developers do it but I say just focus on producing good content where it fits and don't aim for some weird "gotta have this many hours of gameplay!" quota. And of course, don't use filler content to just pad the game.

I would also love for the quest/choices/consequences bit to be pushed as far as humanly possible on this project. Give us complex quests, that interweave with everything else, screws you over badly and also rewards you handsomely. Then when you least expect, the consequences come back yet again making you go "OH MAH LAWD!". Also, it would be grand if the classes (or just different builds) will really feel different not just in terms of combat, but in terms of everything else. Write as much specific dialogue as possible if you're a mage versus a thief or whatever the case. Volourn touched upon it earlier but allow a broader focus for magic, maybe have skill checks involving magic spells (charm someone, magically open a locked door, toss a fireball in someone's face before combat starts etc). Also, it'd be great if warrior characters aren't just... the classic "smash everything well but have nothing else to do". Make them have some unique flavor in dialogues as well. Basically, lots and lots of unique dialogue. EVERYWHERE!

That would be awesome. Also, a bit morbid still to have people up as stretch goals somehow... Morbid... but AWESOME!

It would be nice to have something that gives the world a bit of a different tone. I would personally like it if they avoided the classical, orchestral, bombastic themes that you often see in fantasy RPGs. Would love for something a bit more subdued... Maybe not completely ambient but leaning a bit towards that direction. Or... again, just something that doesn't really scream epic fantasy. I always adored the Mask of the Betrayer soundtrack, something in that direction would be pretty nice I think.

Exciting to see the project funded so quickly, congrats guys! Also, stretch goal nr 1 should be to have an acapella soundtrack... by Josh Sawyer.

Hopefully they will be kept to a minimum, or hidden behind some kind of mechanic (Wild Wasteland was a good idea I think). But yeah, it will obviously have to be whatever the devs find fun. I see little reason to suggest easter eggs because... well, the nature of easter eggs is that they would be hidden, surprising and funny to find. EDIT: There is already a Thorton easter egg in the actual Alpha Protocol game where his name gets mispelled.

I don't think it's much about sexiness as pointless objectification (though I guess some would call that entertainment). Sexy people are great, there are sexy women out there. I like sexy women. But there is a way to do sexy without it having be "hey guyz, I dress in bikinis even though I'm supposed to a heavy warrior who fight in deadly combat situations". Some people are sexy, some people are not sexy. But have it make sense within the game-setting. Then you get like... both sexiness and some form of semi-realism (yes, I know it's a game but some realism is good if you're going for a RPG that aims to draw the player in through the setting and characters). Best of both worlds! I think New Vegas handled its characters very well, so I'm not too worried either way.

1.1mil is the point where the game will actually get to be made. Soon I imagine Obsidian will unveil "stretch goals" which means additional features they want to be put in if the funding hits certain milestones over 1.1mil. So basically, yes, goal is to hit as much funding as possible.

I agree with pretty much all of the things in the OP, but especially about the romances... Please, please, for the love of god, skip them.

That is gold right there.

I'm guessing 'No sleep for the seeker'.

I too will cancel my pre-order because they included a tutorial. How dare they? How... dare... they... ?!?!?

I have two guesses at the moment. 1) Some form of reincarnation of The Black Hound project. 2) Some Darklands-esque type of game. Very much doubt that it will be Planescape as Chris (who would be the logical champion of such a project) is busy with Wasteland 2.

I'm mainly hoping for something new.

Kinda funny that it's referenced in Old World Blues as well.

Waht!?

I am unsure how the mission sequencing will look but no randomized maps is confirmed. They have mentioned though that there are a *lot* of maps (don't know if there's an exact number) and apparently there are many different spawn points in each map, and the possibility for different kinds of aliens. Not a huge problem for me personally as long as there is a lot of maps. Most important bit for me will be that you won't know what type of alien you will encounter within any given map I think. They have not revealed anything about the narrative I believe except that there will *be* some kind of narrative to the game. And I believe they have confirmed that there will be certain "key missions" that you will have to play at certain points in the game. I could do without the narrative thing to be honest but again... Will have to wait and see how it actually turns out.