Dunedain

Well, I guess the issue of the boxed copies is settled. Apparently there will be boxed copies readily available for order when the game is released (pre-orders also, no doubt), now that Paradox has been brought onboard to handle marketing and distribution. So that's good news for the many rpg fans that will want the full boxed copy version.

You cannot top this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEqDtbC3bL8 That is really nice, further proof of the fine music from the IWD series. In fact, it's so good, that I wish there were more of it. Note to Mr. Bell - please make nice long versions of all the songs in the game. Even if only a shorter part of a song is used during the gameplay itself, at least we can enjoy the full-length versions on the OST CD. But for something with melancholy and regret, permeated by it, Great Grey Wolf Sif. It's so sad, and yet noble and dignified, a matter of honor, duty and loyalty... Perhaps something along these lines can be crafted for some of the heavier moments in the game.

I'm glad that IWD is inspiring the soundtrack for PE, as "Icewind Dale - Easthaven in Peace" sounds really good, calming and yet intimating that adventure awaits. Ffordesoon: Thanks for the links to the music from Dark Souls, I hadn't heard it before and it's very good indeed. My favorite song is "Great Grey Wolf Sif", but it's such a sad story that I'd never want to have to battle such a fine and noble creature.

I certainly hope he works on the expansion pack/s, as well. And Project Eternity 2, of course. =)

The answer is the money would come from the slacker backer donations, pre-paid in advance, this covers all their expenses up front. There's no risk and no problem for Obsidian that way, and can have as many boxed versions as players want to order.

Yeah, I was thinking along the lines of what you said, Lephys. I doubt there would be any great difficulty in simply increasing the order size for the boxed copies when they place it with the company based on the number of slacker backer (at a higher price, of course, than the kickstarter level) and pre-orders they get. And not every rpg fan knew about this game when it was on kickstarter, so there will surely be more who'd like to get boxed versions. And as I said, it also makes for a great gift to wrap up for family or friends. And I assume the basic boxed copy of the game will not be considered exclusive, unlike other physical goods.

Well, there's no point in turning down extra sales. Boxed versions would be in demand with rpg fans, they always are popular with rpg games of this quality. And since money would be made on each sale, why not? That helps fund the next game that will be made even better. Plus they would make great gifts for friends who are into rpg's.

Well, I suppose they could contract with some local small company to handle the physical shipping of the boxed versions, all of them would sell out pretty quickly, so there wouldn't be any need for a long-term contract. But whatever the costs are that would be factored into the price, $70 plus shipping should allow for profit on each sale. So there wouldn't be any loss from it.

I'm not talking about producing 100's of thousands of boxed versions for sale across the country in various stores, I'm talking about being able to order the boxed version and it gets mailed to you (the customer pays the shipping costs) once the game is released. There's no big overhead in that, you simply charge whatever it takes to cover the costs and make a reasonable profit on each boxed version sold (say $60-$70, plus shipping). And you only produce them in limited quantities, once those sell out, they are all gone. And in smaller quantities, they will certainly sell out. You could even limit it to pre-orders only, boxed copies will only be made for those that get their pre-orders in within a certain cut-off date. After that point, it's download only on pre-orders.

Yeah, I was thinking they might make a limited production run of say 25,000 or so full boxed versions, and maybe even a few thousand Collector's Editions for when the game first comes out. But once those are gone, that's it. At least until Project Eternity 2. I think with an rpg of this excellent quality (obvious already at this stage of production), that number of boxed versions would sell out to rpg fans very quickly. In fact, if Obsidian can get pre-orders up and running for boxed versions early on, and they are getting tons of orders for them, they can boost up the number of boxed versions that will be produced and make enough to cover all pre-orders, plus several thousand extra for sale after the game is released.

I was wondering if there will definitely be a boxed version of Project Eternity (manual, maybe a paper or cloth map, etc.), that will be available and can be ordered once the game is released? Or are the only boxed copies made going to be for those that knew about the game in time to pledge for the kickstarter physical goods tiers? Thanks for any info.

I think dancing about or exaggerated movements for spells would look silly, but various subtle hand gestures and/or spoken words or phrases would make sense and look ok.

Historically, plate-mail had several layers: a hell of padding, chain and then the plate on the exterior. After the padding, potentially, leather and chain, there would be absolutely no reason why the plate would need to fit breasts as they -- for the overwhelmingly vast majority of instances -- wouldn't make a difference. Here's a realistic example which is chainmail (layers: padding and chain), not plate in which the breasts would be even less pronounced in: Hopefully the weapons and armor in the game will be at least plausible in their appearance. You can have style and interesting designs without making them look silly. This one is an excellent example. Great painting, too, Justin Sweet is very good. =)

I'd like to see monks reflect the Knights Templar model. Sort of warrior monks, pious and good-natured, but ready and able to fight if need be, with protections and enhancements given by the powers of their order. And maybe quite good at special close-in fighting techniques; perhaps disarms, stuns, things of that sort, unusual stuff that other classes don't use. Something that gives them their own style, with a variety of cool specializations that a character of that class can choose to focus on, to be even more unique.

Pine forests and cool highlands filled with fresh running springs are very enjoyable places to wander about and take in the scenery, as well as look for adventure in forgotten caves and such. And who knows what lives high up near those evergreen forests...