Nonek

There was some rather good discussion in a thread by Hormalakh in the other forum, ah yes here it is: http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/63687-limiting-rest-areas/

Nonek do you consider me a trusted source? I'll happily review DA3 for you. I am confident that it will provide a worthwhile RPG experience While I appreciate the kind offer sir, i'm not too sure our opinions would be synergistic. However I thank you for the gesture. @Keyrock. Apparently one of the combat design team, a gentleman called Flash (ahhhahhh) is making a full combat rebalance mod for the second game, that deals with the common bugbears you rightly point out. One assumes it's also a beta test for the third games combat system.

It does seem that most rpg companions are fairly much slaves to the protagonist I agree, they put their lives on the line and yet recieve nothing other than what the main character deems them worthy of, as if they do not deserve an equal share of the loot they have worked equally hard to gain. I dislike that, it does not lead to respecting the characters in their own right, they are less people and friends, more tools to be used and disposed of when no longer viable. For a developer like Obsidian that produces the finest characters in the genre, this serves to belittle them in my view. One can of course see the need for a party leader, who directs and controls the individuals strategies and panoply, but too often it goes without saying that every aspect of the companions life is directed by the protagonist for no reason other than tradition. This doesn't make me respect my companions, they appear to be extensions of my will rather than allies in the struggle. For the record Obsidian is much better at avoiding this than any other developer I know, whether it's Kreia's hidden motivations and subtle manipulations or Boone's steady refusal to be anything other than what he is. Even if these people are co-conspirators in the protagonists endeavours, they should still not be so meek as to turn over all control of their finances and belongings to the main character without suitable renumeration. Mercenaries of course fight and die for coin as a matter of course, but even they can pick and choose their cause and employer, though of course they cannot abandon that employer without their loyalty and future employability being seriously called into doubt. Personally if i'm leading a party of individuals into a hostile situation, I want their loyalty and their respect, treating them as worthless and undeserving of pay or avoiding any kind of responsibility to them, seems a little rum in my book. One assumes it would in theirs as well, there are as many (if not more) responsibilities as perks to being a leader of men. Then again i'm always thrilled at the idea of more options and features, so that if one wants to play as a rather selfish individual that playstyle is available. Perhaps spies in your camp and traitors become de rigueur however, so that your lack of loyalty is mirrored by all those around you. Perhaps your companions are even lured away by your foes, with adequate compensation for their time and effort.

The Illustrated Man. One word at a time he carved the spells into his flesh, litanies of power scrawled and shifted as his brow wrinkled in concentration. Not once inch of his skin remained free of rune or sigil, for an entire library of secrets and spells wrapped around his body, the lost learning of a civilisation long since vanished. Finally his work finished he arose, naked as a babe and looked up to the rising sun. There was time yet, time enough to save his people and their knowledge. At his feet the corpse shuddered and steamed, the illustrations disappearing from its flesh. He looked down and shook his head, another life wasted in his quest, used up all too quickly. Who would think that this aged and withered corpse had seen only two dozen summers, there was a price for bearing the library, a price that he still held was worth it. Looking at his illustrated hands the Man flexed his fingers into a fist and watched sorcerous fires dance and flicker, young and strong, this body would endure for a while. With a gesture he robed himself in nondescript sackcloth, and turned his face to the dawn. Maybe some clue would be found on this path, maybe some hint left by his creators. It had been many centuries since the last marker, but the Man did not give up hope. The library would be re-united with its reader, if it must wander until the end of time. No other option remained to it.

For me it seems not unreasonable that Pauly might well require you to make a donation to mother church to secure his aid, presumably they pay for his food, lodgings, the upkeep of his arms and armour etcetera. Carry has to give up a lucrative mark she's been casing for the past week or so, and put her life on the line to help you, it's only reasonable that you should recompense her for her time and possibly if she's not coming back make sure her family are provided for. You might have saved her life seven times but she will have aided you a like amount, and neither of these put food on her table or make up for a lost job. Her time is valuable, a good friend would see that and pay her without ever being asked, at least in my eyes. As for the aid of mercenaries, they are what I would want to take into a dangerous situation. Professional, disciplined and obviously highly skilled in their field, thus justifying their fee. It's friends and family that I would not want to be taking in to a life or death situation. I think that companions all too often are overlooked as expendable assets, their worth only measured in how much they concur with your opinions. I'd prefer them to have worth with or without the protagonist, and to easily justify a fair days pay for a fair days work.

I'll probably buy DA3 if it garners enough good reviews from trusted sources (not "professional game journalists",) unless it's Origins only in which case i'll do as the song says and walk on by.

Unimpressed by either of them, Dragon Age seems to be sticking with the silly Mage war theme, features one of the odious cast from the second game and seems solidly entrenched in epic generic bombasity. The Witcher didn't really tell me anything I didn't know. The latter wins in my estimation because it showed gameplay however. Edit: Didn't vote because I don't know what the games will play like, can only judge the trailers.

Yes his rather loud firebrand personality is somewhat embarassing, especially when interacting with typical English reserve. Edit: Mr Jones that is.

Just watched an interview with an american gentleman called Alex Jones on this very subject, personally I want somebody watching this man, nuttier than a bag of dry roasted.

Yes I found that system in TOEE a trifle invasive myself, mostly because there was no arguing with the mechanic. These are people, therefore they can be reasoned with or even manipulated. One also assumes that they'll have some personal stake in the protagonist affairs, thus mitigating the usual price for securing their allegiance. Edit: Of course when personal matters rear their ugly heads how satisfying would it be to demand payment for your aid, or sitting back, giving them a superior smirk and proclaiming breezily. "I would not dream of charging such a close friend."

Obsidian are quite good at providing a logical reason for the protagonist attracting followers, but what of more traditional forms of cohesion, that of financial renumeration? It may be more appropriate for some followers than others, the more mercenary of personalities, but even the most personally involved and charitable fellows will need a little pocket money. These will presumably be potent, skilled individuals whose services are in the world of Eternity quite highly valued, so their aid should logically be recompensed. Indeed if ones adventures become increasingly fraught with danger might the price of their assistance increase? Infiltrating the dreaded Onyx Citadel, infamous stronghold of the immortal Plague that Walks, should be judged as a little more risky than storming a back alley thumpers flophouse. Wouldn't a smart companion demand a few more pennies for this task? Indeed while recieving the quest ones followers could chip in to the conversation and demand better compensation, they are after all putting their lives on the line. Could you fall into debt with your companions, or knowingly decieve them and withold their pittance, thus affecting influence. Or might you have such a golden tongue as to persuade great loyalty, for the most meagre of purses. What of companions who have no control over their purse-strings, might they draw on their leaders credit, maybe even dip their fingers into the parties assets when no one is looking. Could this add another layer of personality and role playing in to the party dynamic? What say you gentles all, yay, nay or piffle?

If a priests belief has empowered him so much that he can call forth divine powers, then surely his faith in his chosen god is almost faultless, and if such faith should falter might not also his powers? Might be an interesting dynamic, to have ones power determined by ones belief and adherence to church doctrine. Of course the downside is that if the priest should ever lose faith, then his powers and focus will similarly be scattered and directionless. After all one cannot easily replace an entire lifetime of zealotry and obedience.

And you think that people made couples becouse sex of teen romances from entire time ? You think that 2 people can't be in "love" or deep relationship witch sexual desire with not going to "bawdy house". If you think so then i deeply sorry for you ... and let me have this irrational illusion ... you got fire ball i got romance Pardon old boy, not understanding your banter.

Personally i've always found deeper interactions and immersion comes from realistic depictions of characters, not the teen romances we are usually subjected to, i've certainly never thought thought of a character as lacking because they have no romantic feelings for my protagonist. If the only method of getting to know characters is through romance/sex then i'll be majorly disappointed with the game, your colleagues may simply not be attracted to your character, and that's fine I certainly wouldn't hold it against them. If requiring stress relief through sex, simply visit a bawdy house, one assumes the bigger cities will have them in abundance.

Kreia was attractive, to me at least, strong, intelligent and motivated. The fact that she remains cloaked and hooded throughout is obviously a thematic element, she is in a sense hiding. Personally one suspects that she would regard revealing clothing and such as rather childish, a blunt and obvious form of manipulation and pandering.

In many ways I don't want to change the NPC's. Take Boone in New Vegas, nothing you say or do will change the essence of who he is. The man is forever looking through his scope at the women and children streaming out of Bitter Springs and his pregnant wife, nothing the player says or does can change that. All you can do is show him a different way of coping with it, and make him aware that he is not so alone as he thought.

So long as it's not blatantly stupid, or has some thematic reasoning, then i'm not particularly against highlighting the beauty of the female form. Far more important to me is their actual character, motivation and depth. Lets look at Isabella from Dragon Age 2 as a low point, she's not smart enough to realise that in a temperate port city she'll contract hypothermia if only wearing a shirt, especially stupid as she's a native of a much warmer climate. Not only this but she hasn't the intellect to don at least a gambeson to avoid scarring, injury and mutilation from the melee that erupts every few yards in Kirkwall, so she doesn't mind scars, missing teeth, limbs and debilitating injuries. As with all the companions she has no initiative, comes and goes at the bidding of others for years at a time and has no purpose other than to spout pathetic juvenile one liners. There's really no justifying making such a crude caricature. But then again we have Kreia, who needs no such pandering or stupidity. No pathetic witticisms pass her lips, in an attempt to curry favour with the protagonist. No blatant stupidities are indulged. This woman is focused, terrifying in her strength and conviction, deeply flawed in her arrogance and speciesism, but motivated by a moral goal. A goal that sees her abandon either side of a binary tyranny to champion free will, and she should have won, she was the true hero of the Sith Lords. About time we got rid of the former and aped the latter a lot more, in my humble opinion. Kreia was far more attractive to me as a woman and concept than the functionally retarded pirate stripper. Even more impressively she didn't fall back on the clumsy and blatant empowerment of mass slaughter, she manipulated and misdirected, rather than just accruing an ever larger body count. Utterly refreshing.

You do have a point. Unless faith powers are not granted by deities, merely through belief itself. I agree that seems a touch too Torment like however. This subject of faith (and the loss of it) is a most puzzling conundrum to be sure.

One wonders whether it might be feasible to implement faith powers based on heresy and pariah-hood, a specific set of skills and powers based around a "fallen" priest, possibly even make it a faction in the game. One can imagine society at large would not be too welcoming for the unfortunate godless individuals however, varying in effect from disdain to trying to collect a bounty, all under the auspices of doing the gods work of course.

Danger Monk erm I prefer a Dangermouse, because he's terrific, he's magnific. He's the greatest superhero in the world. Dangermouse, powerhouse. He's the fastest, he's the quickest, he's the best. Dangermouse.

Always thought the appelation Belly Shaker was rather fetching, you could always make him a Sturlusson in honour of the wordsmith, or give him a kenning name like Woundweaver or Woundwulf meaning sword and axe, Bluthrafn (blood raven) if he's fond of the battlefield, or maybe even use one of the mythical names like Nidhoggr (corpse tearer) the dragon chewing at Yggdrasils roots. Ironically you could name his house something unflattering like Nithling (cursed) or Skraeling (wretches.) Classically you could go with Volsung, Scylding, Fafnirsbane or suclike. Know it's a touch risky, but I always liked Hardrada (Hard ruler) personally.

A long time ago in a university far, far away me and the chaps were playing in a Kislev campaign, the GM mixed roleplay with battle rules and had us overseeing (read banished by the Ice Queen) a small keep on the border with troll country known as Grimwall. Finally our bloodletting gained the notice of a champion of chaos, who promptly gathered his warband, rode up to our walls and challenged us to mortal combat. We obligingly shot the dastard full of crossbow bolts, they didn't do the trick, his armour blessed by Khorne made him invulnerable to all weapons forged by man. So laughing boy rides back north and we breathed a sigh of relief, until a massive horde of beastmen arrive with our friend Morngrang the Destroyer (yes rather cliche but he's Khornish, not known for originality) and his warband at their head. Siege, very gritty and barbaric ensued. Well long story short, with the Oblast empty of reinforcements, rats growing scarce and the taste of our own urine growing a touch galling we resorted to desperate measures. Set our dwarven sapper to making a tunnel we could escape through, and sod the enlisted men. He found something. In the dark of the catacombs under the keep slumbered an ancient bane, a long slumbering evil, which awoke and offered us power in exchange for freedom from its tomb. Don't know exactly what the thing was, but our Bright Wizard told us that there were symbols of binding specific to Malal, the mad chaos god who hates and opposes all his brethren. We weighed up our options and were informed that the dwarf had found an old escape passage that he could clear in a day, we scarpered, bidding goodbye to our colleagues and the bound thing in the crypt. Back in Praag, scraping a living as mercenaries and keeping our heads down we are intrigued by a glorious entry to the city. The brave men of Grimwall keep are riding into the city in triumph, having thrown back a massive chaos horde, at their head a lowly sargeant who strangled Morngrang the Destroyer to death with his bare hands, a man whose eyes gibber with madness and search the crowd. The GM had simply had the men go looking for us and finding the thing (and not knowing of the secret passage,) succumb to its temptations. We were in the crux of a most thorny dilemna, admitting our guilt would place our heads on the block, keeping quiet would let this abomination enjoy promotion and be empowered in its search for us. It ended back at Grimwall, but there were many machinations and pleasing turns before we finally burnt that keep to the ground, with the aid of a most zealous Witch Hunter named Pursuivant and the sacrifice of our Bright Wizard Helmut von Bomm. Always thought this was a great little campaign idea, pleasingly fluid, wish it had had a touch more of those slavic influences however. Good luck anyway.

Heartily agree old chap, very good ideas. Wizards - The whispered rumours of dread grimoires, weilded by the greatest of their brethren throughout the ages. Tomes that hold dread powers and cunning snares for he who tries to decipher their secrets. Priest - As you say adherence to church doctrine, faultless faith and righteous zeal in the face of heresy and temptation. Gained through prayer and devotion. Chanters - Love the idea of the Chanter being a Mnemonikos, maybe hearing purer or alternate translations of the old saga poems and recitals. Learned from old Shaman and village wise women. Ciphers - Not sure, maybe self knowledge opens new doors in their minds, and in knowing themsleves they grow stronger. Or you could have foci, trinkets from childhood or from long dead Ciphers that still hold a portion of their mighty will.

I'd prefer if the weak blood of the godlikes mortal half was an almost negligible portion of their physical make-up, so that in essence a godlike will appear as his divine half mandates (the mandate of heaven?) rather than the flesh dictates. Saying that I wouldn't mind a Satyr appearance, l'apres midi d'un faun.

So can I call myself a Necromancer yet?