Nonek

Why not have a "challenge" ability for the warriors, where they can call out high level foes and resolve combat mano a mano (the way John Wayne would have done it,) thereby avoiding mass combat. Make its use limited to once a day, and have its usefulness be mitigated by the risk of facing a mob without your best meat shield by your side, as he's currently near death and will require days of healing and recovery.

I am not a stretch goal, I am a free man! But seriously, sounds like a worthy notion.

Cultural differences, in dress, speech and moral viewpoints. The decadent kilted profligates of the soft southern cities, a racial mish mash of half a dozen peoples, garishly adorned and of a driven cheerful disposition should stand in stark contrast to the conservative betrousered and drab northerners, who ride forth from the dark wald to trade their kine and furs on the borderlands.

Wagner, something bombastic, powerful and melancholic such as Gotterdammerung.

The usual Obsidian quality of maturity is fine, human flawed characters, conflicting moral viewpoints and no real good or bad just choices and their consequences. Honestly don't think that the quite childish and illogical style of Dragon Age 2 would fit into an Obsidian crafted game, they're fun in a mindless accessible manner but I expect a lot more depth from Obsidian, substance over style. Do apologise if I seem to be hating on Bioware, I know their games have a lot fans and i'm one of them, but Obsidian to me are markedly different in what they produce.

In one of my old pen and paper games we had an order of necromancers (the Whispering Ashen) who were solely interested in documenting and recording history from eye witness accounts, it grew out of an idle conversation about what ramifications certain spells would have realistically.

Another branching of Ravel?

I'd just like to add my vote to this notion.

Perhaps the in combat small healing could be necromantic, the capturing of the fleeting life essences of dying foemen healing your wounds. Grisly and something some players would not want to use.

I'd be fine with less but more gruelling combat, the busywork of repetitive slaughtering is one of the curses of modern gaming in my opinion. If draconian healing options and lingering wounds necessitate that, i'm all in favour of it.

Tracking, divination, research, bar games, hunting, prayer, escaping from imprisonment, labouring for coin?

I'd prefer a more organic systems that gave bonuses depending on ones background, the street raised urchin would have a natural affinity for rogueish skils, the foundling raised in a remote monastery would gain bonuses to lore and arcana etcetera. We then have a classless system but the npc's would still naturally excel in certain roles.

Alpha protocol, your actions have consequences.

Perhaps two forms of magic: Small invocations for combat, conversation and such that are quickly cast and easy to learn. Ritual magic for healing, divination and the larger spells that requires grimoires, components and all manner of arcane paraphernalia.

No romances is fine by me, npc's sexuality should remain their own business like in New Vegas. Whatever you do however please don't have situations like Dragon Age 2 where we are assaulted by constant juvenile come ons when we've only tipped our hats in passing.

Will we have the dreaded regenerating health bar that makes combat fairly irrelevant as soon as it's ended, or will we need bandages, medical attention and bedrest to heal ourselves if spells are not available. Also in a related matter, will we be saddled with the old healing potion options or will we get something more logical than uncorking and necking a flask mid melee? Such as minor healing magics etched into your skin beforehand that can be used up with a mere thought or small magic sign, some manner of vampiric thirst, abilities that allow us to catch a second wind mid combat (if our endurance/constitution allows it.)

Oversized, unwieldy and hideously ornamental weapons. Spiky impractical armour. Feeble quest rewards (oh you've just slain the Morngrang the Destroyer, Archbastard of Infernum? Here's a weakly enchanted dagger.) Give us a backpack if we're playing pack mule. Make a gold piece have some value, and a purse full of them be a very fitting reward (if you use gold.) I neither eat, drink, sleep or ever sit down...I am Iron Adventurer.

Echo bay far away in time, echo bay far away in time.

One's rather excited about this, pledged of course, but spreading the word amongst my old posse and one of the lads was wondering whether you'll be accepting Paypal pledges at some point. Anyways ttfn.

Personally I feel Bioware still create some cracking fun adventures, but i'm fairly much in agreement with everything you said. Still Dungeon Siege speaks well for what Obsidian can do when using their own engine, and New Vegas stands as a testament for how much they can re-invigorate a setting when they use another developers.

Now you're not calling Torian Kel lifeless surely? Personally my taste run more towards Obsidians and Troikas blend of deep narrative, flawed human characters and interesting original settings that invert the usual stereotypes. But I must admit Bioware are very good at making their by the numbers, emotional and flattering power fantasies. They're all very easy to play and usually as solidly constructed as a brick outhouse. One can see why their accessibility trumps Obsidians ambition in many other peoples eyes.

Seems rather existential in some respects, also reminds me of Aristotle, I think he was speaking on the getting of wisdom increasing mans sorrows or some such. Been a fair few years since I studied the classics however.

That word Esenath has kept running through my head all afternoon at work, don't know why but I feel i've heard it before somewhere.

Ooh Jormungandr, colour me intrigued, brightened up my day.

King of Dragon Pass. Call me a grognard if you wish, but most modern rpg's and rts's should be ashamed of themsleves in comparison, seriously this game is enormously ambitious, reactive and feature packed. Highly recommended.