mrverbal

...and as soon as I posted this, one of the bugs fixed itself. Specifically, Aloth has a selection circle again. I suspect (but can't be certain) it was because I entered one of the "text adventure" sections (Ie I climbed the cliff to the wurm-egg). Not sure about the other one. edit: Yes, this appears to have fixed the "bug-bug" as well.

So this might be by design, but it's fairly annoying for those of us who like to use the party record to compare effectiveness of characters and as a sort of internal competition amongst the party. The record of damage done, damage taken, things killed etc is blanked when someone leaves the party. I'd like to be able to drop (say) Eder in and out and see him still as the person who has taken the most damage. It seems this record only stores data until the moment someone leaves.

I've encountered this for a while now. I think I know what causes it, or at least what it probably relates to. On a lot of maps, especially large are maps, there is an image of an Adra Beetle (much like the one you can summon with the figurines). It's not actually there; you can see it has no selection circle beneath it, and combat is not occurring. I believe it was due to either me summoning one of them, or possibly dominating one/having one dominated, in the endless paths (roughly the level with the vamps - level 9 I think?). Certainly I started noting it after that. Bug is purely graphical. At a similar time, another minor glitch occurred: Aloth doesn't have a selection circle anymore. I can still select by clicking the portrait. edit: I should atch that I'm playing via steam, and so should be fully patched.

In the shop (winfreths), there is an item called *Missing String* and I'm guessing it isn't some quest to return some string to someone. Some items also have odd icons (such as the paladin boots which apparently look like a sack of rice). Also found a missing string (which does 11-24 or similar) after killing the goons outside town. Several instances of text of the kind 'Invalid object - benevolent rank2' (EG - talk with innkeep, talk with the orlan upstairs in the inn)

Let me start with: Loving it so far. Obviously hoping we can fix some things and add some polish, but game feels very deep and character creation has a frankly dazzling array of options. So the below are things that I am critical of, but overall I feel positive thus far I've come into this paying very little attention since I shut up and gave you my money, so some of this may be things that have already been discussed in emails. However! It won't have been for whoever buys it on steam or GOG, so it seems valid. 1) I don't really have any idea how high or how low a stat makes you average. If my resolve is 3 - or 18 - what does that mean, exactly? Feels a little like I'll get in, play a few hours, and restart once I have some idea how characters work. (I mean, I'm assuming these are essentially D&D stats) 2) The initial loading screen feels a little like the game has crashed. Some kind of loading-image or bar would help a lot! 3) When I'm doing my stats, the bonus for whatever the default 'where I grew up" is added in to my stats, causing bad feels when I realise what I'm getting is less of a bonus and more of a moving a point from A to B. Would be better if it was only added once you get to that screen. 4) Selecting spells - I'd like there to be some mechanical info. Ok, so Minoletta's minor missles summons 3 spell missles. (What the hell is a spell missle? Sentence does not entirely parse). How much damage do they do? does the damage scale with my stats? With level? If it is with stats, can I move spell selection to after stat selection so I can have some idea which spells are best? 5) Still on stats: I may have missed it, but it's not entirely intuitive which stats are in general most important for which class. If I'm a wizard, do I need high resolve? High int? does my Str matter at all? I've currently got no idea because there doesn't seem to be any real info in the character creation section. Is there a manual before I get this far? 6) For the godlike: This might just be me, but I suggest not defaulting first to the death godlike. They are the most extreme-looking of the 4, and it may turn players off the option before realising there are other options. 7) In the game itself: In the shop (winfreths), there is an item called *Missing String* and I'm guessing it isn't some quest to return some string to someone. Some items also have odd icons (such as the paladin boots which apparently look like a sack of rice) Several instances of text of the kind 'Invalid object - benevolentrank2' (EG - talk with innkeep) 9) Aaaand combat. Combat feels wildly chaotic, and not in a good way. I felt in general I had no idea what any of my characters were doing or who was where. I didn't know why there were dots over everyones head - HP? Actions? It was the fight with Medreth and his men, and it just felt like a giant mess. I was getting constant "weapon ineffectives" for BB fighter, and couldn't tell if he was being unlucky or was just dreadful. Overall, thus far, the asthetics and the world - excellent. Super deep. Lots of potential. But the combat is a bit of an ugly mess, IMO. edit: Apparently there is abug forum and I should crosspost some of this over there

8 does seem a tad low on the companions side; and I'd love to have a bigger than 4 person party. 4 person parties often lock you out of having the most interesting classes because you have certain minimum requirements, often.

So in the update you suggested you're keen to hear our ideas. Well...here we go! But before I talk about races and classes, I think the key thing to do is get community involvement. Run some contests - say to design a portrait or 3. I'm sure some artisticly minded people would love to take part (and I could watch!) Obviously you want to avoid stepping on the toes of those who have ponied up to create NPCS and so on, but - I'm sure you could do something. Also, perhaps you could - ala the Reaper kickstarter (which if you weren't following, go do some research - it should be your primary playbook!) - add some 'extra cash' goals. Maybe you could, I don't know, sell the tshirt to people on the $65 or less goal for 20 bucks or something. But the primary thing is: Give us a chance to get involved! Have a few little stretch goals scattered to keep people excited and throwing money at the screen! So on to the whole race/class thing: It's something of a dilemma. Obviously, you don't want to just try and jam a copy of lord of the rings into your CD drive and call it a day. But, equally obviously, you don't want to hack off customers who really, really like playing dwarves and elves, or who expect the base classes to be fighter/rouge/wizard/cleric/somethingorother. (The lack of a standard obvious fifth class is, in my mind, a positive. Unless you intend to use bards. Frack bards.) I'd suggest the solution is to have the 1.1 mil goal be the standard fair - made unique to your world, but, you know. There is a reason even more with the classes than the races that the standard 4 are pretty standard - it's that what else are you rationally going to do? Then you can have some paladin-ranger-monk-alternate spellcaster classes as we pop up tiers. You have the same options on races, and I think it's more important to use the bonus races we generate for differentiating your world. Maybe you could have playable....I don't know. Werewolves, fae, lizard people, half-elemental types, tieflings, etc - the list is large and complex. (I personally favour tiefling types more than others of the 3.5e DnD half races, as demons seem the most likely to have spawn, but there you go). Additional ideas for additional stretch goals, tiers or just features: Strongholds: One of my favorite things in BG2 is the strongholds - the quests to get them, and keep them were very flavourful and exciting. And rewarded multiple playthroughs! Useful Cheevos: If you're going to have achievements, lets make them not suck. Look at ME1; lots of little bonuses for this or subsequent playthroughs based on having done exciting things. Religion: I'm sort of assuming you're going to have it. My personal preference is for the sort of polytheistic religions you get in classic D&D. So if you're going to have them....perhaps you could let people buy naming rights. (With obviously some negotiation so we don't see the high and might church of Yo Momma). I'm sure Notch is a sensible name for some kind of god. Just a few thoughts, anyway. I'm sure I'll be back.

Personally, i think that the whole inventory management idea is bunk; yes, it's unrealistic that I can carry infinite things, but who cares? I find it hard to credit that anyone every opened up a game of anything and thought "OH BOY! INVENTORY MANAGEMENT!!!"