Gibbscape_Torment

Make the mega dundeon optional (This is an absolute must). Make some of the city locations optional. I don't really see the problem here, as long as the devs don't feel the need to drag the story through every single location in the game.

Depends on the content within. i'd take 40 locations filled with detail and nuance ove 80 locations that serve no other purpose than making the game bigger.

None. My qualms with the resting systems mainly lies with how it is intertwined with the Vancian spell system. I really dislike having to guess spells. In BG, there may aswell be no rest system, as you can basically rest anywhere. It may aswell be like DAO, where your companions get up after battle. All BG is is a longer and more tedious version of that, with no benefits other than having to guess what spells you want to use. Which i never found particularly tactical. If Obsidian were to do resting, i'd prefer them to completely revamp the system. Since they aren't going with the Vancian spell system, i think their proposed rest system would already surpass any of the IE games' systems.

I agree that Loghain was not shown well enough within DAO. His scruples were rarely divulged, his maneuvers were rarely shown, and for the majority of the game he just seems incompetent. I have also read the novel which divulges Loghain's history, which contains information pertaining to Loghain that really should have been made known within DAO. You believing he should act more noble, for example, is a symptom of DAO's poor coverage of Loghain's character. He was actually a commoner, and rose to psuedo-nobility due to his help in ousting a usurper. His mother was raped and killed in front of him by Orlesians; as well as other family members. That and the things he needed to do to repel the Orlesians from his homeland had garnered him a gruff demeanor and generally cynical outlook on life. Once you have the entire scope, and delve into the details (Which, as said, was unfortunately not at the forefront of DAO) he's a very intriguing and very believable character. Just in the one game, much was not made known that should have been at the forefront of the tale. And i like Irenicus, mainly for his VA. I was just making exaggerated claims as i thought that's where the discussion was going

We doing this? The whole hyperbole to prove a point without actually providing any kind of justification thing? Very well. Irenicus is worse than Skeletor from He-Man. YOUR TURN

Ther is far, far, far more to it than what you have just described. The army wpuld have been desecrated by the Darkspawn, and Loghain had other motives. He was a very flawed character (as a character, not flawed in his character concept or execution). Nevertheless there are so many elements to Loghain and his actions that talking about it here would surely engulf the thread. If you wish to find out more about Loghain, you should pop your head into the Loghain thread on the BSN. It's the only place I'd call a safe haven in that wretched hive.

God no. There's a reason that crap has been left in the dust. The character needs believable motivations, otherwise i don't give two ****s about him. I'd prefer this not to turn into something as morally black and white as Star Wars. I won't agree... Usually what drives to be a villain is usually power, greed, revenge... - some just have their agenda fairly simple. It's not always the goal or reason that makes a villain great... It's THE PERSONALITY... Still the morality can be black and white, and not make the villain pale and unimaginative. Wasn't main BG2 villains agenda a simple revenge? Yes it was. And when Bioware tried to deviate from this bland character motivation, we got Loghain. A character i believe to be far better in every way. That's not to say revenge can't be done well, it just hasn't been done without the usual mustache twirling and kitten kicking tropes in games.

God no. There's a reason that crap has been left in the dust. The character needs believable motivations, otherwise i don't give two ****s about him. I'd prefer this not to turn into something as morally black and white as Star Wars.

So, because he's got a good voice actor? That's a pretty poor justification. Yeah his VA was awesome, but i in no way call him the best written due to it. I call him average at best, honestly. I thought Loghain far outdid Irenicus in terms of characterization and his justifications.

Toggle. Seriously, easy fix. Don't know why BG always forced you to walk, it made a lot of the travelling frivolously long.

Witcher 2's journal was definitely very original. Having another commentate on your deeds while simultaneously pointing out what the next objective was. The character would have to have as much charm as Dandelion though.

BG style with modernized categorization. I loved how the journal was actually "written" by your character. It makes the character feel more relevant to the game world in a way, and if done right, avoids conflicting with your roleplay. Obviously you wouldn't want an entry saying "The man i'm looking for is in loopooville. I WILL TEAR OUT HIS STOMACH AND FEED IT TO HIS PUPPY DOGS". But more neutral journal entries that don't express a strong opinion would be great.

The two IE giants, Planescape and BG2, have two different ways the dialogue is presented. Planescape has novel-eque dialogue, in the sense that it describes a character's movements and tone throughout the dialogue; while BG2 keeps the dialogue at it's fundamentals, showing only what is spoken by the particular character. Example: BG2: "...what do you want?" Planescape: You see a young girl, her stance emanating a desire to run. She looks at you with widened eyes, an expression you can only deduce fear being the culprit for; "...what do you want?" Planescape was sometimes berated for it's lengthy text, and much of that text was indeed describing character visuals instead of keeping to the basics. Nevertheless, i personally enjoyed the higher amount of detail such a presentation was able to deliver. What would you prefer in PE?

Not really.....COD is for a completely different audience than RPGs not made to accommodate them and this one certainly doesn't. The ADD shooter-spaz genre doesn't really mix with the RPG genre.....attempted mixtures result in catastrophe(see ME3 and DA2). I think you may be assuming too much here. First off, CoD does have a pretty good portion of the vote. I'm sure a good number of those votes are meant as jokes, but certainly not all of them. Not EVERYONE who plays a game like Call of Duty can be included in the the "shooter-spaz" genre. Some are folks who love playing war games, but that are "sophisticated" enough to play a more in depth RPG as well. No, they're all jokes. Even if one did love both COD and IE games (I personally love BFBC2), only a fool would actually genuinely think making an IE game like a shooter would be a good thing. Seriously dude, they're all jokes.

I'd rather see it ported to a tablet.

Yes, minor minor minor. Those aspects are what i consider to be ridiculously minor. And FYI, just because a game is more personal and less "SLAY THE BAD DRAGON FOR AZUTOPIA!" in no way makes it JRPG influenced. Lol.

Dragon Age has the best PC UI out of any games made in the last few years. I really have no idea what you're on about here. But to the OP, do you use your computer with a controller? Use Excel, Word, your browser, your file maintenance with your controller? Hell no, it's just terribly cumbersome. You would not in any way be able to play PE with any kind of effectiveness with a controller unless Obsidian create a completely seperate UI for console; which cannot be done without changing fundamental design decisions for the game. So in short, it's not going to happen. Unless you're masochistic enough to use Pinnacle and move the cursor with analogue sticks.

It will probably allow a zoom function. So not completely fixed.

This makes absolutely no sense. Could you explain to me why you think Torment resembles a JRPG in any way? Even if the post was made in jest, there usually has to be some element of truth to the statement made. Read page 37 in your torment manual, and specifically read the Thanks To section. You might want to sit down first before you do. Okay, well now i can see where the joke comes from. Still, the similarities are very minor, regardless of inspiration. Avellone took inspiration from comics for PST aswell, but that doesn't make it more similar to comics than any other cRPG.

Let's hope not. Nothing remotely tactical or fun about a spell that is a OHKO and cannot be avoided.

This makes absolutely no sense. Could you explain to me why you think Torment resembles a JRPG in any way? Even if the post was made in jest, there usually has to be some element of truth to the statement made.

Don't know if you realize this, but classic cRPG lovers are an extremely vocal, extreme minority. Among this extreme minority, Planescape lovers are not as much of a minority as you think they are; as shown by the poll's results. Once i find evidence of this "Planescape minority" among the already extreme minority that is the IE enthusiasts, i can agree with your claim. Until then, all clamor should be equally heard or ignored; depending on Obsidian's mood.

HAHALOLOLHA Anyway, this interview sounded very tongue in cheek. The statements made here are likely Avellone just having a laugh, and really shouldn't be quoted as set in stone promises. Planescape had romances, and that entire thing was essentially Avellone's brain child.

I am in favour of PS:Ts system. There is no indicator showing which option is the one that wins the argument, but it shows the intentions of your character. Having "bluff", "truth", "lie", "joke" there is a necessity. How would the game discern whether or not you were genuine in your threat? How would YOU know whetrher or not the threatening dialogue you chose would end up in you attacking the person, when you just intended to bluff? No, it's foolish to have no intention tags. It's not being "hand held" or being given a "silver platter" as many elitists like to call everything that isn't convoluted. It's just good game design.

HA HA! Thank the lord the devs don't share the psuedo sadistic vibe all up in this thread. Forcing one to start the game anew because they didn't build their character properly is just a crime. Unknowingly gimped your character to the point of uselessness because you're not an RPG veteran? Tough ****, says the forum! Didn't guess the right spells to use in preparation for a level you know absolutely nothing about? Boobs be tough, chants the RPG vets, you must reload for not being a fortune teller. Obsidian are proving to know exactly what made and hurt the IE games of old.