Zonn

As a big fan of Obsidian games and pretty much linux-only gamer for a year or two already (too lazy for dual-boot), I'd like to thank you for this effort. I hope that linux support will be more financially viable for games you'll decide to release with that:) Oh and a special thanks for same-time release on linux by the way:)

But that would add to immersion. It is realistic that it would be relatively easy for high-powered bandits to rape and pillage relatively unprotected small villages, although it of course also means that the rewards in items and gold would make it not worth it. I`m trying to say that existance of completely newbie location is not very realistic. You're wrong. It's completely realistic that not every single village in the game would be guarded. It's completely realistic that stronger monsters would be likely to hang out in some types of location whilst weaker monsters would be likely to hang out in others. Oh, come on. Why should all monsters of similar level be in one place? Is it some solidarity? Yes, some intelligent ones looking for more cool shiny things that they can rob in wealthy cities, other looking for power there and there is best trained guards. But what about less inteligent or ambitious foes? I think they should search for such places because they`ll be mightiest and nobody`ll fight them there. And there are reasons why strong intelligent villains can search for remote poorly guarded place. It`s good that world is changing and strong will take a place of feeble. It`s more realistic and interesting then if you clear all newbie locations and there won`t be anyone anytime soon. And I didn`t ever say that it`s ok just to give some uber equipment for goblin villagers and make them all high level fighters and mages. Added: If you ask what`s the reason of all the changes - well that`s up to scenarists. As example, while in the city protagonist smashed down head of criminal organisation, reveal activities of blood cult and persuaded mayor to increase sanitary state of sewers. So parts of these organisations escaped city, and, just as these sewers monsters, swarmed the countryside. Or elven council changed their policies and forced all those fearful monsters out of their forest. There are thousands of posibilities.

But that would add to immersion. It is realistic that it would be relatively easy for high-powered bandits to rape and pillage relatively unprotected small villages, although it of course also means that the rewards in items and gold would make it not worth it. I`m trying to say that existance of completely newbie location is not very realistic. And it would be good if PCs of higher levels can find their own challenges in locations if they were skipped it before. So there must be something other than level scaling. As example if you don`t go deal with nearby goblin village, then when you`ll come there mighty and cool you find that it was captured by orcs and you should deal with them. I don`t say that that there must be challenges for every character level in every location. But it would be great if location changes (within reason) while hero progress main quest and became more harsh...

Better question is why money is being spent on Linux version if all steam games will be on Linux? It doesn't work that way, all games that will be available through Steam on Linux/Mac OS X will have to be ported. Now that porting will be more or less work depending on the game in question. Steam is just a platform. All games from steam will be ported and PE is on steam, so it will be on Linux and Mac. PE=Steam=Linux Where does this break down? If you look at steam`s Mac games section you can see that not every Windows game is there. Only ones that were ported to Mac. The same is right for Linux. Ontopic: I`m using linux every day and this thread is offensive:)

I think "pure evil plot" is fine background for fantasy genre. But a different points of view on top of that would be cool

No scale. I think, locations should be filled with enemies of different levels, so they will be useful for players with different levels and not just "oh, this is newbie location, I will kill everyone here without a problem". Additional Elite guards for high levels is also good solution. But please don`t make low level intelligent enemies attack epic hero without reason...

#3. Romances in Baldur`s Gate format are pretty good. I would prefer romances between companions(not only conflicts) maybe even eternal triangle with protagonist in some cases and not only happy ending ones. That would be interesting. But actually, I hope Obsidian know their posibilities and it`s better to have only few good romance lines then a lot of moderate.