rjshae

I only use console commands to fix known bugs or while testing mods. To each their own, I guess.

I want to gain maximum mileage out of the developer's writing, so I'll take companions for the first pass. The second pass depends a lot on what happens in the first pass. If we end up with no companions for a couple of classes, I might want to add a companion from the adventurer's hall to try those out. I also like to try it with a completely different mix of companions. For a hardcore pass though, I'd probably go with the adventurer's hall and optimize the party for my tactical combat preferences.

Is that funny somehow? It just seems lecherous.

Odd-ball or exotic companions can become tedious because of their often one-dimensional nature. You might want to stick with unusual pets.

Gotta like the guy who feels compelled to stand up and point it out....

Possibly it could be interesting to have in-universe achievements be linked to the deities in the game, or at least the temples of the deities. That is to say, you go to a temple and ask what you need to do to support the associated deity. The priests say the deity would look favorably upon you if you did X, where X is something within the portfolio of that god. As an example, for a god of war, this may be challenging and winning a battle single-handedly against a particular opponent. Upon succeeding, you then get an atta-boy from the deity, which perhaps gives you some minor benefit.

I guess in an era when Seahawks-Saints playoff tickets are going at $400+ for 3 hours of play, playing $100 for an extensive computer game is becoming feasible. At least for high end gamers.

Crowdfunding for Star Citizen just passed US$35 million in December. They have just announced stretch goals for $36, $37, and $38 million. It boggles the mind.

I think Obsidian could do better with darker setting than Star Trek. Maybe Farscape, the schizophrenic under-rated tv series' game by the under-rated studio. It has a great name and it was awesome and it fits the great writing talent at Obsidian... I can see it! Are you saying you want them to produce an under-rated game?

When I see in-game 'achievements', I think "everybody and their mother probably already has this, so why should I care?". The levels in a class-based game already provide a sense of accomplishment. I suppose if the achievements you've gained unlock new abilities at level up, then it would matter.

I didn't see Wasteland 2 or Blackguards either. Is that because they are in pre-release/beta? That doesn't seem like a valid criteria.

I count a total of three people expressing some concerns about the spell effects; many more had positive opinions. Are you just trolling, or is this the first actual documented evidence of a time traveller from the future?

It's the same stuff they've presented before.

...caused by magic. WoT seemed to follow that theme. Somewhat.

Will reduced casting speed mean fewer spells per unit time, or just a lower likelihood of getting the drop on the opponent?

With good pathfinding, there's perhaps a law of diminishing returns at work which decides how much coding effort can be expended before the costs get too high. Maybe somebody should work on a genetic algorithm instead and train it up...

Okay, I'll play the devil's advocate: What's the fascination with Steampunk? I seems like a niche market with a relatively small but dedicated audience. Without heavy marketing, they game would have to be spectacularly good to attract gamers from outside this interest group. Otherwise, I suspect they'll be lucky just to break even.

I'd think just a general Scouting skill could cover foraging, outdoor navigation, hazard avoidance, tracking, and possibly animal skinning. It sounds like every class will have access to every skill.

You guys will harp on about anything and everything...

I would pay for a war boar mount...

You're talking about games that are more than a decade old. I'd be shocked if pathfinding isn't vastly improved. Even ToEE was better at it, although there they took the easy way out.

Parasitic Animat Not quite a life form, this is a suit of unfinished animat armor that was used as a punishment for enemy prisoners. The suit would draw upon the soul energy of the captives to animate itself and control the functions of the body. The benefit of this approach were that it was relatively easier to implement compared to the sacrifice required for a fully animated animat armor. The drawbacks are that the host body must be maintained through sustenance and rest, and the host could resist the actions to some degree, limiting the capabilities in combat. Once properly motivated, though, the combined suit and prisoner could make for an exceptional warrior. Obviously the wearers of such suits have long since died. However, on occasion a foolish treasure hunter happens upon a suit and boldly decides to try it on. Lacking a suitable master, the armor proceeds to fulfill its last orders... whatever they might be. This can make for an interesting dilemma should a party of adventurers come upon an imprisoned victim.

Time to play, "what happens next?"

Although it does have a 77% "yes" rate, this is only from the hard core fan base, that regularly come to the forums to check for updates. Only about 1,700 ppl voted here, while the initial kickstarter had 73,986 backers. Understood, but that doesn't negate my point. If the hard core fans didn't support it then it probably wouldn't fare too well. Per Lephys though, they may choose another approach.