rjshae

My problem is I suspect this game might end up taking itself a bit *too* seriously. It's high-fantasy. Which needs to be, just now and ten, light and shade. Which is where we probably have irreconcilable POVs on what constitutes fun. The whole point of a CRPG is to be fun by simulating a distinct unreality. True. The designers will never be able to please everybody. In the end it's a judgment call. I trimmed the troll bait at the end of your message as unworthy of discussion.

Stamina is what causes you to manage your in-battle resources; it's like fatigue/bruising/minor injuries during a football game, becoming an increasingly significant factor toward the end of the match. Health is what causes you to get hauled off on a stretcher. A similar approach is used in Champions and it works very well.

I agree, but the guide would likely need to be unusual in nature to safely traverse this dungeon. Perhaps a friendly spirit of some type?

Why isn't there a "Obsidian knows how to make games; let them decide the best way to allocate the money" option?

The company advertisement is traditionally in the opening credits; everybody is comfortable with that so I don't know why they would change the model and risk hurting their reputation.

Wow. I guess movie-style posters aren't necessarily ideal as a backer item.

Wererats might be a bit of a handful for a first level character.

I too want to have fun, but in a game that takes itself seriously. I.e. a game that feels like it is trying to simulate reality.

To me it also speaks to the importance of reputation in the gaming business. Having prior successful titles makes it easier to get kickstarter backing for new projects. Backers would know that their money is a relatively safe investment because (hopefully) the people involved will want to maintain their high reputation in the business. Having the reputation and resources of an experienced company like Obsidian behind it also helped.

My guess is that X% of whatever they spend would go to QA, so it would scale with the income.

In video games, romance = sex scenes/fade to black and implied sex Yes and it seems just a tad anticlimactic and unsatisfying. Would it work if they take the Hallmark card approach: throw up a fuzzy romantic watercolor with a thoughtful poem and some tasteful music?

Evil-looking six-legged rats with forked tails and glowing red eyes...

I vote (d): let obsidian make the call. But there's no such option, so the poll results are questionable.

You guys are going to love trekking up 10 levels of undead-infested dungeons just to lick your wounds. I hope there's a teleportation system.

Personally I'm interested to see how this approach will work out. Pretty much every other RPG-style game out there rewards slaughter for its own sake. How well will it function now that the reward system has significantly changed?

Nope. You're comparing apples and oranges.

Nope.

Hmm, here's a zinger then: what would happen if the PC has a relationship with one of the companions, then a couple of levels later it is discovered the companion (or the PC) is pregnant? Deny everything and move to a new continent? Edit: On a more serious note, it is a situation that *could* be put to good use by a good writer. How it plays out and if you actually end up having to support somebody is not a given. Quite so. Of course, it does rather significantly fork the main plot. The writers would either have to arrange an unfortunate short-term resolution, or else insert a lengthy time break while the couple takes care of the child.

Excellent! Plus they are at three times the initial goal.

Hmm, here's a zinger then: what would happen if the PC has a relationship with one of the companions, then a couple of levels later it is discovered the companion (or the PC) is pregnant?

The two approaches (XP for monsters vs. missions) are not necessarily mutually exclusive. If the designers want to allow XP reward for vanilla monster-slaying behavior, they can always implement bounties as side quests. Alchemists will want the extracts from certain creatures; merchants for bandit scalps; village elders for getting rid of orc raiders, &c. The players would just need to be a little more patient about receiving their XP.

It was mentioned that nothing is set in stone yet, so we'll see. Definitely a good idea for the developers to create and maintain a consistent philosophy to the game though.

Yes, the game would need a mechanic that allows you to capture, hold, and transport prisoners. I think you should have to move them cross-country and deal with the consequences. You would also need a way to work with the slavers guild, since they won't necessarily like the competition. Apart from the mechanical issues of implementation, though, I don't think slaving by the PCs needs to be included unless it is a necessary part of the main plot.

They're obviously not going to show sex scenes, but perhaps a watercolor bedroom illustration with a little sonnet from the bard would do? Gives the mood at least.

Yep. It'd be good if this discussion were held in a different thread.