Wirdjos

I would enjoy seeing magic being a PART of science. In a world where magic does exist, why would science oppose it? It would be a part of the world that science is studying. If it exists, studying its nature only makes sense. As does experimenting with its uses. Magic home heating systems? Summoner run meat farms and physical labor companies? I would actually prefer science attempting to explain/integrate magic and largely failing. I feel that if magic can be explained as a biological process with clear constant rules, it's not magic anymore, it's just another scientific principle. I'm fine with that. My point is that science should at least try to understand it instead of being "against" it. If it blatantly exists, scientists would try to study it and try to use it. Agreed. I think we'll get some delving into this topic. Using the printing press comment as an example, I really think this world is being thought out which means exploration of all sorts of 'if this happen then this would be the cultural reaction' topics.... This game really just gets more exciting to me each time I hear more about it's lore.

I would enjoy seeing magic being a PART of science. In a world where magic does exist, why would science oppose it? It would be a part of the world that science is studying. If it exists, studying its nature only makes sense. As does experimenting with its uses. Magic home heating systems? Summoner run meat farms and physical labor companies? I would actually prefer science attempting to explain/integrate magic and largely failing. I feel that if magic can be explained as a biological process with clear constant rules, it's not magic anymore, it's just another scientific principle.

I believe they have clarified that all KS funds will go to the main game itself - the expansion will be funded from their own pockets (i.e. sells), and that they are unlikely to do another KS for the expansion(s). That's correct. Here are the quotes from Feargus in the update itself and the comments afterwards.

I don't know if you meant it in this way, but a compass is a must for me and I mean a real actual compass that always points north. I wouldn't go hiking without one so why is my adventuring party traveling the world without know which way is north?

Exactly, there will be extra difficulties and such. I think I'm happy with all the handholdy features existing as long as the game isn't developed with those features in mind i.e. I don't want to be completely and permanently lost if I chose not to play with those features enables. Another thing to remember is that a digital strategy guide is included in many of the reward tiers. That could take the place of quest markers in some situations.

Now we're talkin! That would definately be an awesome version of "quest markers". I was always sad when an NPC would point out on your map a quest destination as it meant very little to me because it wasn't visually displayed. I usually thought "I wish he/she would mark it". Getting a quest then having the npc mark where it is on your world map where they'd mark where it should be or circle an area to find whatever it is you are looking for along with some text written in as a distinctive note from the NPC itself would be pretty cool. Getting a quest from a drunk where his note is basically chicken scratch and almost illegible would be a nice touch. Want a clean map again? Just buy a new one from a nearby store. This right here! I would like a journal and map that updates with a character's understanding of what was said and pointed out. It should also be editable like BG2 so that I can add little 'next to the blacksmith, you fool' notes like someone mentioned earlier. As far as there being traditional quest markers like giant arrows and what not in the game, I think Malcador said it best.

I think this is right mentality to have here. I'm don't know how games are actually made, so I don't know how all this new content is going to be managed. calmed a lot of my fears as far as small budgets and what not. I believe Obsidian has proven they know what it takes to do projects with limited resources, so I don't think they are going to push the date back. However, we should all be prepared to be okay with a later release date should they choose to do so.

I can understand dropping the signed items. As another poster mentioned earlier, they have got to be signing so many things at this point that it's going to be insane. I personally would like another go at the beta, but I would understand if they dropped it with the kickstarter or just before everything else. Part of the purpose of this thread was to give Obsidian something to look at while/if they were deciding to extend the fundraising. It would be great if those that are comfortable doing so would mention how their pledges might be affected if everyone was allowed to donate after the kickstarter ends.

I said this quite a bit when the expansion was announced, but was informed by other posters that it was indeed quite possible. Beyond that, trust Obsidian. They've made these games before, made them on small budgets, and there's no publisher telling them when they have to do what. They clearly love this project as they are going to make an expansion with their own funds, so I'm sure they won't release a half finished or buggy game. I guess the only downside of doing that is it might remove some of urgency that often leads to a surge in pledges as Kickstarters come to an end. Especially if they confirm that the reward tiers will stay exactly the same on the paypal site for a long period of time. That's understandable, but easily alleviated by saying the higher tiers would be removed--e.g. everything above level $80 or something (with physical add-ons still available). Or remove specific rewards, which can be tricky. Absent removal of actual tiers, then raising the Paypal prices would be easiest, I imagine. I imagine the status of paypal will just be announced after the kickstarter closes. I would hate to lose the chance at some of the physical goodies I mentioned earlier so I hope they go above the $100 tier.

This is the sort of thing I like. I know this isn't historical fiction, but I like the application of historical fiction thinking. This isn't Earth so it wouldn't have developed the same way, both because of favors that obviously aren't present and because the course of history is altered by somewhat random occurrences. Mentioning that, for whatever reason, this world hasn't developed the printing press yet means that the developers are considering the ways in which the printing press changed people throughout history and how everything would have been different if it didn't happen. Thus historical fiction thinking in a fantasy world.

I can see this issue as well. My preferred setup has all of the lower kickstarter reward tiers (up to $500) staying open through paypal (with the exception of the credits mention) and only closing when Obsidian goes to order all of these things. I don't know how well that would work, but it solves the bulk goods issue in my not-knowing-things mind.

I'm a lot less interested in letting the stretch goals stay open. Like you said, I think that would cause development issues. That all sounds good. I just don't want to miss out on a lot of the physical goodies I imagine won't be offered later. I would be in favor of a system that saw things like helping to make game content and appearing in the credits drop with the kickstarter but other things like the collector's book and the cloth map stay open for another year or so. That way the early pledgers will feel appreciated and the late comers can still donate and get some great collector's items.

This is my plan should they allow it to stay all open. I've heard somewhat confusing things about how Inxile is running their after kickstarter campaign. Could you go more indepth into how it was before and how it is now?

I recently read this interview with Feargus Urquhart and one answer in particular on the subject of continuing fundraising caught my attention. This is one question I'm more concerned with than most and I had never considered the reactions from people that pledged a lot of money all at once for something that they thought was going away. So I would like direct answers from the community at large, specifically people in the higher tiers. How would you feel if Obsidian decided to keep the fundraising with all of the rewards open after the kickstarter closes? If you would be okay with everything staying open, how long should it be open? If you would prefer some rewards stick around and others don't mention that. I'm not exactly impartial on the subject as I ran out of money on a tier much lower than I would like. If I'm allowed to continue working towards reward tiers, I will likely double my pledge by the end of the year. So feel free to ask me questions about my pledge habits/feelings.

nicely. The thing I always wanted from DA:O was a finely bound version of Brother Genitivi's travel journal. I would have (probably still will) paid a stupid amount of money for that. So... Kinda like the Diablo 3 Book of Cain? I think it's written from a characters perspective (Cain), explaining a lot of the bits and pieces of lore in the world. And it has detailed sketches throughout it too. I love the idea of something like this, though I don't think it would be wise for the player to need it to play the game. It could be something that you could use to find out extra and read up on the lore more. I'd certainly prefer something like that to an in-game codex, DA and ME smothered me in so much information that I just stopped reading it all. The downside to another book of course is it costs money to make, and we already have a Collectors book which will probably serve much the same purpose. And the Book of Cain for example didn't come with Diablo 3 at all, you bought it separately from the game. Though with mentioning physical stuff that can be used in game... That brings to mind the old... What were they called, key wheels? The things with a whole lot of numbers and several wheels that you turned around to figure out the code to put in. They were a form of copy protection I think (in Star Control 2?), Ultima 7 had something similar asking for specific words also as a form of copy protection. But I think one of the Ultimas may have had a rune system of writing that it either gave you in the box so you could translate stuff yourself, or you might have had to figure it all out yourself completely. I can't remember. I know this is the 'what should be in the CE thread', but really, I'd just like someone to do a book like that. I would buy that separate of the game and preorder it and what not. I just think it would be a great add on.

I can hardly contain my excitement! I was really disappointed when I realized I'd never be able to get that hardcover art book. Now it looks like I can and this incredible sounding game gets to benefit from my need for nicely bound things. If you get the chance, you should really encourage Feargus to add some of this information to an update soon.

I am loving the timeline idea! That combines with... nicely. The thing I always wanted from DA:O was a finely bound version of Brother Genitivi's travel journal. I would have (probably still will) paid a stupid amount of money for that.

You are really just all sorts of awesome. Thanks again. Do you think there will be any issue with kickstarter vs. paypal? What I mean is I have donated $100 through kickstarter already. My goal is the $250 tier which I will continue towards after the kickstarter is done through paypal. Do you think it will be difficult to add the future $150 through paypal to the previous $100 through kickstarter? Should I cancel my pledge and send it through paypal instead?

Thank you for your continued help. I'll keep watching this thread.

Excellent update! I traditionally play a paladin, so that's great news. I also have always had a problem RPing worshiping a god, so I'm loving your take on him. The same goes for the bard. The explanation for that class alone would have gotten me to pledge. Everything is just so thought out. This world will clearly feel real and I love that. And if Ziets is even half as good as the boards have been saying, that goal is wonderful news as well. Now please announce that you'll be doing like Wastelands and keeping Paypal open so I can keep upping my rewards. I want you to take my money, I just haven't made it yet!

These have been answered. The Kickstarter funds goes to the base game. When the expansion is released, you buy the expansion. Only a very small amount of people will get the expansion for free for pledging a high amount of money to the base game as a thank you. Sorry. I saw the Feargus posts, I just didn't quite get it. I'm realizing more and more that I have no idea how the game industry is run. Thanks for looking into it, Madzookeeper and thank you for being patient with me. I believe I had a bit of a panic there.

This explains my feelings perfectly. I would also like to admit publicly that I believed in Dragon Age. Bioware, creators of Balder's Gate which is a series I greatly enjoyed, promised me largely what Obsidian is promising now. I thought I was getting a great new franchise based on the ideas behind games I enjoyed and you know what, I thought DA:O was pretty good. But when they announced the expansion before I felt like I had really played the game, that's when I knew the ship was sinking. I know Obsidian is not Bioware. I know they have a great track record, but I have been disappointed before. So please everyone, excuse the fear, both from myself and from others.

I'm not sure if I find this update exciting or disappointing. I was always hoping for this to be a franchise, so the idea of an old school expansion is a great one. However, it seems a little soon and I do wonder where the money's coming from. Have I missed the answer to that one? Apparently they are just going to fund this as a company? So does that mean they're going over to a publisher? Part of the appeal of this project, at least for me, was the fact that a publisher wasn't involved. It also seems like adding on the expansion kills any chance of a continued Paypal with reward tiers which means I'm stuck at my current tier. So many questions. Whatever the answers, I would really like the next update to focus on how the closing of the kickstarter is going to be handled.

Reasons like these are the only sort of reasons I would like to see drugs in P:E (excluding alcohol, do what ever you what with that) . I'm not interested in any emphasis on drug use, the evils or otherwise. If any sort of drug is introduced it should be to highlight a culture or add extra oomph to IMO more interesting topics like slavery. Addiction effects added to potion use is interesting, but probably a little beyond the scope of this game. I feel like you'd have to devote story around the mechanic to make it worth while and I'm just not sure P:E's the place to do that.

I'm also a huge fan of the postscript endings. I need the closure as well. However, the major failure of those postscripts shows up in any sequels. It's been too long since I've played BG1 (got to fix that soon) but I know in DA:O I was given endings for characters that didn't prove true in DA2 or even really in Awakening. I can see the BG series doing this as well by giving any of the starting companions in BG2 endings in BG1. So I would like to see these show up in P:E, they just have to be carefully written with a basic script for any sequels in mind when they are written. Little things like that can ruin playthroughs for me by killing immersion after the fact.