Osvir

Awesome, great post PsychoBlonde and great points :D I posted my thoughts in the other Day/Night thread, more information/ideas there too. 1. Travel times could be dependent on your Stamina? Could you get a "Camp interface" if your Stamina goes low where you get to interact with Companions/Rest/Get Ambushed/Craft etc. etc.. Is Stamina a time based resource? (I saw some people talk about "sense of urgency" when I made the collection thread*see signature, which a constant stamina loss could represent (only replenished by resting or healing stamina)). 2. Agreed. 3-4. Agreed :D

Interesting question Crimson and a good take on it. How do you define Love? Laughter, Attention, Attraction, Friendship, Family, Wisdom, Harmony, Experience, Smiles, saying "Hi" to a stranger, Hugs, Kindness, Happiness. So much yet so little and vice versa. How do you define Passion?

I would like to add two more to the list (those which I would prioritize if I were a Developer me thinks, if it was a question of prioritizing anything regarding a Tool-Kit): * Companions Yes, we are getting the Adventurer's Hall, but I am talking about being able to mod in a Companion and place them somewhere in the world, add Dialogue to them, mix and play with their Class. Giving my character concepts life purpose and a back story in P:E. Make your own V.I.P Companions, instead of getting Cadegund and Edair every game. *Class Kits Being able to create unique, our own one-of-a-kind Class Kit for those Companions or for use for our own Character. These are 3 specific (Dialogue/Class/Companion) things I can think of that would naturally cause more replayability. Sound, Models and Map are deeper modifications for a more immersible world, whilst being able to create Companions/Class Kits and more Dialogue on the fly would give the Player more options and variety.

Realism is by defeinition believable. Also, quoting definition doesn't make you look smart Or right. Actually it kind of does, he researched I did not. Bending this into a Rogue on-topic post: I would love it if my Rogue would be a tool I could use to research stuff in the game, find tidbits of lore and/or information that leads to treasure.

I love challenges, I agree that combat should be fun, likewise a "challenge" should be fun as well. I put challenge/combat in the same boat because Combat is a Challenge. Beat this group of Ogre's or you are dead; challenge. Or you could run away high tailing it in the other direct

Oooh... I researched to understand what you were going on about and dug this deep into it... curiously I kind of want it in P:E :D (anti-hero protagonist) http://en.wikipedia..../Harry_Flashman Off-Topic though but this thread is dead *shrug* it came to do what it came to do

Haha Planescape: Torment? I thought it hilarious :D In Penny Arcade 2 I think you've got a long quest (AFAIR) in search for an invisible key. In both of these cases the cages had deeper meaning, and were like a real wall/cage and not just some imaginative theatrics. EDIT: @PsychoBlonde: There is also the Superman meteorite, random area.

As a design choice, would clouds float across the screen, limiting your vision of them or should you see shadows of clouds on the ground? Torches during the night? Is vision going to be a mechanic? (brighter = easier to hit, darker = harder to hit, just as you can't see as far during night as you can during day... unless having infravision or something) How dark can dark night get? So dark that you have to have a Torch or a Gamma Option? Could there be a "Darkness Options" altogether where the Torch still lights up (even if Low Gamma) just as much as it would light up with High Gamma (basically not make the torch-lighting be affected by Gamma). If you are out in the middle of a forest without any light, isn't it almost pretty much pitch black?

In-Combat thoughts, in the sense of Baldur's Gate; A Fighter, a Rogue and a Sorceress:

I'd like to start off as a Wizard, but at the end of the game I might be a, exampl, Wandslinger (dual wielding wands like a boss). I would like ir if my build order built my class. To be honest Kingdoms of Amalur does this in an interesting way.

I am under the general concept of less combat more story. There are some games (Like Odin Sphere) where I think Combat is just in the way after a while, that it is a tedious routine and I just jump over everything to get to the next story segment (resulting a way too weak character and I can't defeat that super difficult boss because he one-shots me, if I had leveled I might've been able to take 2 hits before going down on the 3rd... Odin Sphere is difficult~) But I still want combat there, a challenge in a way. In Baldur's Gate I imagine my narration on Combat, why was it important to defeat that Ogre? Why did I hunt those bears down when I could've moved on? It's all me. I think that P:E, if done like Baldur's Gate, it would benefit from situational enemies based on where you're at in the game. If you clean swipe an area no more enemies will return because I cleansed the entire area... the question I've got is... will that cause any consequences that could be narrated? Imagine I kill all the bears in one area, the woodsman and guardian of the forest might take strong offense to that and send a horde of monsters at me.

It's a Multi-Choice poll

I voted for Love and Friendship, I'm personally not interested in the sex part (unless the game does it in an elegant way). A good way, in Baldur's Gate I romanced Dynaheir (Mod) and she was always by my side in this kind of cool way, not all too gullible but genuinely interesting banters. About the world, about the party, even deeper into Dynaheir's life, some about Minsc etc. etc. I got lots of feedback of the world, and I love that type of thing. When we got to the sex part of the Banter it was just "fade to black" after some very minor, subtle, "taking off clothes" text. When the screen faded out of black there was a short banter with Dynaheir that still didn't touch the "fading" process and "moving on" (thinking about it, Dragon Age: Origins did that too, right after I believe). I'd say it was a sensual and non-intrusive approach (where the game doesn't narrate "Love" for me), where it leaves the entire act to the imagination whilst Dragon Age: Origins presents it more in a forced and silly way.

Didn't read all the posts. Piecemeal armor, but in a new way. The Torso could actually be linked to the Torso, by "upgrading it" or finding new gear to it you would make the Barbarian skin tougher (Like a real man) or you could add armor straps, wolfskin leather and finally with some plate on top of it. Likewise you could go all out (without armor) and be a Conan the Barbarian with a only a small piece of cloth around your waistline and just have a solid skin (without armor). It adds to the ability to build your character differently. Armor Advancements. Deus Ex: Human Revolution uses something kind of like this idea of mine. But instead think of it in a way where you get loot and gear that you use to "upgrade" the armor you are already wearing, with an IE-esque interface.

Want to clarify that I am not talking about method 1 below.: Not like this/Method 1 (Beta-Forums maybe?): But like this/Method 2: So the structure would still be the same as it is now.

And that's that (I agree with this), I hope my thread gave some insight at least :D I also kind of want in on it (beta-esque forums for the non-premium folk) just clarifying if it wasn't obvious I also understand that this is something to think about for the future, when there's more activity. I'm just scrying

Did you read all the posts? Another thing I thought about regarding "Developer <-> Community", splitting up the Forums will make it easier for the Developers (Specifically) to see what we are talking about. Again, pointing back to the graph of Update 30. EDIT: So true and I agree with my whole-heart. Looking at the Wasteland 2 model, again, I see that it doesn't necessarily have to be a "filing cabinet".

I can't recall seeing a poll on the matter like this. I don't want all of my companions to be forced to have a romance, and I believe that some value and define Romance (in a game) as something that has nothing to do with love but could instead focus on Friendship. I personally look at it as the Relationship meter (mechanically). How good standing does my character have with this Companion? How good friends are they, or rivals? A rival doesn't necessarily have to be someone you dislike, but someone you always try to outdo (Brother to Brother rivalry). This is also an attempt from saving Romance from treading down a dangerous path of only Love (I saw something writing something about Romance always winning the polls, so let's dive into what Romace really is).

I guess this is where the Premium forum comes into play. Regardless, I do want to communicate as if I was an employee (even if I'm never going to be, don't put too much weight on the wording/e.g, take it with a grain of salt) because with that mindset I can loyally think for the best of the company, community and the game in a way together with each other, and I am flirting with and curious about, if there is a way to make it more effective on a whole for everyone. Looking at your post count I think that you might come to the same conclusion when you've been around further (There are some genuinely bright, professional minds on this forum whether they , realize it or not). This is also something that the top brass of my dad's company says: "Together we work the best" I'm just thinking "Hey, Wasteland 2 is using something similar to what I'm thinking and they seem to have a pretty steady activity" and if a business model could work on a forum of decency and respect, which we have here, as well as it works for the intrinsic audience. I think that community <-> community communication is super important regardless what kind of forum it is about. The most important thing on this planet in my opinion is: Let's be friends (because everything becomes so much better~) I am one of those passionate fools by the way haha. Also, try finding your way through this document of what we have discussed, how easily do you find the good stuff from the bad stuff? Where is the topics you want to discuss? These .pdf files are the entire forums from September 11th to November 9th in Chronological Order. This is what has been discussed (sorted Day by Day) up until now. I started categorizing all of the threads (see signature for "Collection of Threads" or OP) and started to get a bigger picture of what an entire game could look like. E.G. The Bigger Picture. Classes, Weapons, Enemies, AI, Challenges, Quests, Lore and so on and so forth. I had a bigger sense of what the game could be about and I have a bigger sense now what the game is about than I had before (Knowledge is Power, I follow the ideology that it shouldn't be guarded, if genuinely wise and true for everyone as a whole) obsforumdiscB.pdf obsforumdiscA.pdf

I think my ideas are a little off topic as they are addressing more of a "Interaction" with the terrain rather than "Cutting down a tree" (works well in Strategy games). I think that many of the trees in Baldur's Gate are props (I might be wrong, but I remember scouring around DLTCEP, NearInfinity and others and I'm pretty sure that there are trees). The rocks erupting from the Earth as the Golem picks it up doesn't have to be a tangible object on screen but something like the Ogre does in Dragon Age: Origins when throwing a boulder (but to be honest, my first impression of it was "Oh come on please, when is a game going to give me that immersion too?"). If P:E is similar to Baldur's Gate in this sense, then I believe that encounters will be more static based. Baldur's Gate as an example, there is an Ogre in the Northeastern part of "Crossroads" (Two areas East of Candlekeep). Could not rocks be placed around it that it could use? It all depends on the situation, what is the advantage of the area as well as the disadvantage? Likewise, could my Druid make trees into Ents like the Druid does it in Warcraft 3/Dota? I think that the Druid specifically could benefit a lot as a Class if it could interact more with Nature.

I think this is a very important read in that sense Update 30. Now specifically with Sub-Forums in mind, take a look at the graph. EDIT: Linkage fix

WALL OF TEXT, replying to several posts in one post Communication. I think it's great to talk about how you feel about stuff, which the OP does here. Maybe everyone comes to the conclusion that you should get 15 points every level up to spend on your different techniques and skills but someone really does not like it and just sees 100 holes and issues in it but is (like you say) ignored in the thread, he/she/it would have to bring it up in a thread and say "Warning!!" and explain all the issues with this invisible example. This forum is awesome in my opinion, and like the latest update they speak about their talents in the studio, and I know that there are some pretty awesome talented people hanging out in these forums (apart from the Developers). Communication is a sense of professionalism. TL;DR@pip: Talking about professionalism, feelings and ignore/being ignored. "cool story bro" is my mantra and what I try to feel (genuinely) about what everyone writes and says here "not interested" is a most excellent incantation when you're not interested in battle. I talk about this a little further below; being able to decide and choose to "Read and be inspired" before you start reading. You're right of course. My experience in this forum, and every other forum, has been that things fall apart when you have a topic that pits arch-types of Gamers against one another. Console vs PC, LARPSer vs RPGer, 4th edition vs every other edition of D&D, Vancian vs Mana, at that point you have a battle of philosophies which generally does not end well as at that point the posters are no longer trying to discuss a topic so much as validate their preference(s) involved. IMO, and no offense to the mods, but perhaps those kinds of topics should get one stickied moderated thread and kill off any other threads on those kinds of philisophical topics? It's been my experience that approach tends to be effective in managing topics that tend to be both frequent and inflammatory. Perhaps you could investigate what it was that caused people to quit reading your posts? People don't randomly make those kinds of decisions. @Gatt9: I've never LARPed but I've heard stories about it and it seems super fun, likewise I could prefer/choose not to do it and excuse myself from it either rudely or casually. I did play a Big Game of Paintball (Woodsball, about 1500 people, a constant flow of 500 vs 500 for 8 hours, w/ zombies) which was amazingly fun. The point: There are people who are ambidextrous, or they try their best to be both right-handed and left-handed (which is likewise important, just as much as communication), like when we were 2-3 years old trying to get the triangle in the triangle puzzle why is this logo so popular/conscious? Because it's a part of many people's childhood. Ambidexterity is needed in discussions, you need someone who says A, and you need someone who says against with B, then there is person C that manages to create a new letter combining A and B. I'm going to try and think of some Firestarter Topics/Ideas (that are not Romance/Relationship that people are just way too touchy about, as if it's some girly group pressure "I'm part of the Hate-Romance"~Gang, we get it, the developers get it, you get it. Now get over it). TL;DR@Gatt9: Versus might be good. @Hassat Hunter: Yes I'm with Gatt9, there's several ways to look at it, what do you write when you make short statements versus long statements? I don't mean to be rude in anyway, try looking yourself in the mirror some times (just saying because it can be perceived as a rude statement), is everything perfect or is it something that you can improve upon? You might say "nothing is perfect" and I'd agree, but you can always improve, make yourself seen and heard by adding bold or an underline. I am super conscious about my "bold" and such, and it might be seen as attention whoring because that's exactly what it is, I want to be heard in the best possible way, where it is easier for you to read it. It all comes down to the self. (I'm conscious that the dot is golden rod too, because it just looks better in my opinion) You have to decide that you are going to read that "Big Paragraph of Text", you have the power to decide "I am going to be inspired" before you read anything. Apart from the amazing people here, I find myself coming back because of the "writing tools" that exist within the forum here and I just want to drop my mega story into this formula and see what happens with it, but it's my baby. In many ways you receive what you give, I feel that when I read posts more intently I get more of a response back, but when I just lurk around and scroll around or only write my own posts without reading at all (which I often do because I'm inspired at the moment and I can read something and feel "No I got to write this inspiration down right now before I lose it!" then I read the thread after. TL;DR@Hassat: About hearing and making oneself heard. Well, we could try some Funday Monday stuff (Day9) where we have a day where we talk about whatever topics and have fun perhaps "Events" a la "A Giant Beast from Hell has Surfaced and now you must defeat it!" type of thing where we get to roleplay and someone can act as a "DM" (Only the 6 first posters can join in the actual fight or interaction, to simulate a Baldur's Gate feel with 6 different heroes). Lots could be painted in a battle like this (yes you can paint with words as well): * Environments * Enemies * Techniques * Classees * Races * Combat * Non-Combat etc. etc. all depending on the event. Is it a squeeky wooden floor? TL;DR@theman: About having fun TL;DR Misc: Talking about communication, with a mindset on how to do it professionally/effectively fun. My dad works at one of the (actually the) biggest newspapers in Sweden and I asked him about some tools they use when they communicate. They are a business with about 500 employees and believe that communication is a part of success. How can those methods be applied to here? Step 1, The big brass (5-6 people) they only want money, they are happy as long as the charts on "sales" show "Better better better" (Obsidian does not have a publisher or investor that stresses them in this way, so they can relax about that) Step 2, To make the company grow the brass needs to build ideas and have orders in the ways of "We want a new product". But before the product is made they hand out envelopes on "How can we do this best?" they hand it out to perhaps 1 (Mid-Boss) people in the next chain of line. Step 3, My dad told me they entered this big theatre hall, one guy on stage, everyone gets a random number, and gets sorted into random groups. Step 4, In their random group number they get sent to a room where they discuss this idea and everyone gets to say what they think and feel about it. Step 5, At the end of the discussion everyone has to say 1 good thing about someone else's idea (This means that a Topic Starter needs to "take care" more of their own threads, like the Speaker in a political debate, or summarize if it's a long thread every now and then. Perhaps when no one replies to it anymore ask everyone what everyone thought was good in each others ideas *shrug*) In another Thread I speak about "More Sub-Forums". My implication is that if a Sub-Forum would be titled "Magic" it could correspond to Step 4 TL;DR2: Talking business models, philosophy and communication techniques. Finally, one thing I oft feel is when I ask outright when I begin writing about a topic and I ask a question (to everyone) like "Should there be a thread about this?" or "Should there be a poll?" I don't get an answer and I am wondering if people here understand that I am talking to them and not the Developers only, how many reads/skims/scrolls?, maybe no one really cares , or worse, thinking I am only talking towards the Developers. (I'm a combination and am aware that I both benefit in time but at the cost of loss of knowledge, which is a bad choice. Passion and eagerness of the mindset of creating a game takes over) Are you still hanging around because you are addicted, passionate or because you want to create your game? I'm personally here to create the best game with "We" in focus, together we stand as one <3 Hypothetically speaking it (personally) doesn't have to be what "P:E" becomes but a fictive game, a digital forum game only in text. What would you be able to do with Magic in this game? TL;DR3: Have we had much time to listen to each other? How much have we been listening to ourselves?

I agree with this. I'm just trying to be as objective as possible. I asked my dad about how they communicate at their job when there's changes and/or ideas for improvement and it just sounds like a professional, fun and awesome method, that's where I'm coming from. "A thread for Magic awesome!" or "A thread for General, hmm I wonder if there's any new interviews out". http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/62194-respectful-discussion/page__st__20__gopid__1274220#entry1274220

This, is probably the best inspiration and you'll see what I mean: http://wasteland.inxile-entertainment.com/forum/index.php