Fluffle
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Posts posted by Fluffle
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I must say I found that there were indeed interesting companions in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
The companions were the strengths of the game and to me they showed that there still is some part of old Bioware in modern Bioware.
But as was pointed out already while the companions were well done the main story lacked very much in quality.
My favorite companion in DA:I was Cole, hands down!
Oh yes: And for most interesting banters, you should always have Cole and Solas in a party!
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How about a non-player romance? A romance that develops between two party members?
Like Aerie and Haer'Dalis. Just that in this case neither of the two would be romance-able by the player.
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Aks yourself: What would you prefer? A character who tells you in hundreds of lines in various dialogues about everything he did in the past? Or a character that concentrates on commenting and reacting to your adventures and what it means for the relationship to the PC?
"Aks" spelling error -1
I think it should be both. A character should talk about their past but actually only to show that they have opened up to the mainchar (and they should acknowledge that somehow additionally) or because something in their past is relevant for an event in the present.
So it should be both but the aspect of "commenting and reacting to your adventures and what it means for the relationship to the PC" should take precedence over and be much more important than "hundreds of lines in various dialogues about everything he did in the past".
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The final decision if we can do this at all and in what way lies with Obsidian.
I sent a message to Aarik D on this forum and I told the devs in the Fig campaign comment section about this.
Let Obsidian decide how and if they are going to support this idea.
And remember, the actual spirit of this was to additionally support Obsidian without asking for anything in return. That was the spirit of the original "Obsidian Order of Eternity".
Back then, you got a custom forum title for that, and that was it
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Uhm, actually you should distinguish between two things here:
1.) The pirate crew on this forum. There is no limit to the size of it. The pirate group on this forum would be the equivalent of the "Obsidian Order of Eternity" from the Kickstarter campaign for Pillars 1.
2.) The pirate band and their ship that are featured in the game Pillars of Eternity 2.
What would you get for your 8$ ?
You would be granted the membership to the pirate group on this forum. You might get a special forum badge for that.
And, as was suggested, you might get a chance per RANDOM DRAW to work on the actual pirate group and the ship that is going
to be featured in the game. OR we, as the pirate crew on this forum, could all work together on the actual pirate group and the ship
that is going to be featured in the game. We would do this mainly by voting I would imagine.
Or you know, someone proposes something and we count the forum likes to that post that were given by members of our forum pirate crew.
So to make it clear the 8$ membership fee would in no way guarantee that you are featured in the game.
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Okay new approach:
We found a pirate group on this forum. The entry fee is 8$. In return you get a badge that signifies your membership. And if we create a pirate band and a ship for the game everyone who has that badge can vote on decisions we make during the process of creation.
Obsidian would make a separate, specific paypal account for this purpose.
As soon as we reached 5000$ the pirate band and ship would be funded.
If we raise more than 5000$ with the entry fees, then Obsidian can keep any surplus money as free donations.
If we do not succeed in raising 5000$ in the first place, then Obsidian can keep the money as free donations.
Your thoughts?
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I am sure they could easily create a special paypal account for donation collections.
That would be easier, yes.
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There could be a way.
Someone funds the pirate ship and is then later on refunded the money by Obsidian from (parts of) the entry fee to the Deadfire Pirates on this forum.
Every member of the Deadfire Pirates on this forum would get a forum badge. And this badge would signify your membership to our pirate crew (on this forum) as well as grant you a voting right when we create the pirate group and the ship for the game.
Does that make sense? Any catches?
For example: Someone buys a pirate ship. Obsidian earns thereby 5000$.
Then, additionally, Obsidian gets entry fees from "Idea A" from one of my posts above.
Let's say we would have 625 members for our pirate crew on this forum. Then Obsidian would earn another 5000$.
And now they would use this additional 5000$ to refund the someone who bought the pirate ship by 4992$ at most.
If the one who buys the ship in the beginning keeps the other rewards then he would later on be refunded by Obsidian by: 5000$ - worth of other rewards in that tier - 8$ dollar membership fee for the pirate crew.
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Well if you guys want a forum badge I would be happy to throw my hand at designing one. I think I proved I don't totally suck at designing stuff with the last game
That said the idea of going in as a group and funding a pirate ship sounds like a really cool idea, I would definitely throw down extra scratch for it.
EDIT to reply to fluffy.
How you collect it is easy. You just have to elect a trustworthy chairperson, everyone paypal them their donation, that person makes a special email and Fig account specifically for that one thing, and backs with that account using the exact amount of donations.
Now how you decide who gets what of the additional goodies is a great question.
A trustworthy chairperson should be, in my opinion, someone from Obsidian.
I mean I can tell you that I am trustworthy
but no one has reason to believe it. Besides I think that if it was someone from Obsidian then the chances would be much higher that people would join in on this.Now we must be careful to not mix things up.
We have two ideas here:
Idea A) Donate 8 dollars as a symbolic gesture and in return join the Deadfire Pirates here on this forum. You will get a forum badge (or a forum title) in return.
Idea B) Let's try to fund a pirate band and ship together. The question is if we would still call ourselves "The Deadfire Pirates" then. Or if, for example, we should buy a pirate ship for the Obsidian Order. Or be a different group of pirates altogether.
And the question is whether "Idea A" and "Idea B" are mutually exclusive or can be or even should be combined somehow.
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Damn the idea tickles me more and more.
I mean IF we are going to found a pirate group, isn't it obvious that we'd need a ship? xD
But I have no idea how this would work in practice.
I mean the tier "build a pirate party" includes a lot of rewards other than just creating the pirate party and the ship.
If a group decided to buy that tier together then to whom would the other rewards of that tier be sent?
Also HOW do you actually collect the money as a group?
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@LordCrash
That explains (one of) the underlying fundamental problem(s) very well. Also it's very well and clearly written by you.
It certainly is a huge difference if you are in the role of a spectator or if you imagine to be mainchar yourself.
I have done both in the past. For example in Baldur's Gate 1 or in Icewind Dale where there is very little to no party interaction at all I automatically fill the void by myself. It happens just automatically, I could not prevent that even if I wanted to.
However, then the characters are my creations actually. Then I fill the empty templates.
And that IS a huge difference to when you watch, as an observer, the characters of someone else. Like what I do in Baldur's Gate 2 or Mass Effect for example. There, the companions are not just almost empty or even completely empty templates that I have to fill. However I still fill the template of the mainchar.
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I guess we can agree that the definition of good friendship can differ like night and day just like the definition of good romance in RPG. Don't we just love these games?
On a last note, here's how I look at how my player character would view the evolving relationship with these two characters as friendship. They've been through many battles. They don't talk to you much. Slowly, they reveal deeper layers of themselves. Then they trust you enough to tell more. Then they let it all out, just lay it bare like they're emotionally naked. If I put myself in the player character shoes I would say, we've been through hell together and you've let me know who you really are as a person, you confide in me things you'd never tell anyone else. Thank you. I'll go to war with you anytime.
A lot is happening 'off screen' (in your imagination) in these games. In BG2, you get expressions like Minsc's hamsters and rangers speech and it gives cues that a friendship has developed. In Pillars, you have a deep conversation with someone that you have been through difficult situations with and you can fill in the friendship cues if you see it that way.
Yeah exactly. It's happening "off screen". And that what happens off screen is what I would like to see on screen.
That's exactly what I would wish for.
At the moment you have to assume or imagine that a friendship between certain characters must have been developed.
But I would like to see at least parts of this development on screen.
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Can you be any more obtuse?
I can certainly try as you will bear witness.
So the options for the party size are: 4,5 and 6.
And given those choices I am asked what size I would prefer.
And being obtuse the way I am I answer: I do not have any preference given the above choices.
Now, where is that option in the poll?
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You know the idea of spending the additional 8 dollars is that you want to express your special support for the game without expecting something back (other than a very small token).
That's why I was thinking of a custom forum title like we did back for PoE 1 kickstarter or a forum badge.
That said, no one has chosen the pirate ship yet.
The idea IS tempting xD
And there is the option of creating a super pet. Maybe that could be a parrot?
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@Skyleaf
When you say "Not as obvious as BG" I think that is the point, for me.
You can actually interpret that there is a friendship or some friendships in PoE1, but then for me the problem is exactly that the friendships need to expressed more obviously.
It's one thing if I like (here talking about friendship) someone. It's another thing if I also show them that I like them.
And I would like to see both.
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So where is the poll option "I don't mind the party size"?
I have played RPGs with just 1 companion, with 2 companions, 3,4, 5.
For me that has never been the decisive element of the respective game that decided whether I enjoy the game or not.
And in this concrete context we are talking about, it's 1 active party member less.
There's no way that could influence the fun I am going to have if PoE2 is at least as great a game as PoE 1 is.
So yeah, I don't mind.
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Huhm, interesting. Well, see, we don't even have to argue about romances when the concept of friendship gives plenty reasons to argue about
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There's also the problem of actually adding the $8. There doesn't currently seem to be a way to unilaterally add any funds to your pledge on FIG.
I suppose you could get Obsidian to add an Obsidian Order add-on option as an Extra.
Thanks for the info, you are right. Seems you cannot just change your pledge to an arbitrary amount.
So they would have to add the "Deadfire Pirate" membership as an extra. Then they should take great care to
stress that adding that extra is just a symbolic gesture to additionally support the crowdfunding.
You know, to avoid that someone adds that extra with expectation of getting something great in return (other than a forum badge or a forum title
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@LordCrash Maybe could you write something on the Fig campaign? You know just making sure the devs read that there is a certain lack of friendship in Pillars 1. And appreciation in the group and trust developing slowly over time etc.
The feeling that the group grows together and connects. I would like to see something like that in Pillars 2.
This is weird but in my opinion PoE had two of the deepest, most well written friendship paths I've ever played in an RPG game with Durance and Grieving Mother. Zahua was pretty amazing too. That whole acid trip, wow.
Goes to show that opinions can vary like night and day on pretty much anything.
The Grieving Mother had very VERY interesting dialogues, I remember that much. And I found her to be one of the most interesting characters in the game. Did she really develop a deep friendship with the watcher?
I may not remember, then I'm sorry. Or maybe I have a different idea of deep friendship.
Hmm but then what about Aloth and Hiravias?
Maybe I should replay the game before I rely on my bad memory. Sorry if I don't remember correctly.
As far as I remember during my playthrough of Pillars 1, I always had the feeling that my group in Baldur's Gate (mainchar, Imoen, Aerie (romanced), Minsc, Jaheira, Sarevok) had grown closer together than my group in Pillars.
But memory can be tricky
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Just Deadfire Pirates would be enough imo.
The Grandmaster of the OOoE approves of this.
Yeah that would probably suffice. I approve
Now, how do we do this?
My idea would be:
You raise your pledge by an additional 8 dollars, and then you become a member of the Deadfire Pirates on this forum.
As a token of appreciation you would get a pirate themed forum badge. Or if that is not an option then we
could give out custom forum titles again.
Personally I'm in favor of a forum badge, but someone would have to create one
And I guess we should approach the devs and ask if they are even interested in this?
Anything else I didn't think of?
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@LordCrash Maybe could you write something on the Fig campaign? You know just making sure the devs read that there is a certain lack of friendship in Pillars 1. And appreciation in the group and trust developing slowly over time etc.
The feeling that the group grows together and connects. I would like to see something like that in Pillars 2.
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I don't see how romances can be a win situation for the developers. Some of you already said the topic is a "hornet's nest" or a "minefield".
The devs can add romances to the game and upset the people who are against it. Or they avoid romances and upset the people who are for romances.
Furthermore, now be realistic, what do you think happens when you open the game to romances?
The first thing that will happen is an outcry for more diversity of all kinds.
Sex, gender, sexual orientation, races, ethnos, multiple options for each category, etc etc
I think for many it's not that the game should feature some kind of romance. But I have the feeling that some
would like to act out their private, idealized, very specific fantasy of a romance with their own idea of an ideal partner.
How can the developers possibly cater to that? So in other words, if the developers did decide to add romances in some way
you should be thankful even if none of the romances suited your taste.
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Very well spoken LordCrash. That's one of the things I missed in Pillars1. That the characters can bond in some way, even if you exclude romance. But there was nothing much there, was it?
They traveled together, they fought together, but did it ever feel like the group grew together? That they connected in some way?
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Okay next proposal: "Pillaging Pirates of Deadfire"
Making the "Black Isle Bastards" come true! Crowd funding a pirate crew!
in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire General Discussion (NO SPOILERS)
Posted · Edited by Fluffle
@Aarik
Okay, here would be my proposal how to tackle Option A.
You add a new extra on this page of the Fig campaign:
This extra would say "Pirates of the Deadfire Archipelago Membership" and it would cost 8$.
The description would say that this option is to support the cause of the Fig campaign.
You will get a pirate themed forum badge in return for your support.
Also, that badge is an additional forum badge to the one you receive from pledging anyway.
So if you chose that extra you would get two badges in total. That should be no problem because in the course
of the Project Eternity Kickstarter you could get two badges, too.
Note: This way Option A is completely independent from Option B. Option A has nothing to do with the pirate ship.
That is a different matter on which I will share my thoughts shortly.