milczyciel

Eye candies, yay ^^ Love the foliage - wonder if you tinkered with it since the last tree-heavy update, because somehow I feel they changed for the better. Especially those spruces. And that dome skeleton? It feels right, fitting, it's arcs on the right angle and such. Just the way I like it - between believable and unbelievable. Though I wouldn't mind an explanation of sorts (from a region lore or maybe some local npc) who and why cleared all the rubles from the structure interiors. I don't trust that rogue, at all. That smirk and look he gives, like he's calculating is it worthwhile to prowl in my pockets As for the combat mechanics - I'll have to play the game first. Stopped worrying about them thanks to some folks out there. They seemed varied and that's always good in my book.

@Jobby Sure I know that - been playing cRPGs long enough to know and understand those few basic terms. What I didn't realize was, how conditioned in my meta gaming I am. I used to play very smart and nimble characters (also charismatic, but to a smaller degree) because that was the way I liked it, because it gave me different treats than ramming through with a Vindicator wielding Hulk incarnation (also awesome, but on a different level), not only "moar xp, moar gold". Rewards of the kinds of floating text "hehe I love killing old people" from Fallout 2 after replacing Salvatore's oxygen tank with a poison. The fun of doing so, was it's own reward. On a side note additional options and dialogue lines were not as apparent back then, as they are now, with all those graphical distinctions screaming PICK ME! PICK ME! so finding them alone, when you thought that you did the quest in any and every possible way, was very rewarding. Nowadays I play the way I used to, because it became technically the most profitable way... and thus I've lost a fun factor of roleplaying somewhere among the lines. I suppose it may be somehow similar to the issues of those who always asked for non-handicapped "evil char" experience of Baldur's Gate (my IRL friend among them). And sometimes, especially when I want to replay a given title, I long for a different approach (in spirit of a low INT char from Fallout 1&2, but less punishing, restraining). Unfortunately in most cases any other way than a specific one, designed to be "the best" just seems to be less funny and... generous. For example In NV, there are far more speech checks in comparison to STR based ones. Some of them even making pursuing the story details invalid like in Lt. Gorobets centered quest "I Don't Hurt Anymore" where I felt her sympathy towards 10 of spades and the guilt he felt, were downplayed by a generic but xp rewarded "weakest link" speech check. ...and let us not even start with DE:HR which was so obviously stealth intended that it makes it's less homogenous ancestor looking, well more roleplaying-ish (in my understanding of the word). And the funny part is, I liked HR - even bought it "on release" after I've heard/red people accusing it for being "too conservative and similar to the oryginal Deus Ex". To sum it up: thanks for your grudgingly voiced recognition of my flawed ways Cheers Oh man, if it will turn out to be correct... I'll get hyped beyond the point of no return. Thanks again!

That's a tired old argument. Let's name it "The Willpower" argument. And call it for what it is: a fallacy. The Willpower fallacy states that a design shouldn't be better, options shouldn't be available, because the issue at hand can be solved by having a superior mindset. All you need a strong backbone, and you won't succumb to degenerate behaviour of any kind. Let's ignore the large body of evidence suggesting that people aren't as in control of their behaviour as they like to think. The large body of evidence showing people will pick less enjoyable strategies if they know these lead to better or easier results. We don't need a feature where players can opt-out the subconscious incentives, because really what they need is more willpower. What bull****. The less meta-gaming information I have, the better I can roleplay. That has nothing to do with willpower or a strong backbone. Better yet, including the feature makes the argument moot; If you believe that willpower is all you need, you don't have to turn off anything. If you don't mind the meta-gaming information, you don't have to turn off anything. But if you, like me, want to play out a story as you imagine you would without knowing you just passed an intimidation check, you can. This... so much! I'm puzzled by just how strong I feel about things You just said. I'm aware I'm overacting, but if I would be a lesser man, then I'd create another 5 accounts just so I could give it another 5 likes, for what You just pointed out, and what it made me realize. In times before internet, when I could rely only on information exchanged with a friend or two and not 100% accurate and complete walkthrough in printed magazines were the times, when my gaming experience and roleplaying was more satisfying. Fallout 2, BGII and Arcanum are probably the last titles I played without using overwhelming, spoiler heavy intel from "teh internetz" thanks to which those games kept higher replay value even with my stupid habit of quicksaving before any dialog (and then reloading it until I knew every possible -at the moment- outcome). And after thinking about JFSOCC arguments I must question my nostalgia and rethink at least few charges I brought against nowadays cRPGs (not necessarily here). But before I leave to ponder those questions with a cup of fine tea, I have to ask for a basic clarification, because somehow I missed that one and it's kinda fundamental (yes, I'm ashamed of my ignorance). Does experience points reward vary, depending on picked skill checks, stats and different dialog lines? Because if so, I'll still feel conditioned to do them in most "rewarding" way. Obviously there's some serious mismanagement with my "Will Power" level. Thanks in advance

So here's hope that Pillars of Eternity PM is the most boring of them all.

Hmm... I'd say creatives do have all the rights to day-dream and be terrible accountants, at least as long as (for the sake of company's well being) someone else, more competent have control over the funds and bookkeeping. But I'm not sure if there's any point in arguing about it because a) I got the feeling you'd literally obliterate me with your experience in the field and b) it may get off-topic. So let me settle this by calling myself naive. Then again, 5 years ago I'd call the same anyone who'd try to convince me to the KS. One of the reasons I got to late to the W2 / PoE funding (thank God they kept gathering money on their own via paypal) was the fact, I didn't believed the rumors and decided to check what's that fuss about when the KS party was already over. ...but mostly because I live under the rock

Let's see - I'll start with pointing out those few KS games I placed my hopes (and money) in. Beginning with one I believe in most and ending with the one that was an equivalent of flipped russian roulette (5 bullets) from the start. Their order do not represent the amount of money I've spent on a specific title 1) PoE 2) Wasteland 2 3) Divinity OS 4) Tides of Numenera 5) ex aequo JA:Flashback and Satellite Reign <sigh> 6) Wings:RE So that's me and my dreams right there. Wasteland 2 gave me a headache because "The Bard's Tale" was a rather "meh" experience, even with all that humour and Tony Jay naration... Worth mentioning is, that I beat it which isn't something I can say about many other, better reviewed games. Nevertheless, after considering all the pros and cons I trimmed down my expectations and settled for a game they actually trying to create, and not for my VanBuren / unreleased Troika postapo dreams redemption That probably makes Divinity above Torment even weirder, but the answer is quite simple - one cannot lower his expectations for the successor of PT. Thus Larian, which I probably wouldn't back if not for the fact, that they approached KS from a different angle, makes me more certain than InXile, who's trying to pay a tribute to the holy grail of 90s cRPGs. Plus, oryginal Divinity have a place in my hearth, but our relation never became as serious as a sentiment I share for the Black Isle games. Jagged Alliance and Satellite Reign were simply beneficiaries of the KS fewer and my longing for respectively: GOOD JA2 reinstatement and ANY AT ALL Syndicate Wars remake (yup, liked the second one more). I payed them accordingly less and not even actively pursuing updates, knowing from day one that I'll be happy with any decent craftsmanship that have at least a sign of that spark I saw in the concepts. The last one... well let me say it's a shining testimony to how soft and weak I turned out to be. Truly I can't even make an excuse that I fell for a tricks of theirs, as I knew it won't work from the very beginning. Still, I wanted and still want to believe so much, that I reluctantly accepted the exchange: 15$ for a slightest of hopes, that I'll relieve the very first game that... well... made me all emotional back in a days when I had to sit in front of a computer with a vocabulary on my knees to get at least the bare bones of the story. So after that rather lengthy intro, let me tackle the sole reason of that thread, numero uno of my list - PoE. Well, we all know who Obsidians are and you guys and gals already laid it out pretty well from almost every possible perspective. Personally I find them, being the most true to the Black Isle/Bioware legacy (though only because of the demise of Troika! xoxo Mr Cain!) so story-wise I'm sure I won't get anything less than good. Mechanics, as I came to realization lately, do not concern me that much, but that I already made clear somewhere else. If anything, I'd be concerned about the impact mega-dungeon can have upon the rest of the game. But as I said, that's something not for me to ponder upon. On the other hand, the overall and mystical gameplay IS something that makes me tad worried as I remember all to well, just how non-invested I was throughout nicely written and mechanically valid NVN 2 (vanilla) and both Tim and Josh mentioned that game few times (for example as an inspiration for The Stronghold IIRC). Nevertheless I keep repeating to myself that it only was their second attempt at epic cRPG as a new entity, and since that time, the last one that I didn't enjoyed so they definitely learned from it. Any other KS games that I played, do not compare to the situation at hand. FTL for example is a love child of two-man team, with emphasis on different goals/mechanics and with out-of-the-proportions different scope thus I find comparing them unjust, for both sides. Shadowrun Returns is a different sort - most importantly I didn't backed it and bought it only after autumn or winter sale, so there was far less expectations as well as disappointments to begin with. In overall I liked what I got - long time no seen setting and a text heavy interactions both with npcs as well as the world. Plus a satisfying, tactical (if somehow simplistic) aroma of the encounters. In the PoE perspective, it served me as the first litmus paper for "what can happen to Obsidian plans along the road". Of course only to some extent as there's more than obvious difference between Obs CV and to date Harebrained Schemes portfolio. Still a nice foothold for making assumptions. And last but not least Double Fine and it's Broken Age which I tried to steer clear, because as much as I love Tim Schafer and hope for many more wonderful games coming from his one of a kind imagination, I would never trust him with handling the money. Not because he's a scam or anything - he's just doesn't seem to be an accountant type and when it comes to the numbers, he' resembles me my dad. And if I would stick to the analogy, he should let his spouse to do his math - I know it worked for my parents* Probably not very appropriate personal jokes aside - at least there's always hope his misadventures will serve as a valuable lesson in finances and in the field of expectations and assumptions devs have and have to make (as pointed out by FlintlockJazz here) Others I didn't have a chance to play, so no comments. TL;DR - it will work out and only very few KS games could serve as comparison to the PoE (namely W2 imho) * said a man who spent loads of money on a KS games... ooh hypocrisy

You made me want to replay (again!) Arcanum, just for the sake of this topic! I have two major problems with examples from "the best game evah": 1) some time ago I realized that I'm an absolute fanboy of the game, and thus all my opinions about it are biased... like, very much 2) all characters I remember are IMO too important to call them minor, so even being a blinded, rabid fanboy, I must restrain myself. But let me end F:NV so I can focus solely on Arcanum and I will come up with names. You'll see Until that happens, let's settle with a gnome henchmen from a half-ogre conspiracy quest - and yes, I can't get more biased as that's my #1 sidequest ever. This is it, the peak of my zealousness. Let us proceed. I refuse to remember the name of that disgusting worm and though it has a zero impact on the game (thus proving he was right saying his death won't change anything) I never, ever let him go. And never will. To this day I fantasize that after the credits rolled, my char took upon himself to wage a vendetta against gnomes occupying important positions all over the continent. Probably assassinating many innocents and turning into involuntary evil in the process... But you have to understand - my favourite char was a too smart for his own good half-ogre. It was personal /zealot mode off

Why does students, so often very inteligent and capable ones do drugs? Why does corporate yuppies, those on top, already being definition of a success do drugs? Why soldiers, specialist, trained so hard to cope with death (on the both sides of barrel so to speak) do drugs? Why so many other do drugs? In that example, it's because they strive to be even better. Through my life I was led to believe, that a "fun" or "boredom" are not always the factor. And if we'll look at drugs in the wider perspective (coffee, anti depressants, pain killers etc) then we get few more reasons for even a fictional character becoming addicted. And I made it clear here that in almost every playthrough of Fallout 1 & 2 I steered clear from jet, because of how damn addictive and hard to shake off it was, so it isn't a matter of "I want to do them". I'm merely saying, that their mechanics and implementation are in most cases juvenile, broken. Thus being nothing more than another incarnation of magic potion (wisely pointed out as a disguise for drugs themselves by Keyrock). And to address Geralt - while mentally a perfect human being that I would strive to be, physically he's a mutant and that's the main if not the sole reason drugs do not become a habit for him. On the other hand you have Regis a former blood addict and fisstech is widely known and used (even by Ciri, though involuntarily, for making her more reckless fighter) so I'm not sure if immune by default Geralt is a good example while discussing the role and impact of drugs.

Indeed it was and I participated in it back then, so don't feel bad because I got little teasy I bet I'll "vote for it" every time someone brings something similar to my attention. As long as I won't have to register that is. So as you can see I was laughing at myself too, in the process. Cheers

<sigh> Just imagine few additional AAA millions thrown at writers <sigh> Ah well, it's already a dream coming true so... who knows.

True that! In your face... umm <just a sec, what was the site name? oh right!> In your faces dorkly.com! I'll keep my torch lit just in case of some other very important list arise at the site I've never heard of before! What? Ok, ok I know - it is always good to share the word... I am sorry <mumbling to himself> None of them "dorklers" will be interested in PoE anyway

Ouch - being one I always try to do and find as much as I can within particular story branch (and I mean real ones, not "pick one of the three endings five minutes before the credits roll" abomination) and in case of a simple "what if I pick other answer to end this quest" you bet I'll reload hitting F5 before EVERY SINGLE chit-chat with npc Despite that I don't really feel the urge to have everything (quests, locations) available from the start, as long as we are discussing "no scaling to the PC level" scenario. Otherwise, it gets all murky and I'm out (because in such case I can't make up my mind). So as you can see completionists can be happy with "blocking some content off" too - it has to be something else. Still, there is an exception - followers. They fall strictly under the "sooner the better" rule in my book - to this day I never tried some followers in original BG, only because I meet them "to late". Back on topic - I never felt that Athkatla was overpacked with quests - if anything, it was the rest of the game that lacked additional content to satisfy rampant expectations that, were there, because of the sheer size and abundancy of the Big City™. To this day I remember how disappointed I felt, when I realized that I just did everything possible in Trademeet and it's surroundings and it's time to go back... Luckily PoE will have two of them (Big Cities I mean), thus giving hope for more balanced distribution of... you know, things (quests, npcs, areas, merchants to spend my honestly looted money or whatsoever). BTW: I must agree with Teknoman2 - at least as long as you didn't hit that 15k goal that is.

Wait, wasn't that an NPC from Divinity 2? <sudden enlightenment> Oh right, Divinity 2 had a farmer loving his PIG more than his wife, so now I wonder if it was a homage to the JE or just a coincidence.

My dear misguided Nonek, it's a common knowledge that green tea is superior in every way to the ovestated earl grey. And please, don't even start with it's being suitable for a refined gentleman - I heard that already and the fact I'm foreigner (thus supposedly accustomed to the bland tastes of green tea) doesn't make your unreasonable opinion any more valid Diclamer for those unfortunate enough (as I bet Nonek understood the joke): GO PLAY ARCANUM :D And I love earl grey. Coincidentally I'm sipping one at the very moment. Hmmm...

Heh, but on the more serious note - I can't stop but fantasize about getting psychically addicted to svef and particullary it's "soul seeing" effect. Because I don't know - one's longing for his dead wife trope? In fact wouldn't such a thing be an obvious work-risk at least among those studying, manipulating or harvesting souls (imagine a shelter for old cipher junkies and all that)?

@Karkarov Why not? If the lore of the game says, that the substance X or Y is so potent, that almost every one that used it ends up as a junkie, then giving it at least some side effects / withdrawal, serves as a consistency theme (in addition for obvious debuffing). Myron said back then that JET has 100% addiction rate, so even if he was full of himself saying that, it made a lot of sense for Fallout 2 to make such a potent drug a strong theme in both story, and game mechanics, which I believe happened in F2. In fact it was so convincing and hard to "cure" that I kept my char clean on almost 99% cases. Don't get me wrong, there's no "hidden motivation" on my side as I simply lack experience and thus motivation. Being a terrible bore I can only speak about and criticize the alcohol debuffs from BG. I'd be never able to get out of the tavern on myself, not to mention fighting a bear or dire wolf after drinking as hard as I did, to learn some gossips back then in Beregost... In fact, remembering a two particular hangovers of mine (happened to me years ago, when I didn't know much about my limits) I can safely assume that I'd be out of the "adventuring" for at least 24h. I suppose it may be the reason why I liked the "hangower" sidequest in Witcher 2 - not because of it's humor or the pop-cultural reference. Drugs on the other hand, especially those made up? I expect them to fit their in-game description (and thus eliciting player's expectations) no less

I'm for one am glad about it. Even if less sophisticated and dynamic than composition of cones of view and range of sound from the "Commandos" series, it's still more interesting than old ways of "stealth" back from IE. Plus it's simple to implement and yet efficient enough to give an appropriate illusion of "something more". In fact this is quite near to my former hopes for active "perception-wise" space around creatures, npcs and player controlled characters (with all it's implications), so I simply can't be unhappy about it.

I think you nailed it - that wacko is the only npc outside of main cast I can remember clearly. No wonder given how much he stood out (and how self centered ass-hat he was). Besides him I vaguely remember ghosts of two (?) kids in the ruined village... I think? So, no competition for Sir Roderick the outlander here.

I believe every Fallout in the series had it implemented. <yup, just checked wikia and here's a buffout addiction for example> I would be pleased to see it harder or longer to shake off. The insta-clean approach of NV was somehow uninspired (playing unmoded hardcore atm) - just give 100 caps to any doc and you're as good as new, even if you've got addicted to the JET, which is suggested to be one of the worst drugs out there.

My God... I have to admit that I gave up at 12th page after spending "likes" on left and right, many times contradicting ones I did few minutes back (but never claiming back those I already did). Not because I'm a chop and change (or maybe? who am I to judge myself) but because I saw most of them as totally valid. Even after someone with considerably different mindset approached them, and proved how it does not affect their "gaming experience". I have to admit - all that talking strongly reinforced the assumption I made once, some months ago, that I shouldn't concern myself about mechanics. At all. In the end I played and enjoyed so many different games over the past 20 years, that I should be O.K. with PoE even if it will turn out to be something like Dink Smallwod, which in fact I enjoyed. And I think we can agree that it won't. Bah, even if it will somehow end screwed up in the most horrible way*, I'll still be able to lower down the difficulty (or use console?) and just ram through, enjoying the story and making notes for the second playthrough. And being who I am, I can't care less about if that's a flawed way to play as it boils down to me, not being forced into doing something I don't want to. Sure, I could spent another hour trying to point out how I share some sentiments (for example Stun's about pre-buffing) but then again how I pretty much agree with those, who disliked them, because of the way they were implemented in most cases. I could try to explain, that even without a proper aDnD education I was still able to pull of the satisfying games from every build I made at "normal" difficulty of BG (and believe me, I'm the walking definition of mediocre on every level of my gaming) and then wholeheartedly support concerns of PJ coming from his failed attempt in NWN2. Also, I could probably tackle the issues of save scumming or any other system abuse, players will eventually come up with. I could try and do so much more, but should I, if so many of You did it far better than I can ever hope for among those 22(and counting) pages? Thus, all I can do is sincerely thank You (special thanks goes for Nonek), for making me realize in the course of Your heated discussion, that I really don't care that much about it's gears, as long as the game itself ends up: a) text heavy (at least in comparison to nowadays standards) b) party based c) aesthetically similar to the IE (both in art style and camera setting) d) "choices having an impact, not necessarily on the grand scale"-ish And given those expectations are going to be met (at least that's what I believe after reading this and that on that very forum) I feel... content. And calm. People smarter than me are tinkering within, if they fail then how could I hope for pointing them at the right direction So right now all I ask, is some sweet time, for this particular blue collar, working his ass off 12h a day, 180-220h a month. And rest assured it shouldn't be that hard to accomplish, given how very little of my free-time I have to (or must, depending on how you think about it) share with anyone else but my wonderful Ann. So, bring it on - it won't be the first time I'll go to the work without a sleep! Hah, that's a luxury of being unimportant drone, not responsible for anyone's safety or well being * - that would be "Lionhearth: Legacy of the Crusader" in which I've met a miserable end because I assumed that a "GURPS" based game published by Black Isle will allow me to roll with a physically weak (but nimble) genius, charismatic thief, just the way "Fallouts" did. NOPE :D

Stroke of luck? I remember using cluaconsole years ago in BGII because some script didn't work and I couldn't complete one of the main quest. I believe it happened at the cemetery but I don't recall any more details, only the rage I felt because I made some stupid saving. Luckily I found those tips and tricks (including clua command that somehow helped me) in a magazine I used to buy back then. Also had problems with Gothic II, but I can't really say what was that about, only that it happened on my second playthrough and that I stopped playing because of it. Probably clipping, because I used to jump all over the place (remember how proud I felt when I found that car on my own)

Blasphemers, so many blasphemers - my already withered hearth cries with anger and confusion. Ok, ok I'm kidding. Not being a zealot I can't blame anyone for not enjoying this very demanding gem today, when it have so visibly and ungraciously aged. In fact, I've used some mods and -cries of outrage- save editors last time I beat it (2013), which makes me even less inclined to judge those for whom it became unplayable. In spite of that I still have that special, locked hard and reinforced place in my mind (hearth already withered remember?) where the slightest of hopes lives... And it will do so, as long as The Man himself won't say otherwise. In the end, it probably depends on how one perceives the stretch goals. I treat them as a promise - no more, BUT also no less.

That's what I hoped for in the first second place. Still, I can't shake the feeling it's just not right - she's a withered corpse with a firm breast. That doesn't add up. EDIT: Many thanks for addressing my concerns anyway

Backer portal is down again, no surprise here Luckily I've filled up all the surveys at the time of the last update. Love the artwork and can't disagree about Engwithan ruins being a perfect place for an epic fight. Still... <sigh> I don't want to do it so much, yet I fill someone have to point it out anyway. Even if it will make me look like some kind of nitpicky creep/perv. ...god damn it Please, please take a second look at that banshee-like render and ask yourself if her breasts should be so... well... good looking :| Especially if we consider she's not a vampire-like undead and by all means should be repulsive and not at all... titillating. The concept art looks far more convincing, coherent and (god I hate to use that word) "mature" that the in-engine model. Sorry about that, don't want to make anyone responsible for that particular piece feel bad... I hope it's just my ****up interpretation, but I seriously get those "heeey, boobies" vibes from the render, and frankly, I don't like it There's always hope, that even if it's final, it won't be so eye-catchy after being scaled down to the actual in-game size. Just... give it a second thought, please. Disclaimer for those who would like to make some wild assumptions about me. If I sound like I'm aroused, then let me tell: NO I'm not, it's just my poor English. What I feel could be described as "surprised" by the direction you (in my interpretation) choose. Maybe even bit disappointed.

Dunno, maybe. In my case I'm lucky if I'll end up crippled. But hey, it's my fault that I created low END, low STR, small framed scout right? Doesn't matter that he -assumably- should be able to spot a danger long before it goes off in his face. Seriously, it's not that unusual for me, to set off the mine that was lying in a plain field without any scrubs to cover it... Because that's how good my sight is. Now imagine trip-wired explosives and (less dangerous but still annoying) rigged shotguns. Those are 99% times F9 triggers for me. All I'm saying is, the V.A.T.S. is here so I can imagine coding an active* skill (just like sneaking), that makes my char go into quasi-VATS state after he successfully passing background-working perception/explosives based check, highlighting the spotted trap. After all, if my char is more charismatic, smarter and slick/suave than me (and yes he is) then the game provides me with additional dialog lines or skill checks to choose, not with a dialog box in which I have to write a correct answer/question, right? So why punishing me for being less perceptive than a char I'm trying to play and not that I ultimately am? Thus given the choice I'll go with BG-esque trap detection. At least I can see them and push the spacebar (or set it in options as a pause trigger) while my PC happily stomps towards it * so those who don't care wouldn't be punished instead of me