milczyciel

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

Being close to half blind I can ROLL with only one option here I'm playing FNV atm and man those mines and spring traps are pissing me off. My current char has 8 PE but very low traps skill, and yet the only problem so far are not his failed attempts to disarm a trap, but ME, the player, failing to notice the damn thing before it clicks, or sprang or starts beeping and subsequently blows his face off (I have a very low EN because INT above all). That's not funny, especially when I got immersed to much and forget to make a quicksave... Not to mention that I'm forced to use wiki while snooping around, if only to find more than most obviously hidden (containers, boxes) and visible loot. Because the bloody sniper/scavenger I'm roleplaying, has his wonderful eyes focused solely on V.A.T.S. and radar :/

<Edit> Argh, Lephys pointed it out first. Why do I have to polish those damn posts for so long :/ You've got me lost here - isn't a co-op just one of the many types of multiplayer? I'm asking because the only time I enjoyed multi in IE games was that one LAN co-op with a friend in Icewind Dale (the first). Probably because ID is the most hack-n-slashy of them all. ...also my friend never liked reading that much, and so all non-combat decisions were mine to make :> But to make it clear where do I stand in this discussion - I'm with Jim Sterling. And because he's smarter than me, (and a native speaker) I'll allow myself to link an old episodes where he tackles the success of [NSFW] Skyrim* and the second one, where he explains the NEED of the single player experience in more detail. For those not interested (or with strong aversion to Jim) short summary: I need my single player games even more than 90% of multiplayer games, as that's my time spent alone and FOR ME EXCLUSIVELY, without anyone ******* it up (even if unintentionally). * funny thing is I do not like Bethesda's rpgs and yet, because of that episode of Jimquisition, I learned to respect them for what they did for a single player (not taking into account TES Online). Suck it industry

I like numbers. Can't help it because that's how the oryginal Fallout raised me. {and now to derail a topic} But because of it's influence I can think about one instance where I'd like the numbers to be hidden from me (and possibly messed up a little): all those morality, reputation and loyalty counters, which are in far to many games way to evident (or apparent if you wish) for me. ...I'm looking at you DA:O, but also F:NV karma popups Then again I never really though about it and therefore can't say how much "reward driven" were my in game decisions all this time. Hmm... it would be quite interesting to play a game, where the only knowable gain are money and loot, and to some extent fame, ranks, orders of merit etc I'm sure it's too late for PE for that, but who knows? The premise made me wonder.

Three games from that list that I care about (PE, W3, HM) are not even in the first 10 atm... But then again, does it mean anything to me? ...well, no

Being one of them I can't help but wonder if you really did wade through all those 24 pages Don't get me wrong - I'm thankful, because I for one didn't "crapped". In fact I made my remark in quite defensive and cautious way, not wanting to discourage anyone involved in creating those alpha-stage spells effect. Must I remind you that Baldur's Gate 2 happened 12 years ago, in an age of rapid development when 2 year old computer was considered "old"? Them, effect spells, looking better than that is no excuse for me. And just to evade being called anything "CoD" related (by anyone, not necessarily you) I'll repeat - I know it's not even beta, and thus I'm almost certain the final product will be far more eye catching - I wouldn't have upgraded my reward tier otherwise (especially given the IRL circumstances).

Ok, that may be plain stupid but I can't stop myself Above post from JFSOCC and the time frame provided by PrimeJunta made me wonder how different the gun's history would be in a world with abundance of mithril-esque ore and at least one trope-fitting race of ingenious engineers First of all it's a material superior to those used by "our" gunsmiths - i.e. it's lighter and have far greater stress resistance. Secondly It can be easily enchanted, thus providing magically evoked properties like: pseudo- sniping, noctovision and laser sight, magical ammo (duh!), bullet time (yeah probably overkill), or hell even making a bullet itself magically levitate and spin inside a gun! ...at least until they discover that every stupid orc/goblin/whatever can get a similar effect by simply grooving insides of a barrel Har, har! Good riddance you snotty elves! edited typho

I must concur - since I first gave a second thought to Star Wars and Middlearth universes all those years ago, a setting locked on a specific era, unable to change and develop throughout all those millennia was a problem for my (seemingly) limited imagination. It made me wonder even more in cases of technologically inclined dwarves / gnomes / insert_your_favourite_trope_here happily existing in those seemingly stagnant worlds, doing effectively nothing to justify narrators' claims about their ingenuity. I feel that not many pulled off such polarized premise/setting successfully... or at least sufficiently. Hmm... I may be an Arcanum fanboy you know? BTW while I agree that it's quite a challenge to explain existence of firearms in primarily bronze age setting, I'd like to support JFSOCC point that It's not an effort doomed from the start when we are discussing a fantasy. I strongly believe it's merely hard to pull of with class Plus it's also even more than valid in terms of "historical accuracy".* I'm thinking here about the clash of Mesoamerican and European culture and arrival of western explorers/colonists in Australia (even more extreme example I might add). * Yeah, the very same I don't want to see as an ultimate point of reference to the fantasy setting.... don't call me hypocrite