Excalibur_2102
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Posts posted by Excalibur_2102
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Well, I am not too bothered about play time all that much. Getting older has meant shorter play times are better in some way. It took me over a year to finish witcher 3 and all expansions, with 200 hours. And straight after Ive played Zelda BotW, which has also taken me approx. a year at 150 hours, so... yeah.
Pillars 1 took around 100 hours also (with white march), but I was mainly confused as the Devs (specifically Josh as I remember) said that game was so much bigger than the first. Though there are people reporting there are less maps/areas in PoE2.
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I still haven't played but the amount I'm reading about short main story and lack of dungeons make me wonder how much content is actually in this game. Seems a bit contradictory to the devs saying it was much bigger than the first before release..
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That seems to be the general consensus.My Steam review:
The first game is a much better, refined product.
Whole ship based system feels like a gimmick and ship to ship combat is just plain awful. The game has a less interesting story than the first game, and the start fails to grip player to the world and story.
Having most of the characters speak in english italian accent was a wierd decision, as well as inclusion of unknown words into the NPC text. Hovering over them shows their meaning, but it breaks to flow of dialogue.
Narrator is kinda annoying as well as the fact it's only present at some parts of the game. There are many uniteresting text heavy checks, much more than in the first game.
I hope the game gets better as I progress through the story,but so far I'd love it if I could play Pillars 1 with multiclassing and the graphics of the second one.
To take a quote out of RPS review:
A world where children are being born without souls, scarring generations, while warring factions of a terrifying god attempt to take control: great story, lots of impact. That was PoE1. A world where some giant is stamping somewhere else you can’t see, and there’s a trade war going on that endlessly suggests the complicity of the natives? Yeah, it’s not exactly gripping.
There are a few people that think Deadfire is better, most are content that it's a bit below.
Okay, I'm mainly a lurker on these forums but honestly, I just had to log in to say that some of your posts completely baffle me...
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Maybe I should've been clearer with my wording with her job title. She is obviously a writer, but she is also "publishing and marketing coordinator" (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-scott-286a3168). Ive noticed when she introduces herself that's what she says as opposed to writer. She has written a large amount of whats in SoD for sure, but then so has Andrew. Nobody has used lead writer as a term but she is the only writer that has been mentioned, when we don't really know for sure which parts she's had a hand in.
The Goblin companion (that calls your character racist), for example, was definately written by Andrew.
The second point was just stating when it was written as some people tend to take it as a response to complaints recently, not something said in the past. I don't dispute the reason they are using the post.
EDIT: Oh and as for this part of my last post "I imagine a large portion of SoD was written before Amber even joined the team." I knew someone would try and pick that apart as soon as I wrote it, but no I'm not sure on that and that part isn't fact... All I know is development started in 2012, and Amber joined in 2014. So yeah, I don't know when the bulk of the writing happens, but I imagine the premise of the story was at least already confirmed.
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Just going to post a couple of "facts" here.
1. Amber Scott was not "Lead Writer" for SoD, her actual job title is more in line with marketing (hence why she has been in more interviews). Andrew Foley was the other writer on the team that had a significant hand in the games writing. I imagine a large portion of SoD was written before Amber even joined the team.
"Maybe her anti-racist goblin will deter me from criticizing labour's immigration policies?"
The goblin youre referring to was written by Andrew Foley, not Amber Scott
2. The quote where she says she was proud to write SJW content came from a forum post back in 2015, and is not a response to the so called Dragonspear "controversy". In fact I dont think she has responded on this matter at all since the games release. Though of course she did still say she wanted to write "SJW" games.
3. Ed Greenwood had this to say on the matter:
"I am saddened by what I hear of the current kerfluffle raging about Siege of Dragonspear and the trans character Amber Scott designed and included in it.
Folks, the Realms have ALWAYS had characters (mortals and deities) who crossdressed, changed gender (and not just to sneak past guards in an adventure, by way of shapeshifting magic or illusions), were actively bisexual, and openly gay. How underscored this was by TSR and later Wizards varied over time, and was always softpedaled, because D&D wasn't a sex game, and we generally don't rub the reader's nose in sex unless there's a good in-story reason for it.
But even deities have changed gender, sometimes for good, and the servants of deities (Elminster, in ELMINSTER: THE MAKING OF A MAGE) have sometimes been forced by the deity to "spend time as the other" to learn what life is like.
So it has always been there, and is an integral part of the Realms. With that said, I've never met a gamer yet who doesn't tinker with every adventure to "make it their own" at their own gaming table, so if trans, LGBT, or sexual matters at all don't suit your tastes and needs in your gaming sessions, leave it out or change it.
But D&D has half-orcs, and half-dragons, and half-elves, and has magic items that specifically change gender, right there in the rules. Surely, if you can handle the basic notion of cross-SPECIES sex, having a full variety of gender roles should be something that doesn't blow your mind. If it's not for you, that's fine. I hate wearing certain shades of yellow. But I don't scream and yell at someone I see wearing those shades of yellow, and call them names, and threaten things. My right to dislike yellow applies to me; it doesn't extend to others. Because somehow, through an incredible oversight on the part of the universe that still hasn't been rectified, no one made me a god. (I'm still crushed.)!"You could argue that if the creator of forgotten realms says trans characters belong in the setting, then no one else has the authority to say they don't.
4. Apparently, the writers were limited on how much they could write for minor characters, hence why Mizhena had so little to her story other than what was there.
5. The character says very little about her actual gender or sex, only that she was born as male.. Nothings indicates that she is or is not using magical items or potions to change her sex.
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What sort of attributes would you recommend? Not quite sure whether I want to use the great sword or a sword and shield now, lol.. Will have a think about the ranged weapons too
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Alright... I will likely still carry a bow as a secondary weapon depending on the situation but id rather focus on melee just as personal preference. So basically neither the ranger or pet will be "tanky" and I should just be going for more damage with both?
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Hi,
So Im finally starting PoE and cant decide what class to play, however I was wondering if a ranger could be played in melee effectively. I usually like Greatswords, nut I dont know if this is viable or not?
I will likely be playing the game on Hard mode
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Dear hamskii, have you even bothered to read some threads on BD forums made by real Transgender people how they feel about such lame inclusion of this character? Or are you to busy to hate on everyone who has the "wrong" (ergo different than yours) oppinion?
Well, not every trans person has the same opinion on this topic either you know..
Well, then why it is an outrageous surprise, that non-trans people might have different oppinions about this matter as well?
*mind blown*
The differing opinions are not a surprise, and I didn't even say that they were... But considering the actual content in question (three lines by the TG character, and a line by minsc) what has surprised me is how soft skinned some people are, and the extent that they will go to try and bash the game (while not actually talking about the game) and even destroy the livelihoods of the people who created it
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Dear hamskii, have you even bothered to read some threads on BD forums made by real Transgender people how they feel about such lame inclusion of this character? Or are you to busy to hate on everyone who has the "wrong" (ergo different than yours) oppinion?
Well, not every trans person has the same opinion on this topic either you know..
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Maybe it's a Bioware thing? The hubris, I mean...
Are you doing a review on it? Its kinda difficult to find unbiased opinions on this one... There's only two reviews from critics that I can find, and then there's virtually no point in reading user reviews at this moment in time.
I've long settled for opinions which I know reflect my own biases, which works well enough when looking at games. Be sure to tell me if you ever find a truly unbiased opinion, though...
I tend to agree with a lot of reviews that gamebanshee does, so that is why I asked... So I suppose I should say "Gamebanshee reflects my own biases for the most part," if you want precise terminology. I didn't ask your opinion, no, but of course youre more than entitled to give it...
I for one wont be playing SoD for quite a while, at least until this whole "agenda" thing has blown over... if it ever does
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Well I am playing it and the technical glitches especially with the reloading a save and the game going into story mode is annoying. Even on the most difficult setting, it's very easy and it's probably due to the unbalancing of new items/spells. TBH, I don't know why the game is easy on Legacy of Bhaal difficulty.
Ive heard there's a bug where it wont stay in legacy of bhaal mode for some reason... Could be that
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I've enjoyed what I've played of it so far. Have to say, though, and I know it won't be popular considering all the IE evangelists on these boards, that I find myself constantly missing some of the changes to the UI and mechanics made by Pillars of Eternity.
Are you doing a review on it? Its kinda difficult to find unbiased opinions on this one... There's only two reviews from critics that I can find, and then there's virtually no point in reading user reviews at this moment in time.
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Just so you know, Im pretty sure the original games havent been touched... They just meant they tried to expand their personalities in SoD.
Just tested, the characters dialogue in BG1EE is exactly the same, the line Hiro is talking about is in SoD only
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When people mention immersion in games, I always think of a interview a guy called Paul Barnett did on warhammer online. Shame that game wasnt particularly successful, but the interview still holds true. He said something along the lines of:
"We're not aiming for immersion. Immersion is where your playing a game, your house is burning down around you and you dont realise, your wife has left you and the dog has died from starvation. We want to create a hobby experience."
Or something along those lines... it was a long time ago now, but I agree with him, and the word immersion is thrown around too much. I like to think about the world, I like in depth worlds that are believable and make sense. Yes, I like to "roleplay" that I am my character or I'm in that world and might occasionally lose track of time (I suppose that could be classed as immersion to some extent). But like Deveroth says, I have never become truly immersed in a game that I am unaware of my surroundings, and I guess that 99% of gamers that throw that word around all the time haven't either.
What makes a game world feel alive to me? I think audio and text can contribute here more than if its first person or not. In towns, the noise of people talking, and going about their day to day lives, in the woods, leaves rustling and birds chirping. Things like that, as well as the overall feel that the music gives. Text descriptions can help if its well written, and it helps that in games like PoE the artwork is beautiful. All these things add to the atmosphere of a game. I remember thinking skyrim lacked atmosphere, and I put some of down to audio in towns, not to mention the fetch quests and not so good writing. Visual stuff can help... I mean Witcher 3 has fantastic atmosphere, and that's largely due to peasants and NPCs having daily routines etc, but I cant say ive seen this done in a top down 2d RPG as well as it was in W3. Maybe the animations are much more difficult.
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Still no fix for the fact that theres too many fixes in the patch notes I see
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I just wish there was better communication on this matter... I will likely end up using a steam/gog key at this rate. I dont really have anything against those platforms, its just I planned to give my key away to someone else and I would just use the disc versions
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am not certain how far $130 will get you insofar as hookers and blow is concerned, so perhaps the ce for sod is the more enlightened option. our imagination is getting the better of us at the moment as we envision snaggle-toothed prostitutes wasted on coke cut with bath salts.
*shudder*
obviously Gromnir ain't the target audience for the sod ce. we suspect that beamdog would get far more ce purchasers with a more modest offering o' the collector's edition bundle o' an expansion for a +15-year-old game.... leonard nimoy's suspect business advice notwithstanding. that being said, the ce extras is no worse than is typical o' collector's editions for more robust games.
even so, sod looks to be a genuine expansion that will be offering a fair amount o' additional gameplay to the bg catalog. without having played the title, am not gonna complain 'bout the $20 pricetag for sod and we sure ain't gonna try and convince folks that beamdog's efforts is little more than a mod. $130 does strike us as a bit steep for the ce.
aside: nepenthe can acquire the original bg soundtracks by purchasing the $40 package, yes? sure, you won't get the amulet, dice and cloth map at $40, but...
*shrug*
as we said, Gromnir is clear not beamdog's target purchaser for the ce.
HA! Good Fun!
I dont think anyone in Europe is the target audience for it unfortuantely. Theres a $40 shipping cost ontop of that which brings it up to completely rediculous prices for me personally.
Like I said though, I dont dispute that the price is high, just thought "cash grab" was an unfair term. To me cash grab means minimal effort has been put into the product and then quickly sold off for as much as they can milk fans for. The CE looks nice, just too much...
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$130 is a lot for the collectors edition, and Im not buying it... Although now I come to think of it, the pledge amount for a collectors edition of PoE was $140. Of course when backing through Kickstarter its a slightly different story, but judging from the actual quality of the PoE collectors edition (for me personally, it was about what I expected, but not something that i'd pay $140 for from a store), it doesn't seem easy to produce a nice boxed version on a tight budget and maybe with small numbers the costs are quite high, so to make a reasonable profit it has to be placed at that sort of price... A little bit unfair to call it a "lazy cash grab" though in my opinion.
After all the digital standard edition is available for $20... Though I do question the price of the digital delux edition more than the collectors version to be honest. Twice the price of the standard edition just for a downloadable soundtrack? :/
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Still no fix for the lack of patch notes I see
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Still kinda waiting for news on this...
Thanks
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Honestly, I think the game has come a very long way since release. That the devs still care so much as to make balance changes after one year bespeaks their dedication.
You of all people should know how long I wait to play games sometimes!
But yes, it is nice to hear that the majority of you guys says the game has got better over time, which makes me look forward to playing it even more. I'm actually currently playing WL2 directors cut, and really liking it. But again I wonder what mu opinion would have been if id have played on release
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After all this time, I still haven't played PoE. Hopefully I will very soon, but I just wanted to talk about future support of games and how it is handled. I thought I was holding off playing due to possible bugs and wanting to play the game in the best state with the white march (and this still is the case to a large extent).However, I was reading a negative review of the game earlier, and the guys main beef with the game (only beef if I recall) was the rebalancing of classes and the game since launch, and how he would make a character, enjoy the way he was playing the class and the game, only to have that class nerfed in a later patch. He claimed this happened several times. Now of course I don't know if hes over exaggerating the extent of the changes as I have not played the game, but I couldn't help but agree and came to the realisation that this is also a strong reason why ive been holding off playing. It takes me quite a while to play these games, and it would bug me slightly if the classes kept changing throughout my playthrough. Its not just PoE I do this with, but virtually all PC releases these days I hold off for sometimes over a year before playing these days.I love the post release support that obsidian has shown, but can it some times be too much in the case of balancing?
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count me in as well, no link to download expansion or update 3.0
I don't think they've done the 3.0 update yet for the DVDs
Though BAdler has said that we should at least have access to the white march part 1, but so far everyone is reporting that that isn't the case. Will interesting to know if its the same for everyone, but I assume it is based on these posts..
Pathfinder Kingmaker is bigger then Deadfire
in Computer and Console
Posted
I am kinda perplexed as to how this game is succeeding where pillars 2 did not so much (okay so we dont have official sales figures, but at least on steam pathfinder looks to be doing better than PoE 2 did). I mean, they are both appealing to a similar audience. Pillars 2 was critically acclaimed upon release, yet pathfinder had next to no reviews when released, so customers didnt have anything to go off of before purchasing the game. Maybe opinions of people who played the beta? The reviews i've seen for pathdfinder are not glowing either. Initial user reviews also seemed worse for pathfinder, citing bugs and balancing issues.
However at this moment in time Pathfinder still hangs around the top 10 in steam when I'm sure PoE2 disappeared in less than a week. the steam review count is already more for pathfinder. The game has 17000 people playing right now (granted I cant recall the peak numbers for people playing PoE2).
So why is this? Is it because its the first game under the pathfinder ruleset? The gameplay in general? Please don't misunderstand my post though, I don't want Pathfinder to fail, in fact I will be picking it up at some point most likely. I just want to see Pillars succeed as well.