gogocactus

SonicMage117, the Black Isle Bastards are now funded. In fact, the reason we are now raising money for the 'create an item tier' is because they're funded in excess. We figured that, if we are raising extra money anyway, we might as well use it to add an additional Black Isle Bastards themed item to the game. Like our dastardly captain Fluffle explained in the FaQ above, if we manage to raise $750 dollars we will 'create an item'. If we do not manage to raise that amount, we will purchase extra copies of the game and distribute those among the Black Isle Bastard's backers through a lottery. @Salador : a hand-cannon also sounds like a fun idea. I for myself always fancied the image of Blackbeard, keeping several loaded pistols with smoldering fuses upon him to shoot at his enemies during fights. I could imagine a somewhat weaker pistol, with a special 'quick draw' (-30% recovery time when switching items) ability would suit that idea. In any case, how would you envision such an item? At least, description-wise? @Fluffle : the Deadfire Archipelago without tricorn hats? I'm not sure whether that's a world I could live in :'( . Like you said, we can't expect the developers to grant us all of our wishes. It's nice to brainstorm about possible cool items and to be able to offer them a list of items and ideas for inspiration though.

I voted for a hat. A pirate's hat. A tricorn with a small, engraved piece of Obsidian tucked away in one of its seams carrying the initials of one of its previous owners: Mr. B. Isleby. (Black Isle B. Abbreviation of the Bastards). A cool pirate's hat would allow for enhanced role-playing, thereby increasing all of our precious Immersion (capital I included). If not a hat, I would vote for a magically enhanced lantern. A useful item for any pirate. This oil lamp particularly, could for example be opened and emit light, thereby enhancing the party's attunement to fire (increasing fire based damage by 5%) and having the ability to cast a moderately weak fireball with an extremely large blast radius (necessitating friendly fire, imagine a large amount of fiery oil spilling out of this magical lantern). It could also be closed, thereby increasing the parties resistance to fire by 5%. If not a cool and useful pirate's attribute and if I would HAVE to vote for a weapon, a cool cutlass would do.

I don't find it's aesthetics particularly pleasing either (or, ugly af, if you will) . One thing I do like about it though, is the fact that if such a weapon would be obtainable through a quest or as loot from the Black Isle Bastards, it would add something very special and memorable to the Bastards. An interesting angle to add such an outlandish weapon could be the Bastards mentioning that after encountering the weapon in the jungle during their exploits they took it with them to their pirate lair. (Perhaps after narrowly escaping an encounter with an indigenous tribe. Or, on a more friendly note, trading it for valuable items or for information in a collaborative partnership.) Since then, they've practiced with it and tried using it, but all in vain. Judging it to be useless, they give it to the player as a reward, asking him or her to give it a try instead. The weapon could then be either: not very powerful, or: surprisingly powerful, but difficult to wield and therefore include the opportunity for a player to hurt himself in the process, or: surprisingly powerful, as the weapon turns out to be soulbound and the knowledge of its use and of its power can only be unlocked through the player, who can use its soul to gain visions of its proper use.

The PayPal that has been used for the Black Isle Bastards so far .

here's too a speedy recovery Gromnir. Get better soon!

If you would like to organise a small lottery for any stretch goals, might I suggest using any spare money to buy surplus game keys? That way, Obsidian would make more money, sales of PoE 2 would increase and lottery winners could gift the game to family and friends. It's just a thought. I liked the lottery idea anyway, no matter what add-ons you would get. If there is an equivalent to the PoE cookbook or some other quirky and fun yet useful item that would also work well.

Whoever this gentleman, who is also most likely very attractive is deserves alot of praise for his/her example.Rumour has it this lady or gentlemen is either also extremely bodacious or exceptionally well endowed. In fact, anonymous sources (whom I can't here disclose) confirm these rumours to be true. Praise to our wonderful benefactor P.S. Regarding your question Fluffle, I would vote for option two. I wouldn't want you to spend more money on this than you would otherwise want. You've already done so much .

Seconded. I would absolutely love Coop in any new Obsidian CRPGs, including Pillars of Eternity.

Messier and I would love to be able to give that much money for sure, that would mean we're richer than we currently are :D This xD

Come now, you could make your point somewhat more dispassionately .

Fluffle, I like your idea regarding the provision of a lore-friendly ledger of the B&B's victims and loot in order to provide backer recognition. That said, personally, I would just want to see this BiB project succeed whether we would get any in-game recognition or not. However, providing in-game recognition to those people that helped fund the project through a lore-friendly list of loot is a good way to further a more personal connection with the game and the BiB project. On top of that, it is also just sheer fun. I for myself can't wait to see what fun and creative (lore-friendly!) descriptions people will come up with. One possible idea might be to have each backer of the BiB project contribute the above four line description and then to randomly draw the contributions to include. However, I would immediately like to offer a counter argument to my own suggestion and suggest that this risks causing disappointment among those backers whose contributions do not get selected. <edit 1> Is it perhaps an idea to include the top ten funders by default and make the other entries part of a public contest? For example, you could collect everyone's entries and make them part of a private (BiB-backer only) or public poll in which everyone could vote for his personal top five. That way you would not offend the sensibilities of the most generous backers, provide everyone with an opportunity to have his entry selected and have a fun event in the form of a contest of creativity surrounding the Black Isle Bastards. Alternatively, you could randomise the remaining 40 entries and in that way provide everyone with equal opportunities. Regarding the format of entries, I would like to support your suggestion above that you or Obsidian select two entries out of a total of four. In this I would also like to suggest that you limit the character size of each entry to a total of forty characters, character names - included -. Standardising the length of text for each entry will ensure that a combination of entries does not exceed the stipulated maximum of eighty characters and as such, lighten the burden of selection.

Just donated another 25$ making that a total of $50. But that's all I, recently graduated and unemployed, can muster at the moment. With just 31 days left, I couldn't bear to see this project's flame of hope die out (# melodramatic :'). Come on guys, let's do our best and get these Bastards into the game.

Pretty cool idea!

The stretch goal is rather misleadingly named, it really ought to be "More Sea Monsters". I can remember where, but I am fairly certain Obsidian have stated that there were already sea monsters included. Yes, this stretch goal is to include the sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads .

1 - Planescape: Torment 2 - Morrowind 3 - Gothic 1

You have my sword... And my axe...

There should be. I can't wait for the rage of completionist non-backers crying out in rage and agony over the fact that they'll never be able to get 100% of all achievements. One of the best features of PoE 1 in my opinion .

Yes! I'd want that more generally though. Read a book about the political issues in Neketaka, unlock a dialogue option you'd otherwise require a high lore skill to have known without looking it up. Dig through some Engwithan ruins and read a tablet guarded by a strong mob and learn something you'd otherwise need really high metaphysics to have worked out. There were a few choices that could be unlocked by multiple routes in PoE1 (the Galawain choice in the opening when talking to the people who slaughter your caravan could be unlocked by Lore 1 or Int 15, for example). I want more stuff like that. That would make for a lovely little addition and a wonderful incentive to actually read all those books.

This. AND have NPCs tease the PC for his failure to get in on the action.

Pillars III? Bring on the Kickstarter already! :D

Indeed. This is probably the best thread to discuss our ideas. Also to make sure our cause keeps generating attention .

I still think a call out to some of the outstanding Black Isle NPCs of old would be a great way to do it. Ravel, Frank Horrigan, Belhifet, etc. rather than actual employees. But that's just me.I for myself would not be fond of that, unless done subtly. Too many references to other IPs might not help with my immersion into this game. I'd rather create a very unique bunch of buccaneers, with their own personalities and character traits. We could use this forum to discuss and develop the individuals in this pirate party as well.

Worried that its turning into Pirate Simulator 2018? Don't worry, despite all the naval stuff, I think we're still going to spend most of the game with our feet on dry land. It makes you wonder whether they haven't already finished a lot of the content on land, with the exception of the islands Fulvano discovered. And, whether they're not going to spend the rest of their time implementing the stretch goals' content and polishing the game.

Good plan.

<3