Amentep

I'll have to finish the PSP FFT too. I started it, but got distracted. For a few years. But I was hoping the translation would make more sense this time, so glad to hear it will.

After 10 seconds, just have giant worms come up and eat all the corpses but ignoring the living. One giant worm eating a corpse animation later and you've got an in game explanation for lack of corpse persistence AND a reason why mausoleums in the world are built on really, really big stilts.

True, but that's not inherent to an objective-based system. There is no inherent "quest" to complete. There's a situation, and then there are goals. They're either collaborative toward a greater/overarching goal (i.e. "Find all the pieces of the Elmrynthine Amulet"), or they're standalone, optional things upon which the resolution of the situation doesn't necessarily depend (i.e. "Handle the Bandit Threat, Locate info on the Bandits' other operations in the area."). Etc. There's absolutely no reason for you to get XP for each piece of the Elmrynthine Amulet (example above) you find, THEN just suddenly receive a big blob of XP for finding the final piece. Finding the last piece is the completion of the quest. I mean, could it be (and has it been, in existing games) done like that? Yes. Should it be? No. But, that's all that tells us. It's not a matter of whether or not to use an objective-oriented system, but rather, a simple matter of how to use it (or how not to, in this case). My 2¢ I think what you are describing as redundancy isn't really redundant. It might be sloppy implementation, but its not redundant. The same XP could be broken up in multiple ways, that some of those ways might be artificial with regards to the narrative is irrelevant. The importance of the XP is that in its abstract way matches how the game designer wants the character progression to go and the value for the complete piece matches the experience the designer (acting, ultimately, as DM) wants the player to have. That's going to go for Quest XP or Kill XP. The benefit of Quest XP over Kill XP is to increase the viability of other solutions to problems in the game with respect to combat based solutions (without, I add, decreasing the viability of combat, or else you're doing it wrong). Any other quibble about Quest XP or Kill XP is going to be based on the implementation of same, not an inherent "flaw" that must be addressed (as there is no flaw in granting Kill XP if you want the game designed to have combat as the sole viable mean of progression through the game anymore than there is a flaw in Quest XP for allowing alternate solutions to receive equivalent rewards).

For me, I think TO is superior to FFT in most ways (albeit, FFT is very, very close). I like the class system better in TO, I liked the story better*. I like the branching paths. I like that you can recruit some pretty cool monster units (even if they did nerf the Gorgons in later editions). I need to finish my PSP TO playthrough and use the fate options to try the various paths. Once I figure out where I put my PSP... *I'll admit, part of this may be the translation; IIRC FFT's translation made certain sequences non-sensical.

-It is turn based. Like FFT-You fight on square grids. Like FFT-A maximum of 4 characters can be used in combat. Not Like FFT-You get into combat by touching enemies on the map. Not Like FFT-You cannot move where you want and attack in the same turn. You have to choose. Do I want to move out of the way of an AoE spell, or do I stay put and try to unleash my own attack. Not Like FFT-I played it a while ago, but I think you can interrupt enemy spells when they are charging. Not Like FFT-There's a turn order bar. You can see who's about to attack and it is possible for both you and your enemies to use this to your/their advantage. Not Like FFT-You have your regular options like Attack, Move, Art (spells), Craft (special attacks you can use when you gain SP), Item, Run. Similar to FFT, but similar to many turn based RPGs-Buffs and debuffs can be very useful. Not like FFT-No grinding is needed. You might have to grind for one level at times. There is a diminishing exp gain from the same area once you gain levels. Similar to FFT, which didn't really need grinding although you could do it to uber your characters.-You use orbments to customize your characters and their skills/spells. Go to 5:15 and they show the orbment system.You can customize your characters and skills/spells with FFT's Job System, but I'm saying "Similar" rather than "Like"So Tally is 2 Likes, 6 Not Likes and 3 Similars Ruling is NOT LIKE

"I love you!" "We must make passionate love!" "Let me...slip into something more comfortable" ... "Barbarian armor is more comfortable?" "Let me Wild Sprint to you and Frenzy!" LATER "Yeah, I dumped him. Turns out he was using 'One Stands Alone' on the other two party members. Skanks." etc.

It is blatant barbarian exploitation. Won't someone think of the barbarians?

Can't speak for German films*, but the Godzilla movies had an "International" version in English (for the UK and subtitled through the continent in the appropriate language according to the English voice cast) and the American produced version for American audiences who needed both English AND Raymond Burr. *IIRC Herzog's Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht aka Nosferatu the Vampyre had all of the dialogue scenes filmed twice, once with the cast speaking German and once speaking English, but that was an oddity requested by 20th Century Fox who thought it'd work better than dubbing the film in post.

I only find it irritating to pick up every item when I'm picking them up and not trying to pick them up like in an Elder Scroll game where you would have an item like roast beef that you could eat and get some ridiculously beefy bonus and it was sitting on a plate which sat on a piece of paper which further sat on a table, and then you went to get the item but got the plate and the paper but the item didn't move on the table like you were doing one of those magic tricks where you pull the table cloth out from under all the place settings and everyone goes "oooo" and "ahhh" when not even a fork shifts from your masterful table cloth pulling and so then you just get mad and started double clicking on everything and picked up every item in sight, including candlesticks and the centerpiece and then you walked out of the room satisfied you'd won over the man who made it hard to pick up a roast beef and then some monster attacked and you whacked it and once it was dead you'd forgotten you'd picked up an entire seven course meal and while selling items you're thinking "where the hell did the potato salad bowl come from and more importantly why the hell is the weapon shop owner buying the potato salad bowl - is he some sort of potato salad bowl fetishist or is there a secondary market in this game for selling bowls that I need to break into and make some cash?"

No? Am I supposed to know? Its the British spelling for "Edema" from the Greek oídēma - meaning swelling.

Those were the things that spoiled the walk. Just like golf.

Haven't the Elder Scrolls games proven there were interest in hiking similators?

My guess would be much like not stopping the Archdemon; if someone doesn't do it they just keep coming until they'll eventually wear down even the strongest fighters.

It depends, I wouldn't say "Clear the Cave" and "Clear the Cave for Farmer Bob" would be opposing objectives. So you might have FIND CAVE CLEAR CAVE REPORT TO FARMER BOB As objectives, and you could always report to Farmber Bob after "Clearing the Cave". But lets say Farmer Bob wants you to clear the caves of all Xvarts (but let the Kobolds live because they eat Farmer Dave's cows) and Farmer Dave wants you to Clear the Cave of all Kobolds (and leave the Xvarts because they trash Bob's corn crop). FIND CAVE CLEAR CAVE OF XVARTS CLEAR CAVE OF KOBOLDS REPORT TO FARMER DAVE REPORT TO FARMER BOB You always FIND CAVE on the quest If you CLEAR CAVE OF XVARTS then you can REPORT TO FARMER BOB. If you CLEAR CAVE OF KOBOLDS then you can REPORT TO FARMER DAVE. Succesfully Reporting to Bob or Dave fails the other report quest. CLEAR CAVE OF XVARTS and CLEAR CAVE OF KOBOLDS then REPORT TO FARMER DAVE and REPORT TO FARMER BOB are both failed. But you get the quest XP for clearing the caves too, but there's also reputation tied to it because now Dave and Bob talk bad about you. Etc.

I don't see why they'd have to program for every possible approach; the key would be to make sure the triggers are properly clearing the quest elements and ensuring that the quest XP is being awarded. Realistically this approach would not care how (or when) it was done.

I think people wanted to play Qunari because they're not Human, Elf or Dwarf. The standard, generic fantasy races are pretty played out by this point, so there will be at least some people who latch on to those races that are new. Variety is the spice of life and all that. Well, yeah there is that. But I don't see many people clamoring for intelligent darkspawn though, so I think there is an appeal in not being playable in the first game. Or rocking the giant horns. Something like that. But DA would have benefitted from a few more races. My favorite is when you first meet Cullen - you, Anders and Merril all in a group (and Cullen should know Anders since he escaped the Circle in Ferelden) using magic and - yeah there was a Templar Abomination but still I can't believe once he gets back to Kirkwall he isn't telling Meredith about the apostates.

The way that looks to me, I'd consider handling it by breaking the quest into four parts: FIND THE LAIR OF THE WYRM GET INTO THE LAIR OF THE WYRM KILL THE WYRM REPORT THE SUCCESS TO THE FARMER In your scenario you would get the Quest XP KILL THE WYRM at the time of killing it. You'd get Quest XP for GET INTO THE LAIR OF THE WYRM by killing the guards but could have gotten it as well by sneaking past the guards into the cave. Once the Wyrm was dead, update the Journal with something like: "Just killed an immature Wyrm. Cave nest appears close to farmland; possible that someone there will want to know" When you meet the Farmer and he gives you the quest, you'd get a dialogue to indicate you'd already found the cave and killed the worm, thus satisfying the FIND THE LAIR OF THE WYRM and REPORT THE SUCCESS TO THE FARMER and awarding Quest XP. However if you meet the Farmer first, you'd follow the 4 parts of the quest in order and receive the quest XP as you go. At least that's how I'd assume it'd go. No clue how Obs is going to actually solve it (and they may leave the final award of the quest XP for completing the whole thing, dunno, but smaller dispersments makes more sense to me).

Well we can hope it's justified. I hope they don't do a DA2 and just not really address the situation (because, frankly, there's no way Hawke-Mage should have not been tossed into the Circle). I'm betting half the appeal of people wanting to play Qunari is solely down to them being unplayable in the first game. Mind you in general, I'm for DA series expanding their racial choices, but they really haven't given a lore way to expand other than Qunari and...intelligent darkspawn I guess.

Every iteration of DA has changes made to the Qunari. I'm not sure how this is a "change". We know that there are Quinari outside of the Qun in DA2. So what, exactly, changed here...? This is more difficult for me to accept than the Qunari changes. DA:O went to great lengths to show how mages outside of the Circle are considered outcasts and the templars hunt them down. All of this is brought on by the Chantry in DA2. Now the Divine appoints a mage to lead an inquisition? Sorry but if Shepherd from ME made a cameo in DA:I I would not be surprised. There's no integrity left in the story. They should have stuck to the Greywarden/Darkspawn story they had going. It actually got interesting in the final DLC. The Divine (and again, that's my guess, but given that the Divine's right and left hands are assisting the Inquisitor, I think a reasonable guess) appoints the only person who can close FADE BREACHES that are causing death and destruction across Thedas to head up a group to investigate and stop the source of destruction that threatens the world, as they know it. I'm not sure why The Divine would go "Yes, well I know that you are the only possible hope in saving our world as demons reign down from Fade Breaches and slaughter the hepless, but you know...you were an apostate and I just can't forgive that. Sorry let the world burn, but we're 'tranquiling' your ass."

That's what it seems from what I've read, yeah. It does get tiresome, but I guess its an easy hook to explain why the PC matters in the story. And as I recall Bioware hasn't done a RPG yet that wasn't a variation of "The Chosen One" (unless its NWN - I can't actually remember the plot of the OC on that). BG series, JE, ME series, DA I, DA II were all pretty much annoited PCs. Edit - I've heard what PrimeJunta has said hinted at as well - with much of the story under wraps it'll be hard to say how it'll play out.

Mmmm, now I'm thinking "Stephen King's The Dark Half"...

The "Qunari" inquisitor isn't culturally a Qunari. Technically the Qunari would call her - as I understand it - a Valshoth, someone who has never heard the Qun (as opposed to a Tal-Vashoth, someone who has abandoned the Qun). That's the trouble of combining a culture and an ethnicity, though, it lacks clarity. The Inquisition leader is the leader because they're the only person to have survived the initial Fade Breach which has given them special "powers" that can be used to close new Fade breaches, thus they get made the leader regardless of their background. Since the story is heavily in Orlais, I'm guessing the Inquisitor is put in their position by the Divine herself (thus mooting most Templar protestations). I don't find either scenario to be implausible based on the series so far (and again assuming that ultimately the Inquisitor is given the title by the Chantry itself to face the Fade breeches).

Mind you they're saying that the next Mass Effect is more than a few years away. While I'd imagine the stuff they're doing now will be in Frostbite, I do wonder if that'll be the end engine or not.

I guess he could always just do a bio-pic on Tolkein too.

♪ I feel pretty, Oh, so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and bright! And I pity Any girl who isn't me tonight. ♫